By Jimmy Ek
Open technology drives innovation in security, safety and operational efficiency. Open communication fosters unity and is a vital component of trusted partnerships. Axis event in beautiful Malmö brought these together brilliantly in one place to close this exciting series of eight OPEN events which spanned Europe from London to Helsinki in spectacular fashion.
Held a short hop from our Lund headquarters, the event clearly highlighted the power of open partnership and was the prevailing takeaway from our final OPEN event of 2024. Through engaging plenary sessions, active debates and hands-on technology demonstrations, Axis and its partners united with attendees to freely share ideas and innovations.
Engaging collaboration
Axis is, of course, a company built on openness. From the beginning, we have focused on an open approach to our technology and our partners, encouraging them to be open in turn with their customers. The people we work with are the most important part of our business. To quote Axis co-founder Martin Gren, speaking in his keynote address at OPEN Malmö: “To always be open lies at the heart of our business model. It’s basic: don’t compete with your customer, and if it’s fun to be a partner or reseller, you do better business.”
Interacting with attendees of OPEN Malmö made the reality of that approach perfectly clear. Frank and honest communication is a key component of the Axis philosophy; opportunities for the kind of discussion and collaboration we enjoyed at OPEN do not come along often. The energy and camaraderie between attendees were exceptional because the Axis ecosystem is not about competition. We are working together – Axis, our partners, and our end users alike – to create a smarter, safer world as one.
Exploring security trends
Key sessions at OPEN Malmö highlighted the most important topics in security today. These included a focus on the camera’s evolution from simple video to advanced data gathering and analytics, something that would not be possible without the flexibility and interoperability of open platforms. Many speakers underscored the importance of unrestricted development, experimentation, and data sharing in creating the applications which will power the camera’s future role in operational efficiency and business intelligence.
Digital transformation, driven by the integration of AI and deep learning into network video platforms, was a popular topic, with a breakout session bringing together members of the Axis core team and key partners to reveal real-world ways that video data and edge analytics are making a difference. Another session focused on total cost of ownership, and the fact that end users should focus on the long-term value of cameras, storage and installation over initial acquisition cost.
Navigating a changing landscape
Talk of new cybersecurity regulations revealed the increasing value of open platforms in achieving and retaining compliance. Attendee discussion of the implementation of the EU’s NIS 2 directive, which regulates cybersecurity in the ICT supply chain, proved that due diligence and transparency will be key to assuage the concerns of the industry.
A critical aspect of dialogue was the intersection of sustainability and ethics. The culture of transparency created by open platforms encourages stakeholders to act responsibly and sustainably, and OPEN attendees agreed that freely sharing insights and innovations is a positive way to encourage a culture of collaboration and collective accountability.
The power of openness
OPEN Malmö offered perspective from the other side, with David Jacoby, from security expert Unbreached AB, presenting a fascinating look at the history of cybercrime, the rise of ethical hacking, and the fact that the industry’s biggest security vulnerabilities are inadvertently self-made. A cultural shift towards openness will place the industry in a much stronger position to deal with threats – working together, sharing vulnerabilities as well as solutions, allows us to fight cybercrime with unity.
A collective journey of discovery, OPEN Malmö was a chance for Axis to demonstrate our latest innovations for 2024, for attendees to explore new technology from our partners, and for all to learn how open platforms can drive positive change and enhance security. Proof, if it were needed, that embracing the spirit of openness empowers the whole industry to tackle challenges collectively. The Axis ecosystem thrives on shared knowledge and mutual support – and OPEN Malmö ably demonstrated how powerful that can be.
