2025 has arrived. Following our previous article comparing 2025 video surveillance trends, we want to do the same for access control. That said, this article examines and compares the key 2025 access control trends predicted by security companies.
2025 has arrived. Following our
previous article comparing 2025 video surveillance trends, we want to do the same for access control. That said, this article examines and compares the key 2025 access control trends predicted by security companies.
HID
Touchless access control technologies, especially mobile credentials, are a common thread running throughout companies’ 2025 access control trends predictions.
HID, for example, cites its own 2025 trend report as suggesting access control is moving towards mobile credentials, which are embedded in smartphones and can be used to tap on the reader to gain access. HID adds 61 percent of security leaders in its survey identify mobile credentialing as a top trend, with nearly two-thirds either deploying or planning to deploy mobile solutions.
Meanwhile, HID points to unified management platforms as another major access control trend, where security systems such as access control, video surveillance, building management and intrusion detection are all integrated on a unified platform instead of working in silos. Referring to their survey, HID cites respondents as saying unifying multiple data collection methodologies would be “somewhat” or “very important” (73 percent) to their organization.
Further, AI is cited as another trend, with HID noting AI agents are being rapidly adopted to enhance security operations while use cases are proliferating across access control, identity management, video, and security management platforms.
Avigilon
Like HID,
Avigilon cites touchless access control as a major trend, touting it as one of the critical access control technologies of 2025. Avigilon however cites certain barriers to upgrading to a touchless system, one of them being a large upfront investment to implement initial changes to the user’s legacy system. Yet the company notes that the benefits will ultimately justify the investment, saying once investments are made, touchless systems can represent a highly cost-effective, user-friendly and secure way to support access control.
Also similar to HID, Avigilon cites unification as a major trend in access control, saying by merging multiple systems’ capabilities, wider arrays of technologies can be optimized to enhance the overall user experience, while helping building managers and owners improve energy-efficiency, productivity and sustainability metrics. Avigilon also cites cloud, saying cloud access control is scalable and can enable teams to respond to security breaches faster and more accurately. AI is identified as another top trend, one example being using rules to trigger lockdowns, alarms or alerts following a specified access control event – a type of automation that can be crucial in minimizing damages.
Gallagher
Echoing Avigilon, Gallagher identifies mobile credentials as a trend but said certain challenges remain. In its
Security Industry Trends Report 2025, Gallagher said while 48 percent of channel partners, consultants, and technology partners are likely to adopt mobile credentials in the next year, 47 percent of end users say they’re unlikely to make the change, citing reasons such as low confidence in end-to-end encryption; challenges with IT department on time, budget, and resources; and cost of hardware replacement. These concerns aside, Gallagher argues that the key is to recognize that while mobile credentials might not be universally applicable, they offer significant advantages for many businesses, particularly those looking to enhance flexibility, security, and user experience.
Gallagher also cites cloud as a trend to watch for, saying across the board, participants in their survey cite greater access and control, ease of use, and cost savings as key benefits driving cloud migration, even though barriers still remain amid concerns for cloud cost, infrastructure and cybersecurity. Separately, AI is also cited as a trend, especially as technology improves alongside persistent business problems, prompting organization to look at how AI may be incorporated in their systems.
ICT
Echoing the other companies,
ICT cites touchless and mobile solutions as top 2025 access control trends, noting that the proliferation of smartphones equipped with NFC and Bluetooth capabilities allows for swift, secure, and convenient access control and reduces the need for physical cards or fobs. Also under the touchless access control trend, ICT mentions facial recognition, saying while facial recognition remains the dominant form of biometrics, studies show a 6 percent growth in multimodal biometrics – or the use of multiple modes of biometrics for enhanced access security.
On unified security platforms, ICT recognize them as another key trend in access control, saying businesses are now moving towards unified solutions that merge access control, video surveillance and building automation into a single ecosystem, which can help businesses reduce complexity, streamline operations, and ensure a more future-proofed security approach.
ICT also cites cloud, especially hybrid cloud where organizations are offered an effective way to modernize their security operations using cloud tools and software, while maintaining on-premises infrastructure – a trend ICT says will become increasingly prominent this year, particularly in healthcare, government industries, and education sectors.