Recognizing Don Morron's Leadership in AI Innovation
- Oct 7
- 3 min read
by Asher Cohen
Meet Don Morron, one of LSA’s Top 40 Global Thought Leaders in Security & Life Safety. Don is the founder and CEO of HighlandTech, an AI Automation Agency that builds Agents to handle repetitive business tasks for companies, creating faster and more reliable solutions for protecting people, property, and assets. HighlandTech is unique in that it is the only AI agent service created specifically for the security industry ecosystem across end users, integrators, and manufacturers.
After spending many years in physical security, Don decided to self-fund HighlandTech to take action in the emerging field of AI.
Q: How did you get started in AI, and what challenges did you face?
A: Creating HighlandTech required navigating a completely new industry and business, which came with its own hurdles. After many years working in enterprise sales, I knew that making a significant impact, especially in technological innovation, does not come from doing what is familiar and easy, but rather, it requires risk, sacrifice, and hard work.
Q: How did you encourage the acceptance of AI technology in the security field, which often holds a conservative stance on the adoption of new technologies?
A: One of the biggest barriers I saw was education. Many security leaders weren’t engaging with AI because of a lack of information and an unwillingness to change. I remind them that too much risk aversion can lead to obsolescence, just like it did for those who bet against the internet. History doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes—and innovation doesn’t wait on anyone. When security leaders reflect on that, they’re better prepared to take calculated risks the same way they do with other technologies.
Q: Can you tell us how you approach educating the industry on proper AI implementation?
A: AI Agents need to understand their assigned task just like a human worker. The difference is that the workflow has to be clearly defined—or at least most of it. Humans are great at operating in the grey. AI can work in the grey too, but only if it’s instructed properly. At HighlandTech, every project starts with a detailed workflow diagram that maps out the steps an AI Agent should follow. This gives the agent a path to complete the workflow with fewer errors, similar to standard automation. That workflow diagram is critical to proper AI Agent implementation.
“I knew that making a significant impact, especially in technological innovation, does not come from doing what is familiar and easy, but rather, it requires risk, sacrifice, and hard work.”
Q: Can risk liabilities be mitigated when training an AI agent?
A: Yes. Liabilities can be managed by injecting autonomy only where it’s needed. This autonomy—also known as “agency,” which is where the name Agent comes from—has to be limited. By controlling what data an AI can read and write, you restrict it to only the information necessary to complete a task. That makes the agent more effective and safer. These restrictions are what we call guardrails.
Q: What is your favorite security, leadership book, publication, or podcast?
A: For the security industry, I’d say my own podcast, AI PHYSEC TODAY, because it focuses on topics I’m passionate about. Outside of the industry, I love The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett.
Q: What is your favorite security or leadership TV show, streaming series, or movie?
A: For leadership, I’d pick The Office. It’s a reminder to enjoy your work and not take everything too seriously. I think security professionals especially need a good laugh once in a while.
Q: What is your favorite security or leadership event to attend?
A: ISC West never disappoints. It brings the best of everything into one event each year. If you’re going to attend one security industry event in the US, this is the one I recommend.