Security DNA

Security DNA Live at ESX: Jeremy Bates on Building, Selling, and Now Leading the Industry

In this episode of Security DNA, recorded live on the show floor at the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) 2026, SecurityInfoWatch Editor-in-Chief Paul Rothman sits down with Jeremy Bates, incoming Chairman of the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and Senior Vice President of Business Development at Pye-Barker Fire & Security.
Jeremy came up through the industry the hard way, co-owning and growing Bates Security and Sonitrol of Lexington, Ky., into one of the most respected regional security companies in the nation before selling to Pye-Barker and joining the organization in May 2024. 
Now stepping into the ESA Chairman role, he brings a clear agenda: expand education and training, build out the new ESA Research Center – including a newly hired economist – and demonstrate concrete membership value as the industry continues to consolidate.
In this conversation, Jeremy shares his priorities for ESA, including revamped education and apprenticeship programs; offers a candid take on industry M&A and what the hollowing-out of the mid-tier integrator market means for entrepreneurs; explains how Pye-Barker is shifting its focus from acquisition volume to organic growth; and makes the case for why video – particularly proactive video monitoring – is the technology trend most worth watching right now.

Reflections on 30 Years of the Smart Home - with Elizabeth Parks

SecurityInfoWatch Editorial Director Rodney Bosch sits down with Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO of Parks Associates, live at the 30th annual CONNECTIONS Conference in Santa Clara, CA.
Elizabeth reflects on three decades of smart home research, what the industry consistently misunderstands about consumers, the mounting pressure on dealer channels, and why cybersecurity is the conversation nobody is having loudly enough...yet.
‪Parks Associates‬ has been a foundational research voice for smart home, connected home, multifamily, and small business markets since 1986, helping manufacturers and platform companies validate product strategy and forecast where the market is heading.
Topics covered: ✔️ Why today's smart home discussions mirror conversations from 30-40 years ago ✔️ What consumers actually care about (hint: not Thread, Z-Wave, or Zigbee) ✔️ The "build your own smart home" buyer journey — and why that first experience is everything ✔️ Why local dealers are struggling and what manufacturers owe them ✔️ Standout moments from Connections 2026: Perplexity's health-in-the-home keynote and a 14-year-old founder ✔️ What's coming for Connections 2027: agentic AI, convergence, and cybersecurity
More coverage from Connections Conference 2026

After Brown University: What 1,200 Cameras Don't Tell You About Your Surveillance Gaps

The December 2025 shooting at Brown University exposed a key flaw in modern surveillance strategy: more cameras do not always mean better coverage. Despite operating more than 1,200 cameras, Brown reportedly faced critical blind spots that complicated the response and delayed suspect identification.
 
In this episode of SecurityDNA, Editorial Director Steve Lasky speaks with ZeroEyes Director of Service Enhancement Vincent Martinez about the lessons from Brown and the Washington Hilton incident, including why strategic camera placement matters more than camera count, how AI gun detection is changing threat response, and the common surveillance mistakes that leave organizations vulnerable.
Drawing on experience with DHS tactical response teams and U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Martinez shares practical insights on surveillance audits, active shooter preparedness, red team assessments, and the future of AI-driven threat detection.
Learn more: https://www.securityinfowatch.com/ZeroEyes: https://zeroeyes.com/ 

Redefining Security in 2025 Part 1: Breaking Leadership Barriers with GMR CEO Mary Gates

 
Technology isn’t the only aspect of the security industry that’s evolving. The very definition of “security” is changing, so the way practitioners approach security must change with it.
SecurityInfoWatch Associate Editor Samantha Schober brings Mary Gates, CEO of GMR Security Consulting Group, to the table to discuss the company’s rebranding effort, the rise of human-centric security strategies, and the unique strengths female security leaders bring to the table.
Mary Gates is a seasoned industry veteran with over 35 years of experience in corporate security management. Previously President and now CEO at GMR Security Consulting Group, Mary directs the company’s strategic vision and growth trajectory, leads expansion into new markets and service areas, and works to develop and implement enterprise-level risk management strategies tailored to each client’s needs. Prior to GMR, Mary spent nearly 25 years at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she most recently served as Executive Director.
Gates is certified as an ALICE Instructor, CPTED, CFSSP, and CHPA-III. She has served on several boards, most recently as Advisory Member for the ASIS Banking and Financial Services Committee, and is a recognized international speaker at events hosted by ASIS, ATMIA, the American Bankers Association, and more.

The Critical Case for Cybersecurity Training with MyComputerCareer's Russ Munisteri

As the physical and digital worlds increasingly merge, cybersecurity has become a critical component of organizational defense. The rapid growth of IoT devices has expanded the average attack surface, making businesses more vulnerable than ever--a single employee clicking on a malicious email can compromise an entire organization.
To protect against these evolving threats, companies must prioritize cyber threat awareness, understand emerging attack vectors, and implement proactive cybersecurity strategies. Knowledge is the first line of defense in preventing costly breaches and maintaining digital safety.
In this episode of Security DNA, SecurityInfoWatch Associate Editor Samantha Schober sits down for a chat with Russ Munisteri, Lead Instructor at MyComputerCareer, to discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the challenges facing cyber workforce development, and the critical role of training in defending against today’s threats.
Russ Munisteri is a seasoned IT professional boasting over 25 years of experience in systems administration, cybersecurity, and technical education. As Director of Education at MyComputerCareer, he leverages his extensive industry background and teaching expertise to prepare learners for success in IT and cybersecurity. 

