What is the outlook for physical security in the year ahead?

I see 2025 as the year that the physical security industry transitions from reactive to proactive. Advancements in AI and cloud technology are transforming security in ways that were hard to imagine just a few years ago. From AI-powered alerts that can monitor and flag specific behaviour to search tools that let users use natural language like “person wearing a red baseball hat last Tuesday” to find relevant footage in seconds, these solutions are enabling organisations to shift their focus from only responding to incidents to proactively identifying and preventing potential threats before they occur.

In 2025, the physical security industry will focus on maximising existing investments to enhance security, improve efficiency, and foster collaboration. At Genetec, we believe hybrid systems will take centre stage. End users are looking for deployment options that work best for them, both on-prem and in the cloud. These solutions simplify remote site management, reduce maintenance, and lower costs. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to generate interest in 2025. Organisations are implementing intelligent automation tools to speed up tasks and improve situational awareness. At the same time, they are prioritising transparency, data privacy, and ethical practices. Collaboration among security, IT, facilities, and human resources departments is gaining interest. Organisations are implementing workforce optimisation tools to empower team members to take active roles in security tasks, streamline workflows, and eliminate bottlenecks.

In 2025, interoperability will become an increasingly critical requirement for ecosystems. We will see further integration across intrusion, access control, and video surveillance systems, reducing costs, time requirements, and system vulnerabilities. AI will continue to make this evolution accessible by simplifying expert-level implementation by installers and everyday operation by end-users. Streamlined installation and optimised adaptability will enable seamless integration of sensors, cameras, and control panels. Cameras themselves will be innovated to become proactive sensors that can detect activity, make access decisions autonomously, and mitigate threats.

We believe the physical security industry will see a similar growth in 2025 as we saw in 2024. Due to interest rates, a concerned economy, and the new administration in the USA threatening tariffs, we see many companies continuing to be cautious with their spending on security or upgrades. Most larger companies have budgets and plans, but they are extremely hesitant to move forward at this moment and they could get better or stay the same which is what happened in 2024.

The industry is set for significant acceleration of several key trends in the year ahead. Security practitioners face an increasingly dynamic threat landscape, along with rising stakeholder expectations for the programs they manage. As a result, many will look to modernise their technology and seek more efficient ways to deploy and manage these systems. The rise of AI, cloud computing, IoT architectures, and computer vision is redefining threat detection while promising new insights into business operations. This shift is pushing the industry beyond a product-focused mindset to one that embraces service-based, outcome-focused solutions. Organisations will need to be thoughtful and nimble as they navigate the compliance and contracting implications associated with changes in data security, liability, and privacy. In summary, the year ahead promises to push the boundaries of traditional security integration models — blending advanced technology with service models to deliver both enhanced protection and strategic business value.

The physical security industry is poised for substantial growth in 2025 which is driven by technological advancements and the increase in global security concerns. We have seen in many industries how Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning have transformed systems into intelligent and proactive solutions, and our industry is certainly on the cusp of larger-scale deployment. Cloud-based systems and IoT are furthering connectivity, enabling seamless integration across a multitude of solutions. The continued rise of urbanisation and smart buildings is accelerating the demand for innovative security solutions that can cope with complex environments yet remain covert. Cybersecurity is a growing concern and will influence the deployment and development of secure end-to-end encrypted platforms. There will be challenges around regulatory compliance and privacy concerns but also opportunity as business and government prioritise advanced security infrastructure. The outlook is dynamic with innovation driving resilience and efficiency.

Adaptability will be a defining factor. AI is transforming security by automating and streamlining traditionally manual processes, while cloud technologies continue gaining momentum for their scalability and integration capabilities. However, it remains essential for the industry to support organisations that require on-premises solutions due to regulatory compliance or data protection concerns. An effective security solution must provide value regardless of infrastructure preferences. The future of security isn’t about a one-size-fits-all approach — it’s about providing options. Investing in solutions help organisations transition at their own pace. The intrusion detection industry is also undergoing a shift, driven by innovation and evolving security demands. Advances in wireless technology, open platforms, cybersecurity, and mobile solutions are making intrusion systems smarter and more connected. Acre is focused on further developing these technologies within our portfolio. With our recent acquisition of REKS, for example, we are expanding our ability to integrate AI-powered insights into security operations, helping organisations stay ahead of threats and optimise incident response. In the year ahead, we will focus on harnessing technology to answer critical questions like, “How do we better protect data, people, and infrastructure?” 

2025 will be a year of focus on the deployment of secure wireless technology in ways that are beneficial to both consumers and businesses. While legacy systems will retain their place in appropriate settings, applications requiring upgraded biometrics, card media, or full wireless integrations will continue to deploy as their user data security is proven and the total cost of ownership proves lower in the long run. Ease of use, coupled with familiar installation techniques and simple corporate-level resources required to support -- make options available even to the small business owner. The need for contactless solutions driven by the recent pandemic will continue to drive user demand to lower-priced, high-quality, and fully secure products from companies like Xthings, who have a full range of products meeting diverse corporate access and time and attendance process needs.

In 2025, edge AI’s role in the security industry will deepen, with advanced algorithms enabling real-time threat detection, on-site learning capabilities, and the beginning of context-aware insights that empower operators to act before incidents occur. Edge processing of AI-based analytics is rapidly transforming the security landscape by enabling systems to move beyond reactive responses to adopt proactive and preventative approaches. The challenge for 2025 will not just be gathering more data but filtering and integrating it effectively. AI will play a critical role by summarising and contextualising information, helping operators focus on actionable insights. While AI can suggest courses of action based on data patterns, human decision-makers will remain central to interpreting and applying these insights. As AI capabilities expand, the industry must prioritise ethical practices and robust cybersecurity measures. i-PRO is committed to ensuring that AI applications respect privacy and align with customers’ core values.

In 2024, we saw the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence. As algorithms continue to learn and evolve, AI is developing an understanding of context and locations. For example, in a stadium setting, AI is improving at differentiating a sports-related crowd surge from unusual movements that could indicate a potential security threat. This is exciting because AI will make more accurate predictions, and eventually, can be empowered with decision-making. The ultimate goal of AI in security is to alleviate the workload of human operators in a reliable and consistent way, and I believe that we will see more of this in 2025.