Alcatraz AI - Experts & Thought Leaders

Alcatraz AI, a global provider of frictionless, AI-powered biometric access control solutions revolutionising security through facial authentication, announced the appointment of Rick Nee as the company’s new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Joining at a key time for company growth in parallel with the increasing demands for solutions in the security market, Nee brings with him vast experience in developing and scaling successful go-to-market teams. Increasing demands for solutions With over 15 years of sales experience, Nee joins Alcatraz AI to execute the company’s sales strategy at a momentous time for industry opportunity and growth. Nee’s data center expertise will be paramount as Alcatraz AI expands its pioneering presence in this sector for biometric access control in 2025. Work experience  Nee is well-versed in pioneering under pressure and directing teams with collaboration and motivation Nee is an experienced security sales executive and data-driven pioneer with a proven track record of driving revenue growth through strategic leadership efforts and market strategies. With an extensive background of unique leadership experiences in both the military and market sales environments, Nee is well-versed in pioneering under pressure and directing teams with collaboration and motivation to meet objectives.  Sales approach Nee’s interest in security and technology developed during his time as a Marine Corps Infantry Officer, where he used security as his foundation in pioneering teams and was inspired to pursue a career to apply these lessons on a broader scale. Nee returned to school to earn his MBA at Syracuse University and kick-started his career, earning experience scaling operations in large enterprises and navigating the fast-paced demand of startups with his sales approach. Data-driven analytics He came to Alcatraz AI, most recently from Authentic8, where he held the position of Head of Sales. With Authentic8, Nee grew the company’s go-to-market team more than tenfold across four functions, joined early stage and doubled the annual recurring revenue (ARR) to nearly $50M, and secured partnerships with over 500 government and enterprise customers. He also utilised data-driven analytics to make informed decisions while pioneering his team in addressing pressing security challenges, including insider threats, executive protection, fraud prevention, and election security. Expanding Alcatraz AI’s presence Nee will contribute to Alcatraz AI’s success in key verticals, including data centers, hyperscalers, financial institutions With Alcatraz AI, Nee will serve as the company’s primary sales pioneer. Nee will play an important role in building and empowering the sales team, expanding Alcatraz AI’s market presence, and fostering strong relationships with the company’s partners and customers. With a focus on market trends, Nee will contribute to Alcatraz AI’s success in key verticals, including data centers, hyperscalers, financial institutions, critical infrastructure, higher education facilities, and more.  Tina's comment “We’re honoured to welcome Rick to our expanding executive leadership team at Alcatraz AI and to have him join our sales department. As the industry continues to grow, Rick will be a valuable asset in helping Alcatraz AI achieve impactful results,” said Tina D’Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI. “His strong sales growth track record, cybersecurity background, and ability to build powerhouse teams will be key in helping Alcatraz AI broaden its efforts to keep individuals and enterprises safer as technology continues to evolve.”  Innovation, security, and privacy “I’m excited to become a key member of the Alcatraz AI executive team and to contribute to the company’s commitment to innovation, security, and privacy in a growing industry,” said Nee. “As the security industry advances with the emergence of new technologies, policies, and security threats, I’m eager to help grow Alcatraz AI’s sales efforts and accelerate the adoption of their access control solutions across diverse industries. I look forward to working with the team to deliver exceptional value to our customers through seamless integration that meets the highest privacy and security standards.”

