Security professionals from around the world flocked to Las Vegas this week to participate in 2025’s ISC West conference and expo.
Some of the more common buzzwords from the show floor this year were "seamless" and "flexible," though for good reason. Security ecosystems are becoming broader, more integrated, and more feature-rich, making ease of use paramount for installers and end users who want the benefits of robust security without compromising the employee or customer experience (or spending vast amounts of money).
Past the throngs of people and massive frontline booths are a small number of first-time exhibitors looking to throw their hats into this ring as well. One such brand is Accessia, an access control company seeking to both improve the user experience and bolster an organization's security culture via unintrusive, frictionless systems.
SecurityInfoWatch spoke with Accessia’s Head of Marketing, Nicola Ferguson, and Paav Gandhi, Accessia’s Head of Product and co-founder, on the ISC West show floor this April.
Expanding Awareness
“Our focus at ISC West this year is just about showing people we’re real,” Ferguson laughed. “We need to get our voice out there—it’s one thing to see products online and another to see them in use.”
Accessia’s main goal, Ferguson then elaborated, is to project the voice of the brand. Founded in 2021, the London-based company specializes in cloud-based access and smart physical security. Offerings have grown to include visitor management, location safety services, and more in its three years of operation.
“As a brand, Accessia stands for access to information, access to better experiences, and access to better security,” said Ferguson. “We want to raise the security bar without hindering the user experience.”
Security Culture, Convenience, and You
This is the full picture Accessia is trying to paint. “It’s not just about security—it’s about how the entire workplace operates,” said Gandhi. “It’s about catering to others, understanding your data, and improving people’s experiences. We want this experience to be seamless. Users shouldn’t need to think about it.”
Cloud Converter for S2 Netbox is the company’s answer to the traditionally long and costly process of ripping up legacy systems to migrate to cloud-based access control. An alteration of an organization’s existing LenelS2 deployment, the Cloud Converter’s major selling point is the lack of hassle it takes to upgrade.
“It’s a simple upgrade that involves replacing your existing S2’s node blade with Accessia’s own cloud blade,” Gandhi explained. “This enables cloud access with the hardware you already have.”
The replacement process typically takes less than an hour, with most users able to run their new cloud-based access control systems within the same time span. Accessia also migrates doors and existing credentials to the new system to minimize disruption.
“Ripping out or replacing your old access control platform is a very inconvenient and expensive process—it’s one of the biggest barriers to cloud migration,” said Ferguson.
Hands-Off Access Control
The second major technology Accessia showcased was its newly announced Ultra-wideband (UWB). UWB access control solutions, Gandhi explained, are a significant upgrade from traditional Bluetooth-based mobile access control systems—you don’t even have to unlock the door.
“Our UWB access control readers are another way we’re looking to lower the security barrier,” said Ferguson. “Instead of having to wave a badge around, you walk straight through.”
Because UWB is capable of measuring extremely precise distances, Accessia’s readers are able to detect exactly how close by an individual is. If they are running Accessia on a UWB-enabled phone and walk into the designated ‘unlock zone,’ the door will automatically open, regardless of where the phone is on their person. Additionally, because the device is able to read a person’s path of approach, it is a lot more difficult for malicious actors to sneak in before or after someone credentialed passes through.
“Our system is built for convenience, but convenience is just one of its benefits,” Gandhi said. “You don’t always have the full picture with just access control.”
Using access control systems to generate actionable data isn’t a recent development, but Accessia’s UWB approach enables organizations to do so without causing additional inconveniences to users. The company’s Location Services offering, which uses Bluetooth beacons to map who is in what space, allows for improvements to visitor management and life safety without placing access control readers on every door in the building.
“Let’s say your employees have just badged in through the front door—where in the building are they right now?” asked Gandhi. “Adding new readers just creates more security barriers, which is something we try to avoid. Using Bluetooth and UWB to map who is in what space gives us a fuller picture of our buildings without making users leap over extra hurdles.”
The Workplace of the Future
The company’s first outing on the show floor was certainly not an uneventful one. Shortly after making their ISC West debut, Accessia’s access control readers were awarded an ‘Honorable Mention’ in SIA’s New Products and Solutions Awards in the Access Control Software, Hardware, Devices & Peripherals—Wired category. For this first-year exhibitor, it’s a sign that they’re making waves.
“We look at things the average security shopper isn’t looking for, which is what helps us in these conversations,” finished Ferguson. “We see Accessia’s technology empowering the workplaces of the future.”
Interested attendees can visit Accessia's booth (#6109) at the Venetian expo in Las Vegas.
