United States. The Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2019 held from September 8 to 12 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and organized by ASIS International, was attended by more than 20,000 professionals from 125 countries and more than 550 exhibitors filling the convention center.
Security professionals also participated in sessions around the world through Global Access LIVE! streaming: with participants in more than 15 countries.
"GSX serves as a powerful forum to convene security leaders around the world to learn, share information and network," said Christina Duffey, CPP, President of ASIS 2019. "I leave this year's GSX with more energy about our partnership, our profession and our industry. I am eternally grateful to our Chicago Chapter and the host committee for their strong support and look forward to GSX 2020, which will take place in Atlanta."
GSX 2019 launched on Saturday, September 7, with ASIS member certification reviews and the start of continuing education workshops in support of professional accreditations. Sunday, September 8 brought a lively town hall that offered attendees an open discussion forum with ASIS volunteer leaders. On Monday, September 9, the keynote address was delivered by geopolitical expert and author Ian Bremmer, Ph.D., covering the most pressing risks, trends, and economics around the world. He described four key factors that are affecting global perceptions and can stoke conflict and uncertainty, including the decline of the 'social contract' (i.e. fixed wages, scandals involving the privileged class) and the sense that government and employers no longer represent the needs of the people they serve), immigration, wars 'forever' (i.e. the 18-year conflict in Afghanistan) and the role of social media in stoking division and fears. He also cited news headlines, including the fallout from Brexit, China's global investments in Western democracies and the lack of a "Plan B" in dealing with Iran.
The GSX Exhibit Hall opened on Tuesday, September 10 with more than 550 exhibitors and innovative feature areas including the GSX Disruption District, the X-Learning stages and the D3 (Drones, Droids, Defense) Learning Theater, and new this year, the Startup Sector pavilion, highlighting new innovations in the security profession.
Tuesday's general session speaker Steve Demetriou, President and CEO Jacobs, spoke about the changing times. According to Demetriou, "Today, more than half of the world's population lives in urban environments, and more than 3 million people move to urban environments every week."
John F. Kelly, retired four-star general, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and White House chief of staff, kicked off Military and Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Wednesday, Sept. 11. General Kelly also addressed changes in the structures and policies of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies since Sept. 11 and described how the dramatic increase in collaboration between intelligence and compliance agencies in recent years has made the country much safer.
New to GSX this year and the first in the security industry, 12 companies were selected to compete in the first GSX Pitch competition.
Finally, the closing general session featured Tarah Wheeler, cybersecurity policy researcher at New America, who emphasized that the evolving world requires security professionals to plan ahead and continue to update their thoughts. "We are at GSX because we want to be fierce protectors," he told the audience before providing valuable guidance on how to prepare before an incident response is required. "I think I'm a bad guy so I can keep people safe, and you should start thinking like a bad guy too."
Deviant Ollam, Physical Penetration Specialist at CORE Group, gave the closing session of Game Changer alerting the audience to the many ways in which potential "bad actors" can gain access to sensitive company data, resources and facilities. Ollam described three distinct attack surfaces: physical, digital and human, noting that attackers often find the most vulnerable points at the intersections of these areas, where accountability may not be clear and protection procedures may be weak. He stressed the potential value of penetration testing and encouraged testers to help make the world safer, saying "if you're not improving the blue team, you're not doing your job."
Expanded for 2019, the Security Cares program was created to empower and positively impact local communities that serve as GSX host cities. Now in its fourth year, the program connected leaders of Chicago-area community organizations and small and medium-sized businesses with free access to valuable safety education, networking, funding opportunities and resources.
GSX 2020 will take place September 21-23 in Atlanta.
