Physical security market “rapidly embracing cloud and hybrid solutions”

The adoption of cloud-based solutions for physical security has been gradually increasing over the past decade, but it’s now picking up speed. According to the survey, 44% of end users reported that more than 25% of their physical security regimes are now either in the cloud or use a combination of cloud and on-premises solutions. This is a significant uptick from the 24% reported in last year’s survey.

Cyber concerns surrounding cloud-based solutions are lessening significantly. In last year’s survey, end users considered perceived cyber security risks to be the primary factor discouraging their organisations from adopting cloud-based security systems. However, there now seems to be a shift in attitudes.

This shift underscores growing confidence in the capabilities of cloud solution providers to establish robust cyber security measures. As a result, in the 2024 survey, respondents have relegated perceived cyber security risks to the sixth position among the factors deterring their organisations from adopting security systems in the cloud.

Channel expects increased demand

Feedback from channel partners also supports the idea that end users are eagerly shifting towards cloud solutions. A substantial 74% of channel partner respondents anticipate that more of their current customers will embrace cloud connectivity for security in the coming year.

Further, 39% of channel partners stated that they prioritise cloud-based solutions whenever possible, while an additional 52% offer cloud-based solutions upon customer request.

The increasing adoption of cloud-based physical security systems has led to a rise in cyber security threats, data handling and compliance requirements. As a result, IT and physical security teams are becoming increasingly interconnected, as evidenced by 55% of end users indicating that the IT Department has access to physical security data.

As technology adoption grows and remote access from external networks becomes more common, the partnership between IT and physical security will inevitably continue to develop.

Future looks hybrid

It appears that most organisations will prefer a hybrid approach combining both on-premises and cloud-based solutions. 60% of end user respondents revealed that their organisations aim for a security deployment strategy that combines both.

The transition to hybrid systems is already in progress, with 15% of end users surveyed stating that their organisations are currently storing video surveillance data both locally and in the cloud, marking a notable increase from the 4% reported in last year’s survey.

“A hybrid cloud deployment clearly emerges as the ideal way forward for many organisations, seamlessly blending local infrastructure with the power of the cloud,” explained Christian Morin, vice-president of product engineering and chief security officer at Genetec. “With a hybrid-cloud solution, organisations can optimise their physical security installation to best fit their business. No matter how their security needs evolve, their systems will remain agile and adaptable to continue providing them with the capabilities they require.”

Survey methodology

Genetec surveyed physical security professionals from 21 August to 15 September. Following a review of submissions and data cleansing, 5,554 respondents (among them end users and systems integrators) were included in the sample for analysis.

Survey samples were run across all regions including North America, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, East Asia, Southern Asia, South East Asia, Central Asia, Western Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

*Access copies of the Genetec report entitled ‘State of Physical Security’ online at https://www.genetec.com/a/physical-security-report