Alcatraz AI, a global provider of frictionless, AI-powered biometric access control solutions revolutionising security through facial authentication, announced the appointment of Patrick Merfert as the company’s next Vice President (VP) of Marketing. Rapidly growing market With over 15 years of experience as a technology startup marketing pioneer, venture capital investor, and strategy consultant, Merfert contributes a vast wealth of identity and security-based technology marketing knowledge to Alcatraz AI’s leadership team as the company positions itself at the forefront of the rapidly growing market. His expertise in digital identity and its transcension towards a digital-first approach aligns with Alcatraz AI’s commitment to delivering secure, frictionless, and privacy-preserving biometric authentication solutions. Work experience  Merfert has garnered years of experience in demand generation, product marketing, and brand identity Merfert is a growth and execution-focused technology startup marketing pioneer who has operated across the full lifecycle of VC-funded startups, helping tech companies go to market, differentiate, and accelerate revenues. Having worked across several startups from pre-revenue to pre-IPO, Merfert has garnered years of experience in demand generation, product marketing, and brand identity, allowing him to thrive in dynamic environments and strategise effective marketing approaches.  Education Merfert holds both an MBA and BBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, respectively. As an undergraduate, Merfert gained early exposure to technology startups, which ignited a passion for working in tight-knit, dynamic environments. Pre-MBA, he spent his early career working as a venture capital associate, serving as an investor and advisor to early-stage healthcare and technology startups.  Merfert's key roles During his time as a management consultant, Merfert played key roles in executive-level strategy and operational engagements for Fortune 500 companies across various industries and contributed to business development pursuits. Merfert later took on a marketing leadership role at Airside, where he was introduced to the identity and security space and experienced the power of digital identity authentication and access control first-hand. Role in Prove Identity Merfert joined Alcatraz AI most recently from Prove Identity, where he served as Vice President of Product Marketing. There, he led the product marketing team in positioning the global product portfolio, launching new products, enabling sales, and helping scale the company’s annual recurring revenue beyond $100M and a $1B+ valuation. He also played a pivotal role in developing the go-to-market framework to drive scalability and refining company and product messaging, earning the company multiple analyst awards. New responsibilities Merfert will direct and oversee the company’s marketing team, designing, implementing, and monitoring At Alcatraz AI, Merfert will direct and oversee the company’s marketing team, designing, implementing, and monitoring effective marketing strategies that align with the company’s business goals and drive overall revenue growth, market awareness, and competitive differentiation. Merfert will be integral in promoting product adoption, enhancing brand presence, and ensuring the company’s product offerings are both innovative and aligned with market demands. Tina's comment “The access control market is growing at a rapid pace, and Alcatraz AI is adapting to this growth by expanding our leadership team with strategic hires,” said Tina D’Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI. “We are thrilled to welcome Patrick as our new VP of Marketing. His impressive background in technology startups and deep industry marketing experience will be a driving force in helping us achieve our goal to further scale in the growing security space and continue to expand our roster of large enterprise customers.” Merfert's comment “I’m energised to be joining Alcatraz AI’s dynamic leadership team. I look forward to shaping the marketing strategy and pioneering a cross-functional team to drive growth as the company rides the wave of rapid market expansion,” said Merfert. “It’s an exciting opportunity to operate at the intersection of artificial intelligence and the identity and security market. I’m eager to shape a world-class marketing team that will maintain a strong emphasis on customers and end-users to ensure Alcatraz AI’s market-pioneering products continue delivering convenient, secure, and privacy-preserving access control experiences.”

Alcatraz AI, a pioneer in access control and AI-powered security solutions, announces the launch of its “Switch to Alcatraz AI” promotion. From November 18, 2024, through February 15, 2025, this initiative offers an exclusive discount for new customers seeking to replace outdated biometric readers with Alcatraz AI’s advanced Rock or Rock X solutions–modern, frictionless facial authentication systems that enhance security without compromising user privacy. Physical and cyber security In landscape, increased security and privacy standards are in place to address evolving concerns and challenges for both physical and cyber security. As new industry regulations are implemented to protect against potential threats, companies using legacy systems often struggle to stay compliant. Alcatraz AI’s solutions Alcatraz AI’s Rock and Rock X keys handle these crises with facial authentication Alcatraz AI’s Rock and Rock X solutions address these concerns with touchless facial authentication, real-time tailgating detection, and robust consent management, all fully compliant with BIPA, GDPR, CCPA, and more.  Unlike legacy biometric readers, Alcatraz AI’s solutions maintain data integrity by creating a secure digital profile without exposing personally identifiable information (PII). User images, names, and job titles are never displayed or stored, ensuring compliance and peace of mind. Modern security solutions During the “Switch to Alcatraz AI” promotion, eligible new customers can receive a trade-in credit on each Rock or Rock X device when replacing ten or more outdated biometric access points, including fingerprint, palm, or iris readers. Terms and conditions apply. “Yesterday’s technology is no match for today’s challenges,” said Tina D’Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI. “With the Rock and Rock X solutions, companies can make the shift from lagging legacy systems to pioneering-edge, privacy-first technology that seamlessly addresses today’s evolving security issues. Now is the perfect time to step confidently into 2025 with modern security solutions that protect both people and privacy.” Alcatraz AI’s Rock solutions Alcatraz AI’s Rock and Rock X keys empower organisations across multiple industries Alcatraz AI’s Rock and Rock X solutions empower organisations across multiple industries, including data centres, critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities, higher education campuses, entertainment venues, and more, to secure their spaces with cutting-edge technology, ensuring operational efficiency and alignment with evolving privacy standards. With an increase in companies enacting return-to-office (RTO) mandates ahead of 2025, it’s more important than ever for enterprises to prioritise workplace safety and ensure their security is well-equipped to handle the influx of additional people back in the office. Data safety This promotion marks a significant opportunity for enterprises to future-ready their access control and compliance needs and put their people's and data safety at the forefront of their business. Ring in the New Year with Alcatraz AI–make the switch and lead the way in access control technology.

