International. The latest HID State of Security and Identity report reveals a shift towards software-based and AI-based solutions by 2025.
According to the report, organizations, faced with an increasingly complex threat environment, are making strategic shifts toward unified platforms and emerging technologies. This comprehensive study, which gathered the perspectives of 1,800 partners, end users, and security and IT professionals from around the world, reveals a significant transformation in the way organizations are addressing security challenges. Of particular note is the growth in the use of mobile credentials and artificial intelligence as key drivers of innovation in the sector.
"The security industry is going through a pivotal moment, where integrating modern technologies with existing infrastructures is no longer an option but a necessity," said Ramesh Songukrishnasamy, senior vice president of engineering at HID. "The fact that 73% of security managers are prioritizing unified software-based solutions right now shows that we have moved beyond traditional siloed approaches, where each security system operated independently. Today, organizations demand platforms that can scale according to their needs and, at the same time, provide useful information for decision-making."
The following are some of the report's key findings:
Mobile credential and biometrics adoption
The rapid increase in mobile credentials – 61% of security decision-makers in organizations highlight the expansion of this technology as one of the main trends in the sector – reflects a clear shift towards more modern solutions. Nearly two-thirds of respondents' organizations are already deploying or planning to deploy mobile solutions. At the same time, the demand for biometric technologies (such as facial, fingerprint and iris recognition) is also growing: around 35% of respondents already use these technologies, while 13% plan to do so, revealing significant growth potential in this segment.
Demand for unified solutions
Today, as organizations diversify their security technologies, many of those responsible for managing this area (67%) are taking steps to adopt software-based security solutions, stating that unifying multiple data collection methodologies would be "moderately important" or "very important" (73%) to their organizations.
Tilt on open platforms
In recent years, interoperability has become synonymous with progress throughout the security industry, a trend that continues to consolidate. More than half of security professionals considered open solutions to be "extremely" or "very" important to their organizations.
Focus on converged platforms
Nearly two-thirds of organizations and 73% of integrators and consultants see a shift toward using software-based security solutions that integrate physical and digital functions (such as video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection) within a more unified platform.
Transformation of distribution channels
Distribution channels in the security industry are undergoing a significant transformation driven by digital innovation. While 77% of channel partners believe they are adequately adapting to these changes, increased end-user demand for artificial intelligence, cloud solutions, IoT integration, and advanced analytics is redefining expectations for the services offered by solution providers. To remain competitive, channel partners must be constantly evolving and adapting to new market demands, keeping up with the digital transformation that is impacting the security industry.
AI Agent Adoption
The adoption of AI agents is growing rapidly in the security industry to improve operational efficiency. Use cases are expanding rapidly in areas such as access control, identity management, video surveillance, and security management platforms. Two of the main benefits mentioned by respondents about these technologies are greater efficiency and speed in security processes (50%) and improvements in real-time data analysis functions (47%).
Sustainability remains key
75% of security managers take it into account in their selection processes for new solutions. However, for most organizations, sustainability is not the determining factor, as security and cost-benefit are still top priorities for 80% of integrators and consultants.
The full report contains additional data on a global scale and more detailed analyses. You can read it in its entirety at this link.
