Verkada’s Blake Day on cloud security, ASEAN growth, and the future of physical security

Blake Day joins Verkada as its new ASEAN head at a time when the cloud security company seeks to translate growth momentum into a strong foothold in markets around the world. In ASEAN, which boasts robust economic growth across multiple countries, Verkada is faced with “a level of complexity [that] is unparalleled in other regions.”
 
This challenge, however, is what drew Day back to a part of the world that he first explored some decades ago. Now it is about driving a “sea of change” and help physical security customers “transformative shifts from on-prem systems to the cloud,” as he told asmag.com in this exclusive interview.
 
Q: The number of Verkada's regional offices grew from nine to 15 in the past two years, including the one in Singapore. What are the biggest challenges in maintaining such rapid global expansion momentum and how will you tackle the task as the new ASEAN head?
 
Day: Expanding globally at the pace Verkada has achieved is exciting, but it also demands a very thoughtful approach, especially in a region as diverse as ASEAN. Each market has its own unique needs and dynamics, so it's critical that we're strategic, focusing on the areas where we can have the biggest impact rather than trying to cover too much ground too quickly.
 
My focus will be on building depth, not just breadth, within the region by identifying the markets where we can deliver the most value and investing in strong, local channel partnerships. Developing a robust network of trusted partners across ASEAN will be critical to our success.
 
We're already working with leading integrators and channel partners like Ademco and Calsius, and I'm eager to welcome new partners who share our vision and can help us scale even faster across the region. By working closely with local partners who understand the unique needs of each country, we can better serve our customers and sustain the momentum Verkada has built.
 
Q: You joined Verkada from outside the security industry. With your experience delivering growth in the finance and human resources sector, what similarities and differences do you see? Are there synergies?
 
Day: There's more overlap than meets the eye. I had a front row seat to seeing how the cloud completely transformed the ways that finance and HR organizations managed and accessed data, taking complex, fragmented systems and making them simpler, more accessible, and more secure. 
 
We're seeing the same transformation happening in the security industry, and Verkada is the leader driving this sea of change. I'm energized by the ways that our easy-to-use, cloud-based platform is solving a very real and pressing challenge in the world: safety. And importantly, I'm excited to bring my experience helping organizations make these kinds of transformative shifts from on-prem systems to the cloud to bear in such an important space. 
 
Q: Verkada has never shied away from upending business cultures. How was the company and its Silicon Valley ethos met in Asia?
 
Day: At the end of the day, the fundamentals of how we go to market are very consistent, and they resonate globally. Our sales motion is rooted in solving real-world use cases for customers across key verticals, whether that's in education, retail, manufacturing, or more.
 
Of course, it's important to be thoughtful about cultural nuances, but the core of what Verkada offers—simplicity, security, and better outcomes through the cloud—translates well across markets, including in ASEAN.
 
Q: In which ASEAN markets do you see the biggest opportunities for Verkada and what, among the company's vast portfolio, are you bringing to the region first?
 
Day: We're seeing strong momentum with Verkada's cameras, access control, and intercom solutions, which address critical needs across industries and often serve as the first step for organizations modernizing their physical security.
 
In terms of markets, we see the biggest opportunities in countries where there's strong economic growth and a large presence of multinational companies. Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines are key focus areas.
 
Singapore is an obvious hub for innovation and regional business, and we're seeing a lot of momentum in Malaysia due to its rapidly expanding economy that’s attracting more international investment. The Philippines is also especially exciting—it's one of the fastest-growing economies in the region with a strong base of multinational companies that are rapidly modernizing their infrastructure.
 
Q: As a company that previously focused on direct sales, what channels and partners will you focus on in ASEAN—IT companies, channel players or security channel players?
 
Day: Verkada sells exclusively through the channel, which is why we are so focused on building a strong partner network in ASEAN. That includes working with both IT channel players and traditional security partners. We see two key types of partners that will be essential for our growth in the region: strong regional partners who can operate across multiple geographies, and local partners with deep expertise in their specific markets.
 
Together, they'll help us scale effectively while staying closely aligned to the needs of customers in each country.
 
Q: What sets the ASEAN area apart from other markets that Verkada has increasingly targeted in the past few years?
 
