Genetec shared the results of their 2025 State of the Physical Security Report, including hybrid-cloud security, artificial intelligence (AI), and staff concerns.

According to the report, 43% of end users envision hybrid deployments as their preferred approach within the next five years, compared to 18% favoring fully cloud-based implementations and 17% planning to remain fully on-premises. This preference for hybrid-cloud is echoed by consultants and channel partners, with 66% of consultants planning to recommend hybrid deployments in the next five years.

The report also found that 49% of end users delayed projects in 2024 and 45% in 2023. However, in 2023 supply chain issues were the main reason, but in 2024 the cause was economic uncertainties.

Since 2021, both end users and channel partners have consistently reported staffing issues. And the outlook for 2025 points to ongoing concerns. Seventy-two percent of channel partners expect to continue to have hiring challenges while only 6% believe it will improve, according to the report.

The report states that 77% of end users say physical security and information technology (IT) departments now work collaboratively. Additionally, IT departments are taking on an increasing role in the buying process, with more than 50% of end users, systems integrators, and consultants reporting that IT teams are now actively involved in physical security purchasing decisions.

The report reveals a significant rise in the interest toward AI adoption in physical security, with 37% of end users planning to implement AI-powered features in 2025, up from just 10% in 2024. This heightened interest aligns with a strategic, purpose-driven approach. With 42% of end users seeing AI as a tool to streamline security operations, organizations are focusing on practical applications, such as refining threat detection and automating routine processes, with intelligent automation as the ultimate goal.

Vercara announced the results of its second-annual Consumer Trust & Risk Report. The survey found that breaches in 2024 had less impact on consumers’ trust in brands compared to the previous year (a 6.5% decrease from 62% in 2023 to 58% in 2024). The research reveals that consumers are unaware of the impact of insider threats, and instead assume bad actors are to blame for most attacks.

Research found that more than half (58%) of consumers believe brands that get hit with a data breach are not trustworthy, and 70% would stop shopping with a brand that suffered a security incident. Generation Z is the most likely to be unfazed by security incidents, whereas Baby Boomers are most likely to shift their shopping habits.

One-third (30%) of consumers report having their data exposed after shopping online. Survey respondents believe that the top four causes of breaches are:

• Bad actors hacking into a company’s system – 36% (with 67% of Generation Z holding this belief)
• A company having extremely poor security measures – 33%
• Bad actors breaking into physical offices – 8%
• Insider threats – 5%

Additionally, 21% of consumers report that they use the same passwords across work and online shopping accounts and that 57% are comfortable using their work devices for personal shopping, doing so regularly, which opens companies to even more risk.