Are the lifecycles of security systems getting shorter?

Yes and no. As is often the case the answer is ‘it’s complicated.’ The pace at which the capabilities of security systems are evolving is certainly accelerating. Expectations for both usability and functionality of the system increase as people see what is possible with technology in other domains. However, while we should expect systems to evolve at a faster rate, we owe it to our customers to ensure that this can be an evolution rather than a revolution. Things such as ensuring the system has a modular architecture, where individual components can be easily upgraded, and well-defined interfaces allow the system to be easily enhanced and extended. So while new technologies enable us to deliver more value, more often, we need to design our systems so that they can evolve with the customer rather than needing to be replaced at regular intervals.

From a security camera point of view, the answer can depend on a given manufacturer’s development strategy. Since much of the rapid technology development takes place in software, a company with an open development platform can actually extend product lifecycles through regular firmware updates, enhancements, and support for third-party apps and plug-ins. Without an open platform, the product lifecycle shortens since a completely new camera must be manufactured to take advantage of the latest technology. For companies manufacturing their own System on Chip (SoC), it takes a lot of investment and development time to come to market. You must make a certain quantity of chips and then sell them to recoup the investment. This can impact lifecycles as well compared to a company that makes use of rapidly developed SoCs in use by multiple industries. This is a reason why i-PRO chose Ambarella AI SoCs versus designing our own.

The answer varies for software or hardware products. Today’s software development cycles are moving towards a continuous delivery model. New features are released frequently to meet changing market demands and new technological developments. As the pace of innovation increases, modern software products adapt at the same pace, accommodating the longer lifecycles users prefer without impacting innovation. Hardware development requires components from many suppliers. Since sourcing parts can be difficult (especially with the recent supply chain fragility), manufacturers are forced to seek alternatives where possible, and adapt lifecycles when they aren’t. Delays in obtaining a single part can have cascading impacts that make supplying and maintaining a product challenging. This can force manufacturers to rework product lifecycles which can leave customers in the lurch. Hence, it’s important to choose manufacturers who build their systems on an open architecture that can accommodate different types of hardware.

Even with rapid technology development, the lifecycles of network security systems aren’t necessarily getting shorter. With proper lifecycle management, modern IP systems can remain operational while also bearing opportunities for enhancements and additions in the future. In looking at a system’s lifecycle, proactive maintenance is the best way to ensure a more stable, secure, and lasting operation. This is especially true in today’s ever-expanding ecosystem of connected and interdependent devices and solutions. Additionally, because of how quickly technology is evolving, modern security tech support teams are skilled not only in fixing product-related issues, but also in thoroughly understanding various product portfolios, customer challenges, typical application areas, and more. This helps organisations easily and efficiently maintain existing security systems while implementing upgrades as new solutions are introduced.

Rapid Technology development need not mean shorter lifecycles for security systems, indeed with integrated systems, it often means the opposite. The flexibility of modern software-driven integrated access control and security systems is often also the key to their longevity; with new integrations allowing for system upgrades via the incorporation of new hardware and software technologies. Whilst the addition of new hardware to a system is a clear tangible evolution, many enhancements and efficiencies are added via software updates, which regularly provide incremental (and occasionally revolutionary) enhancements to already installed hardware and add new features and functionality. With the rapid adoption of SaaS-based systems, it is fast becoming an expectation that security systems are flexible, evolutionary solutions, capable of accommodating the latest hardware and software additions over time.