Discover the future of security: Top brands like Axis, Hanwha, and Genetec reveal 2026 trends in Agentic AI, hybrid cloud, and digital twins. Read the expert outlook.
The year 2026 is upon us. To see what the new year will hold in the physical security world, we looked at some trends that top manufacturers—Axis Communications, Gallagher Security, Genetec, Hanwha Vision and i-PRO—think will take hold this year.
What topics will define security deployments going forward and what do they mean for those who want to succeed in a crowded field? How will they shape the fortune of major players?
1. Agentic AI
AI agents are security subsystems that can make autonomous decisions. They can, for example, be calibrated to take action without being steered by control room staff. AI agents can independently assess a perimeter intrusion and trigger a localized lockdown of nearby access points, or autonomously deploy a drone to investigate a suspicious object detected by a security camera.
For Hanwha Vision, 2026 will be a “a pivotal turning point” in physical security—thanks to AI, and in no small part agentic systems.
“The role of the monitoring operator is set for a fundamental overhaul. Humans will delegate repetitive surveillance tasks to AI Agents and focus on more critical, high-level functions,” the Korean company says, as it foresees that AI will increasingly act as a “teammate” instead of being merely a tool.
The AI agent “autonomously conducts complex situational analysis, automatically executes an initial response, and recommends the most effective follow-up actions to the monitoring operator,” Hanwha says.
Key to this leap forward in AI capabilities is the quality of data the system generates—sharper images thanks to larger, more refined sensors, AI-powered image signal processing, etc.—as well as the “arrival” of generative AI at the edge.
i-PRO similarly foresees that AI systems will no longer just detect pre-defined patterns, but understand the underlying logic of what the camera “sees,” unlocking new, automated possibilities.
“Improvements in processing hardware now allow models to learn and refine themselves directly on-device instead of relying solely on server or cloud infrastructure,” the Japanese manufacturer says. “This shift also aligns with how operators now use video systems. The traditional timeline-centric, reactive approach to forensic analysis is fading. Alerts, automated detection, and metadata-driven search using natural language are becoming the primary tools for proactive analysis.”
Another advantage lies in the potential of AI to lower operating costs, i-PRO says.
“By keeping real-time analysis and self-learning at the edge while using the cloud only where it adds value, organizations can improve performance without overspending,” the company explains.
2. Cloud sovereignty and hybrid flexibility
The “cloud or edge” debate has in the past year seen a new contender: “Why not both.” With AI analytics distributed, however, the question of how to orchestrate the interplay between cloud and edge is becoming more central in 2026.
Axis Communications has been an early adopter of the hybrid approach, offering well-calibrated solutions involving cloud, edge and other on-prem devices.
“We’ve always described hybrid as a mix of edge computing within cameras, cloud resources, and on-premise servers,” the Swedish manufacturer says. “While that’s still the same today, what’s changing is the balance of resources, as capabilities are enhanced and new use cases emerge. Edge and cloud are becoming much more significant, with the need for on-premise server computing resources reduced.”
“This is largely a result of enhanced computing power and capabilities within both cameras and the cloud,” Axis adds. “Improved image quality, the ability to more accurately analyze scenes and create valuable metadata have seen cameras take on tasks previously handled on the server. Similarly, with such a wealth of data being created, cloud-based resources have the analytical power required to surface business intelligence and insights to enhance operational effectiveness.”
The increasing refinement of hybrid infrastructures is also highlighted by Genetec, based on its annual survey of physical security professionals, showing a strong pivot towards cloud processing.
“Cloud is playing a stronger role in how security infrastructure is designed and maintained,” the Canadian VMS specialist says. “End users identify automatic updates, ease of deployment, and simpler maintenance as key benefits.”
3. Beyond security: Business intelligence and digital twins
At the forefront of changes in the deployment of security systems is Gallagher Security. Staying true to this strategy, the New Zealand manufacturer of access control systems says it “is focused on elevating [its] global vision for the future.”
“Our teams around the world are united by a shared purpose—to shape a safter, more connected future. We’ve achieved a huge amount in 2025, and in 2026, you’ll see us accelerate in all areas,” says Mark Junge, CEO, Gallagher, citing several key solutions introduced recently.
“The organization advanced their innovation leadership with several key product releases in 2025,” the company says. “The PIV-compliant High Security Controller 7000 delivered enhanced cyber protection for high-assurance environments, QuickSwitch simplified system upgrades and gained a strong market response, and Gallagher’s cloud solution OneLink expanded end customers’ reach into new geographies. Most recently, the release of Command Centre v9.40 introduced smarter maintenance workflows, increased operational efficiency, and a future-ready architecture.”
Hanwha puts the focus similarly, with AI data enabling business intelligence and giving organizations full visibility over their operations. Digital twins are seen as central to unlocking security systems’ full potential.
“The role of video surveillance expands beyond simple monitoring to become a core data source for Digital Twin technology, which reflects the physical environment in real-time. A Digital Twin is a virtual replica of a real-world physical asset, created in a computer-based virtual environment,” Hanhwa says. “Currently, the AI information (metadata) extracted by AI cameras is already being used as business intelligence to optimize operations in many smart sectors like cities, retail, and factories. Moving forward, this metadata will be fused with diverse information from access control devices, IoT sensors, and environmental sensors to complete a unified, intelligent Digital Twin environment.”
4. Cyber-physical convergence
As security systems become more interconnected—with IT infrastructures, diverse classes of IoT sensors capable of edge processing and the cloud—the stakes for cybersecurity solutions are higher than ever.
A key solution that is seen as taking center stage in 2026 is convergence between cyber- and physical security. Going forward, the two will no longer be separated, neither in terms of hardware nor software nor underlying philosophy.
“Cybersecurity underpins every part of today’s physical security ecosystems,” i-PRO says. “It is the baseline requirement that allows organizations to adopt new technologies, from AI to cloud-based services, with confidence. This focus aligns with i-PRO’s commitment to ethical, transparent AI governance and its achievement of the ISO/IEC 42001 certification, the first global standard for AI management systems.”
Similarly, Genetec sees cyberdefenses as a key part of every physical security system.
“The boundary between digital and physical threats is disappearing,” the company says, citing its survey results. “Findings indicate that, as physical security systems become more connected, safeguarding IoT and edge devices is now a core operational requirement.”
What does that mean for the security players’ business outlook?
Security players predict that advances in technology will require closer relations between manufacturers, integrators and users—a development that all five see themselves well positioned for.
Gallagher, for example, eyes “people-powered growth across the globe.”
“This has been a year of connection, collaboration, and growth across our partner network and customer base,” says Spencer Marshall, EVP – UK & Europe, Gallagher. “The traction we’ve seen sets a strong foundation for 2026.”
Conclusion: Changing roles for integrators
It is anticipated that growth momentum at global manufacturers will translate into benefits for local integrators of their systems, especially those willing to reciprocate those close partnerships.
And integrators are well-positioned to play a strong role: In concrete deployment scenarios, it is usually the integrator that has to unlock the full potential of the hard and software provided by the manufacturer for the benefit of users, including security teams, but also IT, as it is set to benefit from “security-plus” deployments.
As Genetec says in its survey report: “Progress now depends on shared expertise and mutual trust.”
Editorial Note: This article is based on submissions from manufacturers. You can find them here:
Axis: Five key technology trends affecting the security sector in 2026
On a winning trajectory: Gallagher Security’s year of expansion and innovation
Genetec releases 2026 global State of Physical Security Report
Hanwha: Video surveillance trends 2026: Trustworthy AI and sustainability
i-PRO Forecasts Rising Demand for Edge AI, Channel Education, and Cyber Maturity in 2026