“There’s no all-or-nothing with a hybrid-cloud approach. Businesses remain in total control of how they deploy their systems across various locations. With an open ecosystem, they can implement the best technology—whether on-premises or in the cloud— that meets their business needs and avoid unnecessary compromise without ever being locked into proprietary solutions. This allows them to deploy, scale, and upgrade systems faster, streamline processes, and strengthen their security posture in the most efficient and effective ways,” said Christian Morin, Vice President Product Engineering, Genetec Inc.

IT departments become central to decisions
A decade ago, physical security systems in large organisations were typically managed by personnel in specialised security departments. However, the increasing adoption of cloud and hybrid-cloud solutions, the rise in cyber security threats, and the need to align physical and digital security have led IT teams to take an increasingly prominent role in influencing the acquisition and deployment of physical security systems.

According to the report, 77% of end users say physical security and information technology (IT) departments now work collaboratively. Additionally, IT departments are taking on an increasing role in the buying process, with over 50% of end users, systems integrators, and consultants reporting that IT teams are now actively involved in physical security purchasing decisions.

“The evolving role of physical security is reshaping how organisations secure both their people and digital networks. With IT at the forefront of implementing cloud and hybrid solutions, physical security operations are becoming more resilient, data-driven, and adaptable to evolving threats,” Morin added.

AI adoption grows as industry prioritises practical applications
The report reveals a significant rise in the interest toward AI adoption in physical security, with 37% of end users planning to implement AI-powered features in 2025, up from just 10% in 2024. This heightened interest aligns with a strategic, purpose-driven approach. With 42% of end users seeing AI as a tool to streamline security operations, organizations are focusing on practical applications, such as refining threat detection and automating routine processes, with intelligent automation as the ultimate goal.