ASIAL Security Insider

Drones and robotics are moving from niche capability to mainstream security tools—and at the same time, they’re creating entirely new attack paths for adversaries. In this episode of the ASIAL Security Insider Podcast, we speak with Deborah Evans (Edith Cowan University) about where unmanned systems and robotics are heading, what’s already in use across security and law enforcement, and what the industry must do to prepare. 

We discuss current developments in UAVs and other Unmanned Systems (UxS) and robotics, the pace-setting influence of China and the United States, and how modern conflict—especially Ukraine/Russia—is driving rapid innovation, adaptability, and proliferation.

From a practical security operations lens, we explore what’s likely to be adopted next: more persistent surveillance and patrol, disaster response, and environmental monitoring, enabled by higher-level data analytics and increasingly autonomous systems. We also look further ahead at emerging capabilities such as micro and nano systems, swarming, and the evolution of Counter-UAS (C-UAS)—including detection methods and the trade-offs between kinetic, non-kinetic, and hybrid defeat approaches.

Finally, we address the issues that will shape real-world adoption: preparedness, regulation, social and national security concerns, and why the security industry must lead proactively, accept measured crossover from military development, and invest intelligently in C-UAS readiness.

Key topics covered

UAV/UxS and robotics: what’s real right now
Security use cases: surveillance, patrol, SAR, law enforcement support
How drones are being used to defeat security and policing
What’s next: autonomy + analytics + scale
Swarms, micro/nano systems, and autonomous weapons implications
C-UAS: detection, kinetic vs non-kinetic vs combined approaches
Regulation, adoption barriers, and what security should do now

92% of security leaders agree: the future of physical security is in the cloud. With this inevitable shift from on-premise setups to feature-rich cloud systems, join us as we explore the past, present and future of cloud-based security. In this episode of the Security Insider podcast, we speak with Dimitrie Sandu, Head of Solutions Engineering (EMEA), Verdaka about:
• The benefits and considerations of pure cloud, hybrid cloud, and old-school security setups.
• How AI can revolutionise physical security across any industry.
• Why security pros are moving away from vintage on-prem solutions in favour of the cloud (spoiler: it’s all about speed and flexibility).
• How can integrated systems improve threat detection and response in real-time?

From ‘smart cities’ to AI-shaped public spaces—how do we keep the cyber-physical world safe? In this episode of the Security Insider podcast, we’re joined by Adam Beck, the founding force behind the Smart Cities Council in Australia and New Zealand, to unpack what’s hype, what’s real, and what security leaders must do next.

If you’re a corporate security manager, a security company owner, or a government security adviser, this episode will give you a pragmatic playbook: governance, architecture, and procurement moves that reduce risk while unlocking value from city-scale tech.

The security industry has a growing problem: not enough young leaders are choosing security as a first career. Furthermore, for those younger people who do enter the industry, too many struggle to see a clear path forward. In this episode, I speak with Codee Ludbey (CPP), co-founder of Core42 and a researcher focused on corporate security careers and progression. We explore what’s holding recruitment and retention back, how to make security a more attractive and future-focused profession, and what employers can do right now to develop the next wave of capable security leaders.

In this episode of the ASIAL Security Insider Podcast, we sit down with Dr Tony Zalewski to unpack occupational health and safety in the security industry – what it really means in practice, and where organisations commonly get it wrong. Drawing on decades of experience in risk, security and major personal injury cases, Tony explains who is responsible for providing a safe workplace, how effective WHS systems are developed, and why context and consultation are critical. We also explore practical approaches to risk assessment, the difference between a safe system of work and a safe place of work, and real-world lessons from case studies that every security provider, venue operator and contractor should hear.