5 Tech Trends Affecting The Security Sector In 2024
Johan boasts of an extensive 35 years long creer during which he has successfully handled leadership roles across Ericsson and Anoto, prior to joining Axis in 2009. Owing to his technology prowess, he has been instrumental in formulating efficient business and technology stratgeies for Axis in recent times
Today, technological innovations are bringing both huge opportunities and complex challenges, and they show no sign of slowing down. Even for those who have been working in the technology industry for decades, the pace of change over the past 12 months has been extraordinary. Thus, keeping pace with the changes and their implications for vendors, customers, and regulators demands focus, energy, and diligence. The key technological trends that we see affecting the security sector in 2024 reflect this rapidly evolving environment. Major ones among the are
Generative AI in Security
Today, the proliferation of deep learning to the edge is accelerating. Virtually, any new network camera being launched features deep learning capabilities, which vastly improve the accuracy of analytics by removing heavy bandwidth requirements, reducing processing in the cloud, and making the system more reliable. However, in terms of AI, 2023 has been the year where LLMs as the basis for Generative AI have forced their way into public consciousness. This form of AI supports the creation of new content based on natural language prompts and questions from users.
Every business is looking at the potential use case for generative AI, and the security sector is no different. In 2024, we will see security-focused applications appear based on the use of LLMs and Generative AI. These will likely include assistants for operators to them more accurately interpret what is happening in a scene, and as interactive customer support to provide more useful and actionable responses to queries from customers. However, we must be aware of the risks and potential pitfalls of Generative AI. There will be debates over which models to employ and how, particularly around the use of open-source vs proprietary models, but the biggest risk will be to ignore it.
Solution Management Efficiencies Driving Hybrid Architecture
Hybrid solution architectures are now established as the new standard in many security solutions. Functionalities are deployed where it is most efficient, utilizing the best of each instance in a system, adding an increased level of flexibility. Ultimately, system architectures should be in service to the customer’s needs, not the vendor’s preferred structure. To a great extent, it’s a question of accessibility. The more a solution exists in environments easily accessible to both vendors and customers, the more ability vendors have to manage elements of the system, taking a greater responsibility and reducing the burden on customers. Hybrid architectures also support the forthcoming use cases for AI support & automation in solution management and operation.
Security Always, but Safety Too
Often connected as a single subject, security and safety are increasingly being recognized as separate use cases – security being related to preventing intentional act, and safety related to the unintentional dangers & incidents that can cause harm to people, property, and the environment. The use of video surveillance and analytics in safety use cases is growing fast for numerous reasons, and will continue to do so. Firstly, with extreme weather conditions causing many natural disasters, video surveillance, environmental sensors, and analytics will be increasingly used by authorities to give early warning of potential disasters and support the most rapid & effective response.
Risk management, compliance to health & safety directives, and regulatory requirements is another key reason for the continued growth in safety-related use cases. Video surveillance will be used extensively within organizations to ensure adherence to H&S policies and safe working practices. Where incidents do take place, video surveillance will be an increasingly useful and important tool in investigations. While security as a use case for surveillance is well-established, safety will continue to evolve.
Regulation & Compliance Driving Technology
The global regulatory environment is having an increasing impact on the development of technology, its application, and use. Compliance with them is something that vendors and end users need to be aware of and should be looking to work in close partnership. Areas like AI, cybersecurity, sustainability, and corporate governance are coming under greater regulatory scrutiny. Thus, vendors need to develop their own technologies and operate their own businesses in ways that support their customers’ compliance requirements. Additionally, geopolitical and trade relations between nations are also leading to regulations that demand transparency to a component level if vendors want to maintain a license to operate in key international markets.
Taking the ‘Total System’ Perspective
The impact of every aspect of a security system will be under increased scrutiny, with vendors and customers needing to monitor, measure and report on a broad range of factors. As a result, taking a total system perspective will be essential. Energy consumption is a good example. A single video camera consumes a relatively small amount of energy. But when also considering the servers, switches, hubs, and routers through which the data is transferred, the picture changes. This total system perspective is useful and will lead to innovations in new technologies and cameras that bring benefits throughout the system, not in isolation.
More efficient transportation of products, sustainable packaging, and the use of standard components can all also play a part. Visibility and greater control across the supply chain is essential. We all accept that TCO is an important measure, but security vendors will increasingly need to consider the total impact of ownership, taking non-financial aspects into account, including environmental and societal. It will no longer be possible for vendors to operate in isolation of their own and their customers’ value chains.
To conclude, we have no doubt that 2024 will see further advancements in technology, and with that bring further challenges for us all to navigate.
Today, technological innovations are bringing both huge opportunities and complex challenges, and they show no sign of slowing down. Even for those who have been working in the technology industry for decades, the pace of change over the past 12 months has been extraordinary. Thus, keeping pace with the changes and their implications for vendors, customers, and regulators demands focus, energy, and diligence. The key technological trends that we see affecting the security sector in 2024 reflect this rapidly evolving environment. Major ones among the are
Generative AI in Security
Today, the proliferation of deep learning to the edge is accelerating. Virtually, any new network camera being launched features deep learning capabilities, which vastly improve the accuracy of analytics by removing heavy bandwidth requirements, reducing processing in the cloud, and making the system more reliable. However, in terms of AI, 2023 has been the year where LLMs as the basis for Generative AI have forced their way into public consciousness. This form of AI supports the creation of new content based on natural language prompts and questions from users.
Every business is looking at the potential use case for generative AI, and the security sector is no different. In 2024, we will see security-focused applications appear based on the use of LLMs and Generative AI. These will likely include assistants for operators to them more accurately interpret what is happening in a scene, and as interactive customer support to provide more useful and actionable responses to queries from customers. However, we must be aware of the risks and potential pitfalls of Generative AI. There will be debates over which models to employ and how, particularly around the use of open-source vs proprietary models, but the biggest risk will be to ignore it.
System architectures should be in service to the customer’s needs, not the vendor’s preferred structure
Solution Management Efficiencies Driving Hybrid Architecture
Hybrid solution architectures are now established as the new standard in many security solutions. Functionalities are deployed where it is most efficient, utilizing the best of each instance in a system, adding an increased level of flexibility. Ultimately, system architectures should be in service to the customer’s needs, not the vendor’s preferred structure. To a great extent, it’s a question of accessibility. The more a solution exists in environments easily accessible to both vendors and customers, the more ability vendors have to manage elements of the system, taking a greater responsibility and reducing the burden on customers. Hybrid architectures also support the forthcoming use cases for AI support & automation in solution management and operation.
Security Always, but Safety Too
Often connected as a single subject, security and safety are increasingly being recognized as separate use cases – security being related to preventing intentional act, and safety related to the unintentional dangers & incidents that can cause harm to people, property, and the environment. The use of video surveillance and analytics in safety use cases is growing fast for numerous reasons, and will continue to do so. Firstly, with extreme weather conditions causing many natural disasters, video surveillance, environmental sensors, and analytics will be increasingly