Gallagher Security launches podcast on access control

Gallagher Security has launched a podcast, In The Know, focused on the overlap between access control and IT.

The monthly series is aimed at security and IT professionals navigating changes in how physical security systems are managed. It begins with a six-part first season, IT Meets the Door, presented by Tim Orr, Sales Manager - South Island, and Kaz Cairns, Business Development Manager.

The launch reflects a wider shift in the security market as access control systems become more closely tied to broader IT environments. Those links now extend into cybersecurity frameworks, cloud platforms, and HR systems, widening the group involved in overseeing building access and related security tools.

That shift has changed the role of internal IT teams as well as security specialists. Organisations that once treated access control as a facilities matter are now more likely to manage it as part of a wider technology estate, raising questions about governance, system integration, and operational ownership.

Each episode in the first series runs for about 10 minutes. A companion blog written by Orr accompanies the episodes and expands on the topics discussed.

Wayne Scott, General Manager of NZ Sales at Gallagher Security, said the podcast responds to practical issues customers are facing.

"Access Control is no longer a standalone piece of hardware sitting in a facilities cupboard, and organisations are feeling that shift," Scott said.

"In The Know is our way of meeting people where they are in that journey and giving them something practical to take back to their organisations."

The first season examines what the convergence of physical security and IT means for organisations and the staff managing those systems. The focus is less on product discussion and more on how responsibilities are changing inside businesses and public sector bodies.

For many organisations, the issue is as much organisational as technical. Security teams are increasingly expected to work with software platforms, digital identity tools, and internal technology policies, while IT departments are being drawn into decisions that were previously outside their remit.

Orr said those changes have become more visible over the past few years as roles evolve.

"IT teams are inheriting access control responsibilities that didn't exist in their remit five years ago, and security professionals are being asked to engage with technology in entirely new ways," said Tim Orr, Sales Manager - South Island, Gallagher Security.

"Each episode is designed to be direct and practical, covering not just where the industry is heading but what organisations can actually do to stay ahead of it."

Industry shift

Gallagher's move into podcasting underlines how security suppliers are increasingly positioning themselves as advisers on workplace technology and risk management, rather than only hardware vendors. As connected systems spread across offices, campuses, and industrial sites, buyers are often looking for guidance on policy, ownership, and integration as much as on the devices themselves.

The title of the second planned series, From Hardware to Infrastructure, points to that broader market direction. It reflects a view of access control as part of core digital infrastructure rather than a standalone physical security tool.

Gallagher is based in Hamilton, New Zealand, and says it operates in 140 countries across government, military, commercial, industrial, healthcare, transport, academic, and small business settings. The company has been building its profile around integrated security systems as customer requirements shift toward more connected operating environments.

The latest push into audio content also reflects the growing use of short-form professional media by business technology suppliers seeking to reach specialist audiences. By keeping episodes brief, Gallagher appears to be targeting working professionals who want condensed discussion of industry issues rather than long-form analysis.

The series is released monthly, with the second episode of IT Meets the Door already available. Gallagher plans to widen the format over time by bringing in external guests to discuss the trends and challenges shaping the security sector.