​Nearly one year ago, four miles away from the Las Vegas Convention Center a gunman opened fire on music festival goers and forever changed the lives of hundreds of people.

Fifty-eight people were killed and 851 were injured while security professionals, first responders, and law enforcement rapidly responded. Together, they all stepped up to stop the threat and help people in need.

"The Las Vegas shooting and the many other attacks on civilians happen all too frequently around the world, and serve as powerful reminders that our role is ever-evolving and our engagement and contributions are more important than ever," said ASIS President Richard E. Chase, CPP, PCI, PSP, in his opening remarks at GSX 2018 on Monday.

"When combined with natural disasters, data breaches, supply chain security, compliance challenges, and insider threats—to name a few—these dangers add up to a world defined by risk," Chase added. "As security professionals, we are at the forefront of helping to mitigate those risks."

To help security professionals in this effort, GSX Daily asked the Security Management editors to write updates on four key areas impacting today's security professionals: terrorism, technology, cybersecurity, and management.

Associate Editor Lilly Chapa takes a look at terrorism trends and the recent study of bioterrorism attacks, finding that "several in-depth reports reveal how recent breakthroughs in science might be cause for concern for national security experts."

Later in the issue, Associate Editor Holly Gilbert Stowell examines robotics and how automation will change the security landscape—and employment—as we know it.

"Adopting the new technology can be both exciting and confusing for the workforce, so robots can't be dropped into the office without a clear, defined mission within the organization," Stowell wrote.

The same could be said for cybersecurity, which is causing organizations to take new approaches to maintain consumer trust and prevent data breaches.

Through her coverage, Associate Editor Megan Gates found that many companies are avoiding breaches by conducting "cybersecurity risk assessments and implementing frameworks to address them."

And wrapping up the trends coverage is Senior Editor Mark Tarallo, who takes a look at how changing workplaces are creating a different management style.

"More organizations are looking for employees who can make independent decisions, problem solve with diverse teams, and self-manage their own time, projects, workload, and relationships," Tarallo found after reviewing recent research by Gallup.

These pieces, along with the information absorbed during GSX 2018, will help keep security professionals abreast of the challenges their organizations will face in the future—like the Las Vegas shooting.

"These tragic events are a sobering reminder that the world needs us as never before," Chase said. "I know I'm not alone in that sentiment. And what makes our profession so unique, and in my mind, so special, is that it's not just a job—it's a mission."