In the spring, a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of …new security products.

Granted, that’s not what Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote; it wouldn’t have fit his meter. With ISC West approaching, the entire security industry is looking to Las Vegas.

The exhibit floor at the Sands Convention Center will be open April 6-8, and this year’s show is expected to be even bigger and better. With close to 1,000 exhibitors and 300,000 square feet of products projected, this will be attendees’ first chance to see what new solutions are available in 2011 to secure their businesses and facilities.

Many enhancements are being put in place for this year’s show. First, the floor will be segmented into industry categories, allowing for more efficient browsing if you’re looking for a specific type of product. Second, a Global Expo will feature international exhibitors. Third, a show planner is available at www.iscwest.com that enables attendees to search exhibitors, view the layout of the exhibits and the product categories and create a plan for the show.

In addition, the Public Security & Safety Expo will return to display security products of special interest to the law enforcement and homeland security communities. The New Product Showcase, now in its fourth decade, will have an expanded set of categories that reflects the growth and evolution of the security industry.

But ISC West, of course, is not just about products. The April 5-7 Education Conference will offer high-quality training opportunities for the entire security channel, from manufacturers to end-users. Not too many years ago, this conference, admittedly, was not one of the strongest parts of the show, but Reed Exhibitions (show producer) and the Education Department of the Security Industry Association (sole sponsor of the show) revamped it last year. The results of the overhaul were impressive. More than three out of four conference attendees who responded to a survey said that they found the education sessions to be valuable educational experiences and that they obtained information and ideas that will help them be more effective on the job. Nearly 85 percent, meanwhile, said that the presenters demonstrated subject matter expertise.

Another major feature of ISC is the wealth of networking opportunities. The Security Industry Association will once again host the SIA Customer Appreciation Reception. This year’s event will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on the evening of April 5. If you want to party like a rock star, sign up at no charge on the SIA website (www.siaonline.org).

Of course, this is only a brief look at what will be going on at ISC West. The products, education and networking that will be available may not move a person to compose poetry, but they certainly can help one’s business.  

Ronald L. Hawkins is communications manager of the Security Industry Association (www.siaonline.org).