Report: Physical Security Market Rapidly Embracing Cloud and Hybrid Solutions
Genetec State of Physical Security Report shows decreasing concerns about cloud security, increased end user demand for cloud and hybrid.
Graphic courtesy of Genetec.
MONTRÉAL — Unified security, public safety, operations and business intelligence solutions provider Genetec today shared the results of its 2024 State of Physical Security report.
Based on insights from more than 5,500 physical security leaders worldwide (including end users and channel partners), the report “looks at the security strategies organizations are putting in place to effectively navigate the realities of a changing industry,” the company announcement says.
Genetec Inc. surveyed physical security professionals from Aug. 21 to Sept. 15, 2023. Following a review of submissions and data cleansing, 5,554 respondents (including both end users and systems integrators) were included in the sample for analysis.
Survey samples were run across all regions, including North America, Central America, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, East Asia, southern Asia, southeastern Asia, Central Asia, Western Asia, and Australia-New Zealand.
Cloud Adoption Picking Up Speed
The adoption of cloud-based solutions for physical security “has been gradually increasing over the past decade, but it is now picking up speed,” according to the report.
According to the survey, 44% of end users reported that more than 25% of their physical security setups are now either in the cloud or use a combination of cloud and on-premises solutions. This is a significant jump from the 24% reported in last year’s survey.
Cyber Concerns About the Cloud are Diminishing
Cyber concerns about cloud-based solutions are lessening significantly. In last year’s survey, end-users considered perceived cybersecurity risks to be the primary factor discouraging their organizations from adopting cloud-based security systems.
“However, there seems to be a shift in attitudes,” the report says. “This shift underscores growing confidence in the capabilities of cloud solution providers to establish robust cybersecurity measures. As a result, in the 2024 survey, respondents have relegated perceived cybersecurity risks to the sixth position among the factors deterring their organizations from adopting security systems in the cloud.”
Increased Demand for Cloud and Hybrid Solutions
Feedback from channel partners also supports the idea that end-users are eagerly shifting towards cloud solutions. Almost three-quarters (74%) of channel partner respondents anticipate that more of their current customers will embrace cloud connectivity for security in the coming year.
Furthermore, 39% of channel partners stated that they prioritize cloud-based solutions whenever possible, and an additional 52% offer cloud-based solutions upon customer request.
Graphic courtesy of Genetec
IT and Physical Security Increasingly Interconnected
The increasing adoption of cloud-based physical security systems has led to a rise in cybersecurity 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 continue to develop.
The Future Looks Hybrid
It appears that most organizations will prefer a hybrid approach, combining both on-premises and cloud-based solutions. 60% percent of end-user respondents revealed that their organizations aim for a security deployment strategy that combines both.
The transition to hybrid systems is already in progress, with 15% of end users stating that their organizations are currently storing video surveillance data both locally and in the cloud, up from the 4% reported in last year’s survey.
“A hybrid cloud deployment clearly emerges as the ideal path forward for many organizations, seamlessly blending local infrastructure with the power of the cloud,” says Christian Morin, vice president of product engineering and chief security officer at Genetec Inc.
“With a hybrid-cloud solution, organizations can optimize their physical security installation to best fit their business,” he says. “No matter how their security needs evolve, their systems will remain agile and adaptable to continue providing them with the capabilities they require.”
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