Day: What really sets ASEAN apart is its diversity across languages, cultures, regulations, and market maturity. That level of complexity is unparalleled in other regions, and it's exactly why we have to take a more targeted, focused approach here.
 
We're not trying to scale with a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, we see a big opportunity to succeed by tailoring our approach to the unique needs of each market and building deep, localized partnerships that can drive long-term growth.
 
Q: What adaptations did Verkada make to meet regional needs and requirements, such as that data need to be stored domestically according to the laws in some ASEAN countries?
 
Day: Verkada recognizes that customers have unique data management preferences and operational needs. We offer regional storage options for camera and video footage to give customers greater control over where certain data is stored. 
 
This flexibility doesn't just make data governance easier—storing data closer to where it's generated can also reduce latency and improve access speeds, which makes a real difference when customers need to quickly retrieve footage. And no matter where the data is stored, we apply the same industry-leading security standards globally, including encrypting data both in transit and at rest, to ensure customer data is protected.
 
We always recommend that customers assess their specific regulatory obligations and consult with legal counsel to ensure they meet all necessary requirements.  
 
Q: With many other players in the industry introducing intricate cloud architectures, what sets Verkada apart from its competitors?
 
Day: Verkada's key differentiator is that all of our solutions—video security cameras, access control, environmental sensors, alarms, workplace, and intercoms—seamlessly integrate on a single user-friendly cloud platform. Unlike other vendors that offer point solutions or loosely connected cloud products, Verkada delivers a unified ecosystem that works together out of the box. This allows organizations to streamline operations, gain richer context, and manage their entire physical security environment from one intuitive interface.
 
Further, Verkada's platform is designed with simplicity in mind, ensuring the user experience to find video security camera footage or open a door is as intuitive and easy to use as the apps that we use in our daily lives to order groceries online or book a taxi.
 
Beyond the end user, Verkada also streamlines the experience for installers and integrators. Because all of Verkada's products are cloud-native, they can be installed and online within minutes, greatly reducing what has traditionally been a time-intensive process. 
 
Q: What areas of innovation and industry trends are you most excited about in the next 12–18 months?
 
Day: Cloud transition will continue to be a significant trend over the next 18 months. We've seen industries like finance, manufacturing, and healthcare benefit from moving large, complex datasets to the cloud, and now physical security is undergoing that same transformation.
 
There are still segments of the market that haven't fully made the shift, and that's where we see a big opportunity to help more organizations unlock the full benefits of the cloud, from simplified operations to greater scalability and resilience.
 
At the same time, AI is helping security teams move from a reactive approach to a more proactive one. And thanks to the rise of cloud-based platforms, advanced AI tools are now more accessible than ever. Organizations of all sizes can deploy practical, actionable, and responsible AI to enhance safety, improve incident response times, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
 
As the technology continues to mature, it's becoming an integral part of everyday security workflows, putting powerful capabilities into more hands and transforming how we keep people and places safe.
 
Q: You've led teams of experts across multiple geographies and industries. What's your leadership philosophy, and how do you hope to shape the culture of Verkada's ASEAN team?
 
Day: My leadership philosophy is centered around accessibility—I believe it’s incredibly important to be available and responsive. I see my primary job as removing obstacles so that my team, especially our account executives, can focus on what they do best: building strong customer relationships and helping organizations protect their people and places.
 
As we grow the ASEAN team, I want to foster a culture that's collaborative, supportive, and built around shared success. I want people to feel like they're part of a team where, if they run into a challenge, there are multiple people they can turn to for help, ideas, or new perspectives. Creating that environment of camaraderie and collaboration will be key to helping us scale and win together.
 
Q: The last question is rather personal: Is there a throughline from your first ASEAN experience to your new position with Verkada? As far as I see, you first came to the region as a missionary—to the Philippines more than 15 years ago—and then returned to Singapore in 2021.
 
Day: My first experience living in the Philippines had a big impact on me—the culture, the people, the food—it all left a lasting impression. I knew even then that I wanted to come back to this part of the world. Since returning to the region, that connection and excitement have only deepened.
 
That's part of what makes this opportunity with Verkada so special—I get to work in a region I'm passionate about, while helping build our business at a time when there's still so much room for growth. Being able to lay the foundation for a strong, lasting presence across multiple diverse markets is a challenge I'm genuinely energized by.