Physical security is growing more enterprise-focused and holistic, requiring security teams to collaborate more with IT and leverage AI, according to the sixth annual State of Physical Security report by Genetec, which surveyed 7,368 physical security professionals globally in August and September.
Respondents included end users, channel partners, consultants and manufacturers.
Previously, physical security teams relied on independent components like video management platforms and access control systems, which they combined to increase the efficiency of their operations, the report says. But today, teams are going beyond these core systems to include data visualization and other tools that enhance operations. “Value is now being assessed by how these systems help users and organizations achieve more,” Genetec said in its report, released Tuesday.
Despite the increasing integration of physical security with the broader IT operations of organizations, many organizations remain tethered to isolated legacy systems, other research shows.
“When you look at what is deployed today, 90% of it is still badges and proximity cards,” Tina D’Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI, a company that provides facial authentication hardware and software solutions to enterprise clients, said in an August interview. She noted that the first access card technology was released in 1983, with little innovation since. “Imagine using a TV or phone from the ’80s. That’s essentially what we’re doing in access control. In no other area of life would that be allowed to happen.”
The Genetec report shows organizations making an effort to move on from legacy systems.
Almost a third of respondents, or 60%, said integrating systems into new technologies was a primary motivation for replacing legacy systems. Just over half cited a desire to get access to new capabilities.
Compliance (40%), end of life of existing systems (40%) and a move to a unified physical security platform (36%) were other reasons, according to the survey.
Collaboration becomes critical
The shift toward integration is resulting in “what was once a cost center … becoming a proactive value driver,” Genetec says. “Physical security is increasingly contributing to the achievement of organizational goals by providing actionable insights that support business continuity and innovation. Security data is also being recognized as a key resource for improving efficiency and decision-making.”
Information technology is increasingly central to the physical security conversation, driving security teams to evaluate innovative software and hardware and leading to close cooperation between the physical and cyber sides of security. “Collaboration between IT and physical security strengthens resilience by uniting cyber and physical defenses, streamlining processes, and sharing data,” Genetec says. “It also speeds the adoption of new technology, positioning physical security as a true business enabler.”
IT teams remain ahead in aggregating cybersecurity data, with almost half, or 47%, of IT respondents identifying cybersecurity tools as a top priority, but physical security teams are catching up. Almost 30% of physical security respondents say they’re prioritizing cybersecurity tools.
As their experience with cybersecurity tools increases, physical security departments are becoming better custodians of extensive data across a wide array of systems and sensors. “While IT teams have always understood and managed the value of this strategic resource, physical security is starting to recognize the importance of sharing and receiving data,” Genetec said.
Eyes on AI
Along with their cybersecurity focus, physical security professionals are looking more at AI tools, with AI now ranking alongside access control and video surveillance as a priority for 2026, the report says.
Security teams see value in systems that leverage AI to improve security operations by helping operators navigate alarms and investigations, reducing noise and prioritizing the events that matter, the report says. But no single solution stands out, so end users must work with system integrators and manufacturers to collaborate closely to manage expectations and measure outcomes with the technology, Genetec says.
Concerns about the technology remain in the industry, with 70% of respondents worried about how AI systems are designed and implemented, the survey shows.
