Heading Into a New Year: A Look at the 2022 State of Security

It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost time to ring in a new year. As we get ready to close out the past 12 months, it’s important to look at where we currently stand with physical security trends.

Recently, Genetec Inc. released its 2022 State of Physical Security report.

The company’s report surveyed 3,700 physical security leaders around the globe. This includes providers, installers, system integrators, and end users, among others. It captures a broad range of insights from these industry players, including their thoughts on overcoming economic and supply chain issues, engaging with hybrid-cloud technology, and placing physical security systems front and center especially during a time of growing cybersecurity concerns.

Security Magazine recently distilled the findings of the report. Here’s a look at some of the top issues physical security industry figures felt were top of mind during 2022 — all enduring issues to keep in mind in the year to come:

• A hybrid future — The report shows that 54 percent of end-users said their companies’ target for security initiatives is a combination of on-premises physical systems and cloud-based tech. This combination of new and old will help businesses make the best use of their physical systems that already exist and increase overall security.
• The increasing cyber threat — As with the year before, 2022 saw more high-profile examples of major cyber attacks. A big proportion of the survey participants showed that cybersecurity concerns are very much on the rise. The report shows that 64 percent of IT respondents along with 54 percent of security participants said “cybersecurity tools are a top focus this year,” according to the magazine.
• Physical security is needed for optimal business — The report shows that 63 percent of total respondents along with 7 out of every 10 organizations with more than 10,000 employees deemed physical security and associated data as being “mission-critical.” Now more than ever, it’s necessary to prioritize physical security. Security Magazine writes that “physical security has become a strategic asset to cope with a variety of challenges that go beyond just mitigating risk.” Now, physical security is seen as a clear piece of a company’s continued push to the digital.
• Put it all under one ‘roof’ — With this consistent sentiment that physical security is necessary, the vast majority of survey participants revealed all physical security systems be put under the same umbrella. The survey shows that 64 percent of respondents said both access control and video surveillance are part of their “physical security deployments.” Within that number, 77 percent said their firm “implemented either integration between video surveillance and access control systems from different vendors, or a unified video surveillance and access control system from one manufacturer.” For these security leaders, it was crucial that all physical security programs be kept under one roof.

As we head toward 2023 we will continue to see physical security as being a crucial part of making any company thrive. Finding ways to standardize security protocols and be ever vigilant to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats will only continue to be key for security leaders moving ahead.