ISC West 2024 mirrored a vibrant industry on the precipice of accelerated change. Factors such as the cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), edge computing, and biometrics are shaping the future of the security marketplace, and they were front-and-centre at the industry’s biggest U.S. show in Las Vegas.  Foot traffic was steady and impressive, including more than 29,000 security industry professionals viewing 750 exhibitors. A torrent of eager attendees crowded the lobby on the first day and could not wait for the doors to open. When they were admitted, the wealth of technological innovation and business opportunity did not disappoint. Focus on cloud systems Cloud systems were high-profile at ISC West. Camera manufacturer Axis, for example, introduced their Axis Cloud Connect at a press conference. Meanwhile, Genetec officially launched their Security Centre SaaS platform, which aims at eliminating points of friction to enable integrators to easily embrace cloud systems from quoting and ordering to provisioning and installing.  Camera manufacturer Axis, for example, introduced their Axis Cloud Connect at a press conference Cloud provider Eagle Eye Networks promoted their new “Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing” technology under which both non-Eagle Eye Cloud VMS customers (via Eagle Eye 911 Public Safety Camera Sharing) and Eagle Eye customers can opt to share their video feeds for use by 911 operators in case of emergency. If users opt-in, 911 operators can have access to live video as an emergency unfolds. Eagle Eye Networks provides the feature by integrating with RapidSOS call centre software. Camera locations are based on geolocation coordinates, and customers can choose if they want to participate and which cameras they want to share. Biometrics in the mainstream Biometrics were well represented at ISC West, including Alcatraz AI, which introduced an outdoor version of their biometric face recognition product. The Rock X works well despite harsh lighting. Alcatraz’s products do not have to be integrated, they communicate just like a card reader using OSDP or Wiegand protocol. “At the show, customers are excited about moving to a frictionless environment and getting rid of existing credentialing,” said Tina D’Agostin, CEO and co-founder of Alcatraz. “We are making access control frictionless, secure and private. The experience can be as passive as possible – people can just walk in.” Multiple types of authentication, and the ability to detect tailgating and stream video SAFR from Real Networks also featured biometric face recognition, emphasising feature sets, convenience, and price/performance. They offer multiple types of authentication, and the ability to detect tailgating and stream video. A new device is a small mullion mount that is “approaching the price of a card reader, factoring in the need to purchase cards,” said Brad Donaldson, Vice President and General Manager. SAFR focuses on convenience: You don’t have to take out your phone to pass through a door. Enrolment is easy by incorporating existing databases, and costs are lower than competitors, said Donaldson. The system analyses multiple points on the face, turns it into data and then encrypts it, providing a “unique signature for each person.”  Credentials in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet AMAG Technology announced the compatibility of credentials with the Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. The company is also embracing a new strategic direction under President David Sullivan. They launched a new website in January, are developing dynamic resources and a partner page, and they now integrate with 120 tech partners. AMAG Technology Financial Services now enables their channel partners to offer leasing and financing options to customers. The big new booth at ISC West reflected an effort to “market different and look different,” according to the company. The big new booth at ISC West reflected an effort to “market different and look different" The new Symmetry Control Room, a command-and-control system, is a relaunch of an earlier AMAG product with enhanced features. Suitable for large enterprise customers, the software enables a big video wall to display all the various systems and incorporates all the data into a single “pane of glass.” Operators can “draw a lasso” around cameras they want to display on the video wall and can follow action across multiple camera feeds.  Navigating megatrends A breakfast meeting for integrators, sponsored by Assa Abloy Opening Solutions, was built around the theme “Navigating Megatrends for Sustainable Growth." The megatrends are artificial intelligence, sustainability and cybersecurity. Related to cybersecurity, there are 350 common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVE) published per week, reflecting the continuing threat to cybersecurity. Physical security has a “data lake” of information from various physical security systems that can be an attractive target for cybersecurity breaches. Data sets can be exploited and/or poisoned. The security industry needs to apply “defence in depth” to the challenges of protecting data. “The threat landscape is always changing, and security technology is an iterative process,” said Antoinette King, i-PRO’s head of cyber convergence, one of the panellists. Natural language systems Natural language systems are a newer approach making an early appearance at ISC West Natural language systems are a newer approach