Nicholas Smith, Regional Sales Director, UK & Ireland, Genetec looks at the state of physical security in 2026 – and what UK leaders need to prioritise now.
Physical security has always been about more than just cameras, access cards and perimeter fencing.
Yet this has not always been fully appreciated by wider business functions.
The latest findings from the Genetec State of the Physical Security Industry 2026 report, based on more than 7,000 global responses from end-users, channel partners and consultants, show a clear shift.
Organisations are moving away from isolated systems and short-term upgrades.
Instead, they’re modernising with intent: Focusing on integration, resilience and measurable outcomes.
Awareness is growing of its potential as a strategic function that shapes resilience, operational performance and even long-term enterprise value.
More than 70% of respondents now report using unified or integrated security platforms.
This has become the standard operating model, and the primary drivers are clear.
60% cite the need to integrate new technologies as their main reason for replacing legacy systems, while 51% indicate that access to new features as being important.
In other words, modernisation is not only about replacing ageing hardware but creating a flexible, future-ready foundation capable of supporting innovation.
For UK organisations facing economic pressure and increasing regulatory scrutiny, this shift is significant as security investment is increasingly being evaluated on the long-term adaptability and risk reduction in addition to cost considerations.
The report also highlights a growing recognition that physical security data has enterprise-wide value.
In fact, a quarter of respondents now actively share and receive data across departments including facilities managers, operations and IT to support visitor management, occupancy monitoring and industrial IoT initiatives.
Practical applications across departments include enabling facilities teams to understand building or venue movement and optimise heating, lighting and cleaning schedules based on actual usage rather than fixed timetables which can be inaccurate.
This can be extremely useful in reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
In the UK, where energy efficiency and ESG reporting requirements continue to tighten, this creates measurable sustainability benefits alongside improved security oversight.
Similarly, in manufacturing or logistics environments, integrating physical security systems with operational platforms can help track the movement of personnel and vehicles across restricted zones.
Operations teams gain greater visibility of workflow bottlenecks or unauthorised access risks, while security teams retain full audit trails.
The result benefits all departments, ensuring stronger risk mitigation and improved process efficiency and compliance assurance.
This signals a broader transition: Security is no longer a siloed function.
It is increasingly recognised and leveraged as an intelligence hub that supports wider business decision-making.
Security platforms should be assessed not only on protective capability, but on their ability to integrate with broader operational systems and deliver actionable, valuable insights.
The convergence between physical security and cybersecurity also continues to intensify, highlighted by the fact that 37% of organisations reported an increase in physical and/or cyber incidents in 2025, rising to 48% among large enterprises.
Additionally, cybersecurity investment is accelerating to meet the increasing problem of cyber-attacks; 37% plan to launch new cybersecurity initiatives in 2026, up significantly year-on-year.
IT teams are increasingly involved in security purchasing decisions, with nearly half prioritising cybersecurity tools above traditional physical security upgrades.
This reinforces the need for unified governance as security can no longer be treated as separate physical and digital domains.
They are two sides of the same coin and that means systems must be designed with embedded cybersecurity principles, supported by close collaboration between IT and security teams.
Cloud migration is no longer a question of if, but how.
While only a minority of end users currently run access control fully in the cloud, 72% of consultants expect hybrid deployments to dominate over the next five years.
Hybrid models offer a pragmatic path forward, allowing organisations to modernise at a pace that suits their own needs, while maintaining operational control and compliance.
In the UK – where data sovereignty, regulatory compliance and operational continuity are critical – hybrid systems provide flexibility without compromising oversight.
Interest in AI has more than doubled year-on-year.
44% of respondents rank AI and large language models as a top priority for 2026.
However, this enthusiasm is tempered by caution, evidenced by the 70% of respondents who express concerns about AI and data usage.
The message for UK leaders is not to delay adoption, but to adopt thoughtfully and responsibly.
It is imperative that AI be adopted with clear governance frameworks, robust data controls, transparency around decision-making processes and a clear idea of the problems it is expected to solve.
Despite broader economic uncertainty, security budgets remain stable.
Nearly half of respondents report that budgets increased or remained steady in 2025 and the majority of consultants expect the same throughout 2026.
Notably, 73% of end-users cite long-term vendor viability and stability as a key selection factor and even ranked it above product performance and price, reflecting a more strategic procurement mindset that prioritises sustainable partnerships over short-term savings.
My takeaways from this year’s findings:
It is clear from Genetec’s 2026 State of the Industry report that physical security in 2026 is no longer about standalone systems; it is about building intelligent, resilient infrastructure that underpins organisational performance.
The question is no longer whether now is the right time to modernise.
It is whether current strategies are ambitious enough to keep pace with the risks and opportunities ahead.
This article was originally published in the April edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
