ISC West Preview: What to expect from the US' top security show in 2026

As the physical security industry descends upon Las Vegas for ISC West 2026 next week (March 23-27), we can see once more how the narrative to exciting new possibilities. This year’s exhibition highlights a clear maturation of the market: cloud security (and intelligence) is no longer about "rip-and-replace" but a flexible evolution, and AI has moved from a buzzword to a functional agent capable of understanding natural language and situational context.
 
These are some of the highlights we expect to see.
 

Video security

New edge devices at this year’s show demonstrate a leap forward in AI capabilities, greatly expanding use cases. Manufacturers are focusing on devices that act as sensors, recorders, and AI engines simultaneously.
 

• i-PRO is leaning heavily into high-performance edge hardware. Their latest cameras feature embedded AI analytics for person and vehicle detection, designed to process data locally to minimize bandwidth. A key highlight is their resilience in constrained environments, utilizing secured local SD card storage to ensure video continuity during network interruptions.

 

• OpenEye is expanding its cloud camera lineup with new 5MP turret and dome models, alongside a high-resolution 12MP fisheye camera. These "all-in-one" solutions are designed for limitless scalability, where each added camera brings its own storage and processing power. OpenEye will also demonstrate "Active Deterrence" features, using automated white light and audio playback to de-escalate incidents at the perimeter before they require the intervention by security personnel.

 

• Motorola Solutions arrives with a massive ecosystem update across its Avigilon and Pelco brands. Attendees can expect to see the new Avigilon Unity and Avigilon Alta portfolios. A major focus for Motorola this year is "visible light" technology and specialized sensors, including the HALO Amplify—an IoT sensor that expands the reach of security into areas where video is restricted, such as hotel rooms, by detecting vape, smoke, and even emotional distress through audio analytics.

 

VMS and cloud

The conversation around Video Management Software (VMS) this year centers on "containerization" and "serverless" deployments, allowing users to modernize their backend without disrupting live operations.
 

• Milestone Systems is debuting the XProtect App Platform. Built on a Linux-based, containerized architecture, XProtect allows users to add AI, analytics, and access control apps into their existing VMS without a full system revamp. By isolating each application, Milestone is reducing the operational risk typically associated with software updates. Additionally, they are showcasing their Arcules VSaaS platform, which now supports native camera-to-cloud connectivity for a completely serverless infrastructure.

 

• Brivo continues to champion cloud-native security. After the merger with Eagle Eye Networks, which was announced late last year, their focus is on integration of the brands’ VMS platforms, which provide a unified interface for managing video across thousands of global sites. Their "camera agnostic" approach remains a core tenet, allowing businesses to leverage existing analog or IP cameras while gaining the benefits of cloud management and proactive notifications.

 

Access control and integration

The boundary between physical and digital security is blurring as access control moves toward mobile-first, biometric and unified identity ecosystems.

• Genetec is introducing major enhancements to Security Center SaaS. A primary focus is their new "front desk experience," which unifies visitor management and cardholder access into a single cloud workflow. To help enterprises modernize at their own pace, Genetec is highlighting its Cloudlink appliances, which allow legacy hardware—including intrusion panels from Bosch (Radionix) and Honeywell—to be managed through a cloud interface.

 

• HID is centering its showcase on the "Identity Foundation." A major launch to watch for is HID Converged Credentials, which consolidates physical door access and logical workstation login into a single card or security key. They will also preview HID Linq Mobile for Android, a tool for administrators to manage and update Signo readers remotely. For healthcare environments, HID is demonstrating a tailored Visitor Manager that integrates directly with EHR systems to link visitors to specific patient rooms.

 

• Verkada is once again taking a different approach to booth design, offering an "immersive experience" to ISC West visitors, labeled “What if the Louvre had Verkada”. Rather than a traditional product walk-through, their booth is designed to simulate the real-world environment of an art museum where their integrated platform—spanning video, access control, air quality sensors, and alarms—operates as a single "operating system" for physical security.

 

Generative AI and agentic AI

AI is woven into nearly every intelligent security device, so it is no surprise that several manufacturers are showcasing major innovations in generative and agentic AI capabilities that will redefine how operators interact with their systems.
 

• Brivo is introducing Eeva, an AI video agent. Unlike traditional motion rules, Eeva uses a Vision Language Model (VLM) that understands natural language. Users can type "Identify when a worker is not wearing a safety vest," and the system instantly begins monitoring for that specific context across all cameras.
• OpenEye will demonstrate AI Visual Search, which functions similarly to a search engine. Users can describe a scene—such as "person carrying a box in the lobby"—to surface relevant footage in seconds rather than manually scrubbing through hours of video.
• Milestone Systems is showcasing the redesigned BriefCam engine. This new version offers a 38% improvement in real-time throughput and, also, enables natural language searches, allowing investigators to turn witness statements directly into searchable parameters.
• Genetec is integrating SAFR SCAN facial authentication into its SaaS platform, providing high-assurance biometric access that eliminates the need for physical credentials while maintaining privacy through edge-based processing.
• Motorola Solutions is highlighting Avigilon Appearance Search and advanced License Plate Recognition (LPR), which now use deep learning to categorize objects by specific sub-attributes, such as vehicle make or clothing color, across an entire site's history.

 
ISC West remains the US’ leading physical security show, held annually at The Venetian Expo, Las Vegas. This year, organizers expect over 29,000 visitors from more than 80 countries. They will be able to mingle with over 750 exhibitors at their individual booths or during over 140 sessions dedicated to a wide range of security topics.
 
For those who cannot be there in person, or want to relive the experience, you’ll be able to find exclusive reporting from the show floor over the next couple of weeks on asmag.com.