making an early appearance at ISC West. Brivo, for example, has an early prototype of its “natural language search capabilities” that can answer questions such as “Who is in the office?” or “Where is Bob and what has he done?” Brivo also promoted its all-in-one door station device that combines a card reader and a camera (for facial authentication) and serves as a video intercom, thus eliminating the need for multiple devices at the door. Brivo is also emphasising tailgate prevention, facial authentication, and people counting using AI at the edge. Also promoting natural language systems was Verkada, which unveiled a beta version of its AI Search feature that embraces national language capabilities. With AI Search, users will soon be able to use natural language to search for people or items. For example, a search could be “person climbing over a fence” or “person making phone call” or “person wearing football jersey.” Verkada wants to be thoughtful with the rollout and make sure effective guardrails are implemented to prevent abuse and bias. The release should happen in the coming months. Multi-family applications Allegion is promoting the XE360 hardware lock platform in various formats, including cylindrical lock, mortise lock, deadbolt and exit trim. At the show, Allegion noted an enthusiasm for multi-family applications. “We have been surprised by the people who want to add electronics and to retrofit existing multi-family facilities to compete with newer facilities,” said Henry “Butch” Holland, Allegion’s Regional Director, Channel Sales East Region. Allegion works with 60 different physical access control software providers, including familiar players such as LenelS2 and Genetec Allegion also offers an “indicator” display on its locks, showing at a glance whether a door is locked or unlocked. The “indicator” might also display “occupied” or “vacant.” Allegion works with 60 different physical access control software providers, including familiar players such as LenelS2 and Genetec.  Integrator M&A trends Everon looks for acquisitions in areas where they do not currently have support for national accounts A conversation with Everon at ISC West provided insights into the accelerating trend of mergers and acquisitions among the integrator community. Everon, formerly ADT Commercial, has done six acquisitions of local integrators since they changed their name last year. In targeting companies to acquire, they look for a good company with a good reputation, and they consider how the new company’s competencies complement their own. Some M&A strategy is geographic, as Everon looks for acquisitions in areas where they do not currently have support for national accounts. They also consider density, seeking to add new acquisitions in larger markets where they don’t currently have a big market share. “A lot of investment is coming into security because it is seen by investors as recession-proof,” said Michael Kennedy, VP, Mergers and Acquisitions, for Everon. Kennedy met with 95 businesses last year for possible acquisition, and the company only finalised a handful – reflecting that Everon is selective and careful that corporate cultures are aligned. “With an acquisition, the goal is to keep every customer and every employee,” said Kennedy. Voice of the customer  ISC West provides an opportunity for manufacturers to listen to the “voice of the customer;” in person, no less. “We have every kind of problem come to the booth,” commented Heather Torrey, Honeywell’s General Manager, Commercial Security, Americas. “People are passionate, interested and very specific with their questions and comments,” she said. “We are driving a complete system, but we are flexible, helping our customers to meet their needs and not try to fit every foot into the same shoe. Sometimes meeting customer needs involves working with competitors," Torrey commented. “It truly comes back to listening to the customer, not just ‘this is what we have to offer,’” she adds. ISC West provides an opportunity for manufacturers to listen to the “voice of the customer;” in person, no less. Edge applications are everywhere at ISC West, and one company is promoting a new approach to expand functionality at the edge. Camera company i-PRO advocates the use of the “Docker” platform for app development, an option they offer on their cameras. Docker “containers” package deep-learning algorithms to make it easier to embed software into edge devices. Anyone can run Docker apps on i-PRO cameras that use the powerful Ambarella chip. A Docker “swarm” can combine multiple edge devices to work together and share resources. For example, the approach can increase computing power at the edge to increase the capabilities of instant analytics. It’s faster and provides better redundancies. A “distributed computing platform” ensures less latency than communicating analytics to a central server.  Unification of capabilities Johnson Controls (JCI) also promotes the trend of combining multiple systems into a single pane of glass. Their “Open Blue” platform, with a security version unveiled at the show, integrates various security systems into one, combining data and monitoring device health.  Basically, the system manages all resources holistically. JCI also notes a trend toward “unification of capabilities,” e.g., combining access control and video. “The scope of security is evolving from a focus on protection to a broader focus on operations,” commented Julie M. Brandt, JCI’s President, Building Solutions North America.

