Rebecca Spayne of Security Buyer sits down with Guy Rushworth of Genetec to explore the rapid adoption of cloud technology and the importance of a unified security solution
Genetec’s State of the Physical Security Report 2024 includes a wide range of respondents. Can you elaborate on the diversity of this group and their contributions to the findings?
Our report is based on feedback from a global survey of 5,500 respondents, which is our largest ever cohort. This diverse group includes security installers, consultants, and end users from various geographic regions, providing a well-rounded perspective on the current state of physical security. Their contributions are invaluable in understanding not only regional trends, but also the unique challenges and needs specific to different sectors within the security industry. This breadth of data helps us to discern not only the general direction in which the market is heading but also to capture nuanced insights into how different technologies, such as cloud-based video surveillance systems, are being adopted across different environments and use cases.
The respondents varied backgrounds enable us to gather a rich tapestry of data, reflecting a comprehensive landscape of the physical security world. This diversity strengthens the report’s findings, making it a robust tool for anyone looking to understand the complexities of modern security solutions.
What are some key findings from the report regarding cloud and hybrid technologies?
Our findings from the State of the Physical Security Report 2024 regarding cloud-based technologies are indeed quite encouraging and demonstrate a pivotal shift within the industry. Notably, a substantial majority of respondents indicate a move towards adopting cloud or hybrid-cloud solutions in the near future. In our 2022 survey, respondents reported that 58% of their physical security system was on-premises and
42% were cloud or hybrid-cloud. In our 2023 survey, those numbers jumped to 33% of respondents stating that their physical security systems were on-premises and 67% were cloud or hybrid-cloud. These results indicate that end users don’t want to be locked in and are seeking options when leveraging cloud technology to optimise their infrastructure.
Delving deeper into these findings, we observed that while a small fraction of the current deployments are fully in the cloud, a larger amount are using hybrid models. This reflects a cautious yet growing acceptance of cloud capabilities, merging them with traditional on-premises systems to create flexible, resilient, and scalable security infrastructures. The hybrid approach, in particular, seems to resonate well with organisations, allowing them to maintain control over certain data-sensitive operations on-premises while leveraging the cloud for enhanced scalability and accessibility.
This trend is also reflected in the responses concerning new installations, with a significant portion of newly installed systems being cloud-ready. This readiness for the cloud does not necessarily mean immediate deployment in the cloud, but it indicates a shift towards future-proof configurations, preparing organisations for eventual full cloud integration.
Furthermore, the report highlights a clear departure from past hesitancies regarding cloud technologies. Previously, there was considerable apprehension about moving security systems to the cloud, largely due to concerns over data security and system reliability. However, the current findings suggest that these concerns are being effectively addressed, with more organisations now viewing cloud and hybrid solutions as viable and advantageous options.
This shift is largely driven by the broader digitisation trends across industries, where the benefits of cloud computing, such as reduced operational costs, enhanced data analytics capabilities, and improved disaster recovery processes, are becoming more recognised. Moreover, the integration of advanced cybersecurity measures and compliance with stringent data protection regulations are making cloud solutions more attractive to security-conscious sectors. ..
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