Editor’s viewpoint: 2023 technology trends ahead for the physical security industry

Technology continues to shape the evolution of the security sector. There’s no doubt that innovations in AI, biometrics and the cloud have changed the face of how security systems are specified, installed and operated. Unsurprising then, that tech has been central to many of the predictions we’ve come across from thought leaders and vendors in the sector as they look ahead this year.

Below, we outline several key themes we’re seeing that are set to be at the forefront of physical security discussions in 2023.

Agree? Disagree? Have your own thoughts? Let us know in the comments at the end of the article!

1) Video surveillance – AI expands the frontier for security

Video analytics have evolved. Genuine artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning programmes have allowed video surveillance cameras to become a central feature in data collection. From a security perspective, AI-based applications enable operators to respond to potential threats faster than ever, while simultaneously reducing false alarm notifications that plagued earlier analytics models. The metadata generated from sensors allows for new opportunities, too – assisted search capabilities designed to drastically improve the effectiveness of post-event investigations, for instance.

Outside of this, though, cameras are increasingly acting as a central data collection point, pushing the boundaries of a traditional siloed security device. The next step for the security professionals that manage and operate these systems will be develop actionable insights for other parts of the organisation to profit from. Already, video surveillance cameras are being marked as key to the evolution of smart cities, where they will play a sensory role in not just ensuring the safety of citizens, but also in traffic management via ANPR applications, early fire detection, and seamless access management.

• Johan Paulsson, Axis Communications: “From analytics to action will become a mantra for 2023. AI and machine learning may have aided the development of advanced analytics in recent years, but the focus moving forward will be on exploiting the actionable insights they deliver.”
• Hanwha Techwin: “Dashboards and reports which collect AI metadata and present these data as insights that invite the end user’s decision will grow in popularity.”
• I-PRO: “In 2023 focus will shift from capturing video to gathering data. The challenge will be in how effectively organizations are able to utilise this data not only for security, but also for cross-departmental operations to increase efficiencies and revenue.”

2) Cyber security – Breaking down siloes and zero trust

Cyber security is critical to the overall resilience of an organisation – there is little doubt in that. Whatever size of business, the growing threat from more and more sophisticated hacking techniques is very real in 2023, and can cause major damage to businesses, public sector services, or increasingly, critical national infrastructure.

How does this relate to physical security, though? Well, according to research from Genetec, 36% of IT and security professionals are looking to invest in cyber security-related tools to improve physical security in 2023. There is now much greater awareness that with so much of the security infrastructure connected to the network, a siloed approach between physical and cyber teams is no longer conducive. Both have to engage with one another, as a ‘zero trust’ approach appears to have emerged, where every connected device is cyber-reviewed with the assumption that they are all potentially vulnerable. Cameras, access control points and connected alarms are by no means excluded from this approach.

• Genetec: “While a more holistic, automated approach to defending against threats will take precedence, so too will proactive security architecture planning and procurement.”
• Frederic Peyrot, Chubb Fire & Security: “Fire and security equipment are increasingly connected and interconnected which can open up businesses to cyber security risks. In 2023, business continuity requires rigorous product selection & implementation, regular hardware and software updates, high reactivity maintenance, expertise and strong collaboration between customers and all solutions providers on site.”
• I-PRO: “… the continued push to secure networks by IT professionals and network vendors will create even more cyber security awareness in 2023.”

3) Cloud – Adoption of hybrid on-premise and cloud security management

The evolution of the cloud has transformed the way systems and processes operate and where they’re managed. Outside of security, organisations and consumers are using the cloud every day for a multitude of reasons – whether it be to reduce on-site storage requirements, or simply for remote access capabilities. There’s a reason that Amazon – best known for its online marketplace – has seen its AWS cloud service grow significantly in recent years. In 2021, AWS accounted for 16% of Amazon’s total revenue.

The security industry may have taken a little more time to adopt cloud-based platforms than the consumer market, but its clearly a growing segment, with companies such as Eagle Eye Networks, Brivo, Verkada and Cisco Meraki just some examples of those basing their entire business models off the cloud. The traditional industry players haven’t exactly ignored it either, with almost all of them now offering a mixture of on-premise and cloud-based solutions. Cloud proponents point to the flexibility to reduce on-premise storage requirements, as well as regular data back-ups and remote accessibility, while ‘Software-as-a-service’ models support a transition of security budgets from CapEx to OpEx.

That being said, on-premise solutions have not disappeared – nor do they look likely to in the coming years. Certainly for enterprise solutions, what we’re seeing is a shift towards a ‘hybrid’ model taking place, whereby processes are split between the cloud and on-premise where deemed appropriate.

• Genetec: “As businesses rationalise costs, concerns, and approach to cloud migration, we can expect an increase in demand for ready-to-deploy hybrid-cloud appliances. This infrastructure will support edge-computing workloads and make existing devices cloud-compatible and help centralise access to systems and data across many sites.”
• Rishi Lodhia, Eagle Eye Networks: Indeed, the benefits of cloud-video surveillance are proving to have a high appeal for customers looking to achieve operational cost savings, initiate remote maintenance and access programmes, gain in-the-moment live operational intelligence, or generate live metrics and data that enables them to work in a more responsive and timely way.”

4) Sustainability – Taking ownership of sustainable practices and technologies

It’s getting almost impossible to avoid the impact of climate change. 2022 saw significant disruption across the globe as a result of extreme weather events, from flooding in China and Pakistan, to Storm Eunice across Europe. Organisations from every sector are realising they can play a part in contributing towards more sustainable practices, and the security industry is no exception.

Leading security vendors are now including sustainability achievements such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social and governance (ESG), and sustainability in their reporting systems. Meanwhile, installers and systems integrators are building in ‘green’ credentials when pitching for new projects and business – a positive trend we can only see continuing.

• Marc Gaunt, Eaton: “For building owners across Europe, the common thread is the need to manage energy carefully and differently.”
• Mark Rowan, QCIC: “It’s not just us driving environmentally friendly values anymore, as clients themselves are wanting to drive their own sustainability credentials. It’s becoming much harder to ‘cut corners’ in specification, particularly on large projects, when end-users and building owners are committing to sustainable goals
• Frederic Peyrot, Chubb Fire & Security: “…we are seeing customers increasingly ask about sustainability and system reactivity. A large part of the Fire & security business is focused around on- site preventive and curative maintenance visits or software upgrades.”
• Johan Paulsson, Axis Communications: “While organisations might make great efforts to reduce emissions from their own operations, these can be undermined if their upstream and downstream value chains are not aligned with the same targets. Tech companies will also be expected to demonstrate more clearly the ways their products and services support the sustainability goals of their own customers, creating novel and intelligent efficiencies that also help those organisations reduce emissions.”

Don’t forget, you can now secure your place for IFSEC 2023 to come along and speak to vendors, peers and distributors to discuss these trends and more between 16-18 May 2023 at London’s ExCeL. 

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