Future of Physical Security: Five Anticipations for the Coming Year
Cloud-Based Security: The Pragmatic Shift for 2025
Genetec has unveiled the sixth edition of their annual State of Physical Security Report, providing predictions for the year ahead, based on insights from over 5,600 physical security experts.
1. Embracing Hybrid Deployments
Almost half (48%) of European end users acknowledge ageing and outdated physical security and/or IT infrastructure as a top challenge. Consequently, while the adoption of cloud-based infrastructure continues, organizations are becoming increasingly strategic about the deployment of cloud solutions within their environment.
According to the report, 43% of end users envision hybrid deployments as their preferred approach within the next five years, compared to just 18% favouring fully cloud-based implementations and 17% planning to remain solely on-premises. This preference for hybrid-cloud is echoed by security consultants and channel partners, with 66% of consultants planning to recommend hybrid deployments in the near future.
- The Power of Intelligent Automation
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into physical security systems has great potential, and one end-users are eager to explore, with 10% implementing AI in 2024 and 37% planning to in 2025. However, concerns surrounding privacy, ethics, and data bias remain.
AI-enabled security solutions can make a significant impact, especially when organizations focus on key operational challenges and solve them using intelligent automation (IA), intuitive user experiences (UX), and automation. By ensuring ethical and transparent practices, these systems can provide a secure and trustworthy solution for organizations and technology partners.
In practice, AI will help improve event detection through video analytics, streamline emergency responses, filter and classify events for human assessment, and identify process improvements, transforming data overload into actionable intelligence.
- Regulatory Compliance: A Necessary Priority
Compliance is a critical concern, as both cybersecurity threats and regulatory responsibility continues to escalate. Recent data shows record-breaking costs associated with today's data breaches, emphasizing the significance of strict compliance measures.
Key regulations such as GDPR, SOC II Type II, and NIS2 are shaping data protection strategies, particularly as security systems rely on interconnected networks and cloud storage. In 2025, we can expect increased emphasis on strengthening cyber hygiene practices, improving data encryption, and aligning with international and industry-specific regulatory requirements.
- Unity in Security: Strength in Numbers
72% of channel partners anticipate hiring challenges to continue, understandably emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collaboration. In light of this, tools for 'data analysis and visualization,' and 'enhancing cross-team collaboration' remain among the top priorities for 2025.
As resource constraints persist, collaboration between security, IT, facilities, and other departments is crucial for effective security management. Work management software offers a central hub for information, enhancing communication, work dispatching, and resource management, while digital evidence management tools streamline the process of gathering, reviewing, and securely sharing footage with authorized third parties such as law enforcement.
- Unlocking the True Potential of Physical Security
Traditionally viewed as a cost centre, physical security holds a wealth of valuable data about the flow of people, assets, and vehicles. As organizations harness this data and share it with IT departments, the potential for a more data-driven approach to physical security systems becomes apparent.
When security professionals learn to fully leverage this technology, they can present a clearer return on investment for future investments, enabling a smoother integration between security systems, IoT devices, and operational technologies—potentially transforming 2025 into a year of increased collaboration and value across organizations.
Closing Thoughts
Undoubtedly, the future lies in digital transformation, with a commitment to updating obsolete systems and enhancing cybersecurity practices. Despite over half of respondents reporting 100% on-premises deployment of physical security, there is a growing interest in hybrid solutions to address future challenges more effectively.
Download the full Genetec report to learn more.
State of Physical Security
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Nick SmithRegional Sales Director,UK & Ireland, Genetec.Genetec
1. Strategic Financial Decisions in Tech
As technological advancements drive the need for cloud-based infrastructure, businesses are taking a strategic approach when implementing cloud solutions. In the upcoming years, hybrid deployments are projected to be the preferred choice for the majority of end users according to Genetec's report, demonstrating the financial wisdom in such decisions.
2. The Boost of AI in Cybersecurity
With the increasing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in various industries, cybersecurity is no exception. Organizations are interested in integrating AI into their physical security systems, anticipating a significant impact on event detection, emergency responses, and process improvements, making data overload more manageable. However, privacy and regulatory concerns must be addressed to ensure ethical and transparent practices.
3. Regulation and Business: A Symbiotic Relationship
The ongoing escalation of cybersecurity threats and the increasing regulatory responsibility necessitate stricter compliance measures for any industry, especially within the realm of data protection. With key regulations like GDPR, SOC II Type II, and NIS2 shaping data protection strategies, businesses will prioritize strengthening cyber hygiene practices, improving data encryption, and aligning with international and industry-specific regulatory requirements in 2025.
4. Cooperation for Enhanced Business Security
Recruitment challenges in the industry highlight the importance of teamwork and collaboration, emphasizing the necessity of tools for data analysis and visualization, and enhancing cross-team collaboration as key priorities for 2025. By working together, departments such as security, IT, facilities, and others can achieve more effective security management.
5. Leveraging Data in Physical Security
Physical security systems hold a treasure trove of valuable data about people, assets, and vehicles, which can be utilized to drive a more data-driven approach to physical security systems. When security professionals learn to leverage this technology, they can present a clearer return on investment for future investments, leading to a smoother integration between security systems, IoT devices, and operational technologies, potentially transforming the business landscape in 2025.
Finale
As we move forward, the focus will be on digital transformation, updating obsolete systems, and strengthening cybersecurity measures. Although a significant portion of respondents still use 100% on-premises deployment for physical security, the growing interest in hybrid solutions speaks to the effectiveness of these approaches for addressing future challenges. With the right investments and cooperation, businesses can unlock new potential in physical security and data-and-cloud-computing technologies.
