State of Physical Security 2025: Key Trends and Insights

By Farah Benis

The State of Physical Security 2025 report from Genetec provides valuable insight into how organisations are adapting to an increasingly complex security landscape. With responses from nearly 5,700 professionals worldwide, the report highlights the biggest challenges, trends, and priorities shaping security strategies in the year ahead.

Economic Uncertainty and Staffing Challenges

Economic instability continues to impact security projects, with nearly half of end users reporting delays in 2024. While supply chain issues were the main cause in previous years, financial constraints and inflation are now driving project postponements.

At the same time, staffing remains a major concern. 72% of channel partners expect hiring challenges to persist, particularly in technical roles such as installation technicians. With talent shortages affecting project timelines, organisations are looking for ways to streamline operations and maximise existing resources.

Cybersecurity and Cloud Adoption

Cyber threats remain a top concern, with a growing number of organisations strengthening their cyber resilience strategies. More businesses are educating staff on cybersecurity risks, tightening access controls, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.

Cloud adoption continues to rise, but hybrid models are the preferred approach. While 43% of respondents are integrating cloud-based solutions, full cloud adoption remains slow, largely due to concerns around cost, data security, and compliance.

The Rise of AI in Security

AI-driven security solutions are gaining traction, with 37% of end users planning implementations in 2025. Organisations see AI as a tool to automate emergency responses, enhance threat detection, and improve operational efficiency. However, concerns around ethical use and responsible implementation remain, highlighting the need for greater education and strategic deployment.

IT’s Growing Role in Security Decision-Making

The divide between IT and physical security continues to shrink, with 77% of end users now working closely with IT teams. This shift reflects the increasing convergence of cybersecurity, physical security, and data-driven decision-making, reinforcing the need for a unified approach to security management.

Final Thoughts

The State of Physical Security 2025 report provides a clear picture of an industry facing economic pressures, evolving threats, and rapid technological change. Organisations are prioritising cyber resilience, hybrid cloud adoption, and AI-driven security solutions, all while navigating workforce challenges and budget constraints.

For a deeper dive into the full findings, download the report here: