Genetec shared the results of its 2024 State Physical Security report. Based on insights from close to 700 physical security leaders, including end users and channel partners based in Africa and Middle East markets, the report looks at the security strategies organisations are putting in place to effectively navigate the realities of a changing industry.
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 survey, 40% of end users reported that more than 30% 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 cloud-based solutions are lessening significantly. In last year’s survey, end-users considered perceived cybersecurity risks to be the primary factor discouraging their organisations from adopting cloud-based security systems. However, there seems to be a shift in attitudes.
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 organisations from adopting security systems in the cloud.
Feedback from channel partners also supports the idea that end-users are shifting towards cloud solutions. A substantial 74% of channel partner respondents in Africa and Middle East anticipate that more of their current customers will embrace cloud connectivity for security in the coming year. Furthermore, 35% of channel partners stated that they prioritise cloud-based solutions whenever possible, and an additional 55% offer cloud-based solutions upon customer request.
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 65% 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.
It appears that most organisations will prefer a hybrid approach, combining both on-premises and cloud-based solutions. Close to 60% percent 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 12% of Africa and Middle East end-users 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.
The adoption of the cloud in the physical security industry is steadily gaining prominence, with the future for most physical security solutions appearing to be a blend of on-premises and cloud-based solutions. For organisations in Africa and Middle East, combining hybrid cloud technology with what they have on-site allows them to respond to new business requirements promptly.
Genetec is a global technology company that has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years. Its flagship product, Security Centre, is an open-architecture platform that unifies IP-based video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition, communications, and analytics.
