Top 10 Security Megatrends for 2021

Every industry has its trends and security is no different. The Security Industry Association (SIA) released its annual list of security megatrends for 2021, and unsurprisingly, some priorities have shifted while others endure. SIA publishes its Security Megatrends list annually based on feedback from focus groups, interviews and survey data from top security industry business leaders.

One shifting priority is predictive data analytics for security, which appears on SIA’s list for the first time ever. Ranked third for 2021, predictive analytics shot past more familiar trends like cloud computing and data privacy.

Artificial intelligence, which ranked fifth in 2019 and second for 2020, is now the top megatrend for 2021. Interest in AI remains high as it promises to help security departments do more with less in the long term. Popular use cases include monitoring logs for suspicious activity, malware detection and automation to help security analysts focus more on high-value activities. AI is in the product roadmap for many security solutions that you’re already using, so adoption may be natural over time, with AI working in the background to deliver more value.

The convergence of physical and cyber security continues to be a hot topic, appearing second on the 2021 list, down from the top spot last year. Organizations continue to look for more synergy between these two often-separate disciplines to physically secure cyber assets such as data centers and IoT devices.

Predictive analytics, which has been trending in other industries, is now a hot topic for the security industry. Theoretically, if you have enough of the right data, you can predict the future, at least to some extent. This is an advanced data analytics capability, which builds on prescriptive analytics—a technique that provides insight into why an event occurred.

Given that 2020 is the year of the pandemic, it’s not surprising to see touchless and frictionless solutions emerge on the list for the first time as the sixth hottest megatrend for 2021. Reducing physical contact points improves safety, and these solutions can be paired with facial recognition—which placed seventh on the list, down from third last year—to provide fast, secure access to authorized individuals.

Ranking fourth for 2021 is connectivity and the IoT of everything. More personal and industrial devices connected to enterprise networks have expanded the attack surface. Organizations are interested in the ability to manage the security of edge devices at scale.

Returning to the list after dropping off for 2020 is responsive environments and intelligent spaces. Smart buildings are filled with network-connected sensors and other devices that require security.

Security leaders continue to be interested in new service models, which ranks 10 on the 2021 list. Hosted and managed services, coupled with modernization of security platforms, promise to deliver more reliability and better security at a lower cost over time. For example, IST’s S.H.I.E.L.D full life cycle approach to modernizing security infrastructures can give security leaders the ability to focus less on infrastructure and more on security strategy without breaking the budget.

Cloud computing continues to endure as a top-five trend while data privacy makes the list again after dropping off for 2020.

The full list: SIA’s 2021 Security Megatrends

  1. Artificial Intelligence
  2. Cybersecurity of Physical Security
  3. Predictive Data Analytics
  4. Connectivity and the IoT of Everything
  5. Cloud Computing
  6. Touchless & Frictionless Solutions
  7. Facial Recognition
  8. Responsive Environments & Intelligent Spaces
  9. Emphasis on Data Privacy
  10. Move to Service Models

2020 Security Megatrends: Are You Prepared?

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted key trends in security for 2020. These top 10 forces at play in security, expected to have far-reaching impacts on organizations across the nation, are:

  1. Cybersecurity Impact on Physical Security
  2. Artificial Intelligence
  3. Facial Recognition
  4. Emphasis on Data Privacy
  5. Cloud Computing
  6. National Security Concerns
  7. Connectivity and IoT Everything
  8. Workforce Development
  9. Move to Service Models
  10. Identity as the New Perimeter

It is no surprise to us that for the second consecutive year, cybersecurity is identified as the predominant trend shaping the security industry.

With the increased risk and frequency of cyberattacks, we know that cybersecurity is a major concern for governments, companies, healthcare organization, schools, property managers, and more. Integrated Security Technologies is working hard to make sure that security solutions meet or exceed an organization’s cyber-preparedness standards. We are a leading system integrator and developer that our customers spanning many industries have come to depend upon.

We know it’s almost impossible to keep your connected systems and their network infrastructure running smoothly and attack-free. It’s also easy to open up vulnerabilities since a small misconfiguration or unpatched application or operating system can become disastrous if left unfixed. Our proprietary Life-Cycle Support program, S.H.I.E.L.D, was designed for that reason. IST stops cyber threats before they can even occur by deploying cutting-edge cyber security protection strategies including constant vigilance and a proven program that includes monitoring and maintenance on any desired schedule. Let’s discuss how you can gain even greater cyber security protection with us.

