Whether we like it or not, we’re being pulled into geopolitics.
And when I say “we”, that could mean several things. But for the sake of this article, let’s agree on one thing: the security industry is no longer operating at the sidelines of global events.
It’s being shaped by them. Directly.
What used to feel abstract is now affecting business continuity, supply chains, and even access to energy. And this wasn’t just my impression. It was a recurring theme across conversations and sessions at this year’s ASIS Europe conference.
We’ve just wrapped up two fully satisfying days at ASIS 2026. And after a few years of attending, you start to notice a pattern. Looking back at my notes, I realized something. The topics themselves weren’t “new” but the tone around them was different.
Here are a few shifts that felt different this year:
Geopolitics is no longer background noise
As I mentioned before, geopolitics came up in multiple sessions—and not in an abstract way.
The idea that we’re moving from one dominant superpower to several competing ones creates a very different reality. The “rules” are shifting, and it’s not yet clear what will replace them.
What I found particularly relevant for us in Europe is the position we’re in. Economically and strategically, we’re navigating between larger powers, while also dealing with internal challenges like regulations and energy dependency.
That has a direct impact on how organizations think about risk, supply chains, and continuity.
It raises a bigger question for organizations: how do you operate when the environment itself is unstable (and not just the threats within it)?
Resilience is something you have to rehearse
One quote that stuck with me, from keynote speaker Erwin Verstraelen: “Hope is never a strategy.”
A lot of sessions focused on resilience—but not in the traditional sense of having plans in place.
The emphasis is shifting towards actually testing those plans.
Digital twins were a big topic here. Examples ranged from airports to ports and energy grids—using simulations to test crisis scenarios, predict cascading effects, and rehearse decisions in real time.
Because, in practice, assumptions don’t hold up once a real crisis hits. So, the implication is clear. Resilience is no longer something you describe. It’s something you need to demonstrate, and consistently.
Technology is maturing—and being challenged
AI, sensors, drones, satellite data… none of that is new anymore.
What felt different this year is that the conversation is becoming more critical.
It’s less about what technology can do and more about whether it actually delivers value in a real operational context.
One of the keynote examples (the Port of Antwerp-Bruges) showed this well:
- combining sensors, drones, and AI into a “digital nervous system”
- using data to detect anomalies, like unusual sailing patterns
- building towards a digital twin of the entire port
But even there, the message was clear: don’t just experiment. Prove the value. Especially in environments where failure isn’t theoretical but operational.
Partnerships matter more than ever
Another idea that came back in different ways was this: “Make the connections before the storm.”
In a more complex and uncertain world, no organization can operate on its own.
Whether it’s sharing intelligence, working with authorities, or coordinating across supply chains, collaboration is becoming essential.
But what stood out is that this can’t be improvised during a crisis. It needs to be built in advance, based on trust.
From protecting to connecting
One of the closing reflections captured something that had been building throughout the event.
Security professionals are not just protectors anymore—they’re becoming connectors.
And speaking of connectors, allow me this tangent…
Team Nedap Security will always be a team of connectors. And it showed again this year as we hosted the Security Leaders Networking Dinner. Thank you again to all our dedicated security professionals and dinner guests!
But back to this notion of connecting. We’re talking about connecting information across teams, different parts of the organization, and external partners.
It’s a subtle shift, but an important one. And while it’s also not a “new” topic, what this sense of connection reinforces is the fact that we’re operating in a different kind of environment. One that is more interconnected, more unpredictable, and more dependent on collaboration.
For me, the biggest takeaway is that security is becoming less about reacting to incidents—and more about helping organizations navigate that complexity.
And I truly look forward to continuing this conversation next year in Liverpool. Let’s promise to check in on how our conversations have evolved.
See you next year…
