Security Trends 2025

Six Key Technology Trends Shaping the Security Sector in 2025

ASIS UK Board Director, Steven Kenny discusses the technology trends that look to affect the security sector in 2025.

As we step into a new year, it’s time to explore the key technological developments that will influence the security sector over the next 12 months. The rapid pace of change shows no signs of slowing down.

Many of these trends build on those we’ve seen in previous years. A prominent example is the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in security, with emerging considerations that must be addressed. Additionally, some topics are making a comeback or emerging as new priorities.

Meanwhile, national and regional authorities will continue their efforts to regulate innovation in technology. From AI and cybersecurity to privacy and critical infrastructure resilience, regulations will play a central role in shaping organizational strategies. Although we haven’t singled out regulation as a specific trend, its importance cannot be overstated.

Within these trends lies substantial opportunity for the industry’s growth. For end users, this translates into enhanced capabilities, improved efficiency, greater flexibility, and increased value.

Hybrid Architectures: Enabling Flexibility and Choice

In recent years, hybrid architectures which integrate edge, cloud, and on-premises technologies have become the go to solution for many security systems.

Organizations will choose their architecture based on unique factors, including technological needs, regulatory requirements, and governance priorities. The fast-evolving landscape makes flexibility essential.

Hybrid solutions offer the freedom to determine where to store data, analyse footage, and manage devices, whether through a combination of edge, cloud, or on-premises components. This flexibility enables organizations to create tailored solutions that address specific operational needs and scale as required.

Emerging regulations, concerns over data control, cost considerations, and energy efficiency will continue to drive the adoption of hybrid architectures. These solutions provide the adaptability necessary to meet diverse organizational requirements.

Advancing AI Capabilities and Efficiency

AI development is advancing at breakneck speed. Deep learning remains a core component of many security analytics, while newer generative AI technologies are quickly gaining traction. While there is still some hype, practical applications of generative AI in security are becoming increasingly viable. Each new wave of AI advancement brings opportunities along with ethical, legal, and operational challenges.

Generative AI models require significant computational resources, leading to discussions around balancing the cost of AI (both financial and environmental) with its benefits. Efforts are underway to reduce the size of these models while preserving output quality. As AI adoption grows, hybrid architectures will become even more critical in supporting these technologies.

Different types of AI from deep learning-based object recognition to generative AI—serve distinct purposes in security systems. Generative AI can enhance user interaction with systems through natural language processing but currently demands substantial processing power. Meanwhile, deep learning analytics for object recognition can be embedded directly into cameras.

Future advancements will enable generative models to partially run on cameras, delivering high-quality results. As models improve in addressing ethical concerns, biases, and inaccuracies, they will enhance decision-making processes.

AI’s evolution presents a significant opportunity to improve security operations’ effectiveness and efficiency. Algorithms will be capable of analysing various types of input, including visual, audio, and radar data to identify anomalies and proactively respond to incidents. This proactive approach will yield valuable insights for long-term planning.

Expanding Beyond Traditional Security Applications

The use of connected technologies such as advanced computer vision, audio analytics, and access control continues to enhance security and safety. Improved accuracy in analytics, particularly in object recognition, enables faster and more effective incident responses.

However, the data generated by these technologies can also drive broader business applications. While still a smaller part of the market, we anticipate accelerated adoption of solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and business intelligence.

This trend underscores the potential for cross-functional collaboration within organizations. Technologies originally deployed for security purposes can generate insights that enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and support sustainability initiatives.

Hardware vendors fostering open ecosystems and collaboration with application developers and integrators will deliver the most value to customers, fostering innovation at a rapid pace.

Renewed Focus on Image Quality

While image quality has always been a priority in the sector, it is now being revisited with a new lens. The trend is driven by how visual data is used, often initially analysed by machines rather than humans, and the continuous monitoring enabled by advanced analytics.

Higher resolution imagery leads to better analytic outcomes. Improved image quality enhances object recognition accuracy and generates richer data for analysis. This renewed emphasis on image quality offers both efficiency and effectiveness. High-resolution cameras can cover larger areas, reducing the number of devices needed.

Moreover, higher-quality images support complex analytics, such as crowd monitoring, traffic management, and production line optimization. While operators remain crucial to decision-making, automation will increase their efficiency by highlighting incidents that require attention. As a result, the focus on maintaining camera performance will intensify, as even minor obstructions can impact analytic accuracy.

Long-Term Value Through Ongoing Software Support

High-quality hardware in the security sector continues to improve, with products designed for long lifespans. However, the true long-term value of these devices lies in sustained software support.

Regular software updates ensure that hardware remains secure, functional, and capable of meeting evolving needs. Vendors committed to long-term software support will help customers maximize the return on their investment, reduce total cost of ownership, and maintain system performance over time.

Empowering Customers Through Technology Ownership

Ultimately, the goal of technology vendors and their partners is to meet customer needs. Innovation should serve real-world objectives, whether related to safety, efficiency, or business intelligence.

Supporting customers’ goals extends beyond traditional security to areas like cybersecurity, energy efficiency, and operational flexibility. Vendors with greater control over their core technologies, from semiconductors to software are better positioned to deliver tailored solutions and meet stringent security requirements.

Control over foundational technologies enhances a vendor’s ability to innovate while mitigating risks related to supply chain disruptions. As companies across sectors seek greater autonomy, we expect continued investment in proprietary technology, particularly in AI.

Looking Ahead

These are just a few of the trends we believe will shape the security sector in 2025. We welcome continued dialogue with our partners and customers as we navigate these exciting developments together.