The Top 10 Security Megatrends in 2019: Are you Prepared?

Every year at the Securing New Ground (SNGTM) conference, the SIA identifies the ten biggest security trends for the upcoming year by mining SIA member surveys from hundreds of top-level executives in advance, unpacking the hot topics explored by SNG speakers and by speaking with SNG attendees.

We’ll provide the top ten security megatrends forecast here and then do a deeper dive into each these topics in our next set of blog posts, not only providing you with the data behind these trends, but actionable ways to incorporate security best practices into your business to ensure your security and your success.

As Ed Pederson, VP, Integrator and Distribution Sales for Bosch says, “Embrace change. Get involved. Share your opinions. Most of the time I see my customers not embracing change.” These ten megatrends are the change that’s been coming, so get ready to embrace the following:

1. Integrate Physical and Cybersecurity Correctly: As more and more communications, utility and security systems are connected through the growing IoT, this creates additional open environments and a stronger need for cybersecurity measures. The threats to our physical security are real – and dangerous. You can take practical steps to counteract these threats.

2. The IoT and Big Data Converge: More devices = more data. Between IoT, the cloud, big data, analytics, AI, cybersecurity, drones, robotics, software as a service (SaaS) and more, the sheer volume of information is insurmountable. How do we ride this wave and capitalize on it? Stay tuned …

3. Is Security keeping up with Cloud Computing? We trust in the cloud; hence it continues to grow in popularity. Yet cloud computing and security may not be moving at the same pace. Digital companies that operate through the cloud need to ensure their cybersecurity measures are tracking. Security integrators are setting up more managed services to facilitate this transition.

4. The Security Skills Shortage and 5 Ways to Overcome It: Record low unemployment translates as a dearth of skilled security labor across all type of businesses and in all job levels. Not only do our new security hires need to speak the language of security, but all non-IT employees need to be well versed too. As the industry attracts and onboards the next generation of security professionals, this widening hiring gap needs to be addressed.

5. What’s Next with the Proliferation of AI? After all the hype, AI is finally infiltrating our daily lives. Start-ups are taking advantage of its technology to leverage their position in the marketplace while more established companies tentatively test AI first before larger rollouts. This new megatrend will be interesting to track.

6. Data Privacy vs. Convenience: Which is Better? As we embrace growing interconnectedness and open systems, we relinquish some of our privacy. Where is the balance? What level of data privacy are we all willing to give up for the convenience of these seamlessly interconnected systems?

7. How Will Security Integrators Leverage DIY Security Systems? The market is loaded with DIY security options ranging from SimpliSafe® security to Nest’s video surveillance – and security integrators are losing money on the expensive equipment installations that get replaced by these lower cost options. Business customers are going DIY too. As they regroup, integrators are focusing on service models backed by excellent customer service with the convenience and ease of use that these plug-and-play customers expect.

8. The Best Ways to Bring Smarter Security to Smarter Environments: We’re taking connectivity one step further with whole-house and whole-business solutions that tie in multiple security devices, including HVAC, elevator controls, automation and more. When smart devices connect, they create smart environments, which must be secured – all the way up to the macro “smart city.” As machine learning helps these networks improve, they’ll gain popularity, making stronger security more imperative.

9. Going Biometric for Access Control: More companies are adopting facial recognition access systems now since the technology has greatly improved. Voice and sound recognition are forging ahead in the consumer market and are on track to infiltrate commercial businesses soon. How do we make these transitions easy and keep everything secure?

10. 3 Ways DIY is Revolutionizing the Security Space: The U.S. is the largest consumer electronics market on the planet, especially when it comes to connected smart devices. As consumers grow more comfortable securing their own, space, Google and Amazon’s smart speakers and voice control devices will become even more important. The largest companies with infrastructure already in place are poised to win the market share.

As we explore each of these new security megatrends in more detail, we’ll provide ways for you to take advantage of the new opportunities too. With great change comes great risk – and also great possibility.