Visual Intelligence and the Future of Security Tech with Wesco’s Tara Dunning

In this episode of Security DNA, host Steve Lasky sits down with Tara Dunning, Vice President of Global Security and Network Infrastructure Sales and Strategy at Wesco, to explore how AI, IoT, and cloud technologies are transforming the role of today’s security integrators.
Discover how cameras are evolving from simple surveillance tools to powerful visual intelligence assets, why platform aggregation and data-driven security are redefining situational awareness, and what the next generation of digital transformation means for integrators, manufacturers, and end users alike.
Tara Dunning originally joined Wesco as VP of Global Security in 2021, where she scouted and evaluated new go-to-market opportunities and met emerging trends across verticals, segments, and geographies. She is currently Wesco’s VP, Global Security and Network Infrastructure Sales & Strategy.
Dunning has delivered transformative growth in the IT and OT industries over the course of her career. She has held multiple sales and strategy leadership positions at various distributors, manufacturers, and service providers across the globe. In addition to her work on SIA’s Board of Directors, Dunning has given back to the industry through over 15 years of service to various organizations that uplift female and multicultural voices.

Countering Drone Threats at Critical Sites with Echodyne's Leo McCloskey

Drones are reshaping U.S. critical infrastructure—but not always for the better. While they streamline inspections of power lines, pipelines, and bridges, rogue or malicious drones pose a real threat to airports, energy grids, and government sites. As these incidents rise, protecting vital systems has become an urgent priority.
Rodney Bosch, SIW Editor-in-Chief, invites Echodyne’s VP of Marketing, Leo McCloskey, to SecurityDNA to discuss executive orders, the critical role of radar in counter-drone operations, how easy drones are to buy (or build), and how to fortify our most critical sites against them.
As VP of Marketing, Leo leads Echodyne’s brand and marketing efforts, serving as the company’s representative on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Advanced Rulemaking Committees for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and Detection and Mitigation (383 D/M). He previously built and led marketing and product marketing teams throughout the U.S. and Europe at several companies ranging in size from small startups to established brands.
Leo is best known for his work with connected and autonomous vehicles, enterprise software, networks and cloud services, and end-user experience management. He has a BA in Russian and Soviet studies from Dickinson College and boasts a strong educational background in history and political science.

Bridging Architecture & Security for Smarter Enterprises with The Consulting Group's Michael Niola

Join host Steve Lasky and Michael Niola, Principal and Co-Founder of The Consulting Group LLC, as they explore the future of integrated systems, AI in security, and designing safety into spaces from day one.
From “one card” access control to the challenges of data center speed-to-market, Michael shares insights on turning security from a cost center into a value driver, and why early collaboration with architects is key.
With over two decades of physical security industry experience developing master plans, system designs, and consultant teams, Michael Niola is a seasoned security veteran and frequent speaker at trade shows, most recently at HxGN Live Global. He is an expert in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and holds Physical Security Professional (PSP) certification.
Michael is Co-Founder of The Consulting Group LLC, where he currently serves as Principal, bringing deep technical mastery to projects in healthcare, data centers, education, transportation, and corporate settings. He is passionate about the intersection of physical security, safety, and emerging technology.

Ethically Hacking Your Surveillance System With i-PRO's Will Knehr

The “streamlining” of video surveillance via unified systems and network-connected devices has taken the weight of alarm fatigue, manual video monitoring, and more off of the shoulders of security professionals.
It has also dramatically increased their attack surface.
Sit down with host Steve Lasky and i-PRO Americas’ Senior Manager of Information Assurance and Data Privacy, Will Knehr, to discuss how threat actors can hack cameras to breach networks, why AI analytics are becoming another attack vector, and what “ethical hacking” can do to harden your security systems on this week’s episode of SecurityDNA.
Will is a cybersecurity expert, with master’s degrees in cybersecurity and business as well as numerous certifications, including CISSP, PMP, CEH, CNDA, CASP, CMMC RP, and more. A prominent figure in “ethical hacking” communities, he actively engages in demonstrations and discussions showcasing techniques and security exploits that are utilized by threat actors in real-world breaches.
His career, which began in cryptologic warfare, saw him conduct critical cyber defense missions for agencies like the NSA, DoD, and DISA. Will’s later work with Northrop Grumman involved building virtualized environments, malware analysis, data brokering, and cybersecurity program management to support special NSA and DISA projects.
In his current role at i-PRO, Will leverages his decades of cybersecurity experience to oversee the company’s product and network security.

When Video Investigates Itself: The Rise of GenAI with March Networks' Jeff Corrall

Video tools aren't just evolving: they're getting smarter. Once limited to passive recording, video systems are now emerging as intelligent tools capable of detecting threats in real time, interpreting human behavior, and even predicting incidents before they occur.
In this week's episode of SecurityDNA, host Steve Lasky sits down with March Networks Chief Product Officer Jeff Corrall to explore one of the most transformative forces in video surveillance today—generative AI.
Jeff Corrall is Chief Product Officer at March Networks, where he leads product strategy, R&D, and strategic partnerships. Since joining in 2001 as a software developer, he has held key roles in product management, overseeing several portfolios, including transit, video management software, network video recorders, and edge devices across global offices in Ottawa, Milan, and Seoul.