IFSEC International took place over three days at the ExCel in London, presented alongside shows covering fire safety, intelligent buildings, facilities management, and safety and health. While perhaps not on the same scale as pre-pandemic events, the atmosphere was convivial and spirits high, everyone glad to be back amongst their peers in the industry. Predictably, the trending topics were steered by issues in the wider world: sustainability, moving services to a subscription-based model, and new ways of working inspired by COVID-19 safety measures. A place for cutting-edge innovation After a challenging couple of years, companies were keen to meet customers, showcase their products and reveal the latest innovations. Integrated Design Limited displayed their new Glassgate 400 Plus turnstile, a sleek design for the corporate market. Tony Smith, Major Accounts and Marketing Manager, Entrance Control and Turnstile Security, told SourceSecurity.com, “I feel trade shows are a very important part of IDL’s marketing effort. We are more than pleased to display alongside our peers and have customers make direct comparisons with our products and theirs.” Biometric access reader Biometrics, as ever, generated a lot of interest, including the European launch of RealNetworks’ new SAFR SCAN biometric access reader, which combines facial recognition, computer vision, and image capture technologies for a range of applications. “Overall, there was a really good footfall, and we met an excellent mixture of end-customers, system integrators, distributors, and consultants from both Europe and the Middle East who are exactly the types of people we were hoping to demonstrate SAFR SCAN to,” commented Charlie Bennett, Vice President UK & Europe – SAFR, RealNetworks. Access control systems going green HID Global is one company leading the way in the move away from plastics to focus on mobile access The eco-friendly trend and the need to be more sustainable is becoming a real force in the security industry, particularly in access control where there is considerable pressure to ditch the plastic. HID Global is one company leading the way in the move away from plastics to focus on mobile access. Gerald Grattoni, Physical Access Control Solutions Regional Business Unit Vice President at HID Global (part of the ASSA ABLOY Group), explained in a press briefing, “Making buildings smarter and more eco-conscious is high on the corporate responsibility agenda of many companies as the sustainability credentials of new buildings are now very important. With digitalised mobile identities there is less plastic waste and lower emissions.” Flexible, remote, and contactless Innovation in smart buildings is also being led by changes to how we work, live, and play, inspired in part by the recent pandemic. New technology is required to meet the needs of the hybrid workspace, as employers adopt more flexible working models and demand for contactless access control increases. Now, the most technologically sophisticated buildings are controlled by an app on a mobile phone, giving ease of access and full control without the need for plastic cards. Remote monitoring Advances in remote monitoring have escalated due to COVID-19, particularly in high demand in the health and education markets. Connecting via industrial standard network protocols allows for remote communication Ian Bridgewater, Director, Technical Sales Manager, TOA Corporation (UK) Ltd, explained further, “Connecting via industrial standard network protocols allows for remote communication. Working with specialist software developers has expanded this, giving greater flexibility to monitor and maintain systems remotely from a central hub.” AI-based autonomous access solution AI also has a role to play in this new high-tech, touchless world and various companies are utilising this technology. Alcatraz AI found IFSEC the perfect opportunity to exhibit their new Rock autonomous access solution. "We now live in a time in which AI can make precise real-time decisions at the door to authenticate or deny access using your face as a credential,” said Greg Sarrail, Senior Vice President of Sales at Alcatraz AI. “IFSEC 2022 allowed Alcatraz AI to demonstrate the speed and accuracy of autonomous access control. The number of qualified partners and end-users representing a broad international scope in attendance at IFSEC was encouraging.” Meanwhile, the Eagle Eye Networks stand attracted a lot of visitors keen for a demo of their new Eagle Eye Smart Video Search, which allows users to search for people, vehicles, or objects, and immediately find the exact video across all cameras in all sites. "AI and cloud are two trends that Eagle Eye, the media, and the security business community have been talking about for a while. We were excited to showcase Eagle Eye's new AI-powered technologies at IFSEC 2022," added Rishi Lodhia, Eagle Eye Networks Vice President and Manager Director EMEA. "Our stand was buzzing with activity and AI was the main topic of discussion for all three days. All in all, a great show."  Investing in a secure future Engineers of Tomorrow gave apprentice finalists the chance to show off their skills in front of thousands of peers and professionals from the security sectors live on the show floor. The winners will go on to the WorldSkills UK (WSUK) LIVE competition – the nation’s premier skills, apprenticeships, and careers event. Although the products on display at IFSEC promised a contactless, digital future, this was a good reminder of the importance of the people who install and maintain these systems and the vital role of engineering apprenticeships in the industry.

Facial recognition is a mature technology that continues to change and evolve. New innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) are expanding facial recognition capabilities, even as privacy concerns, though often misguided, undermine wider acceptance in the market. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the new developments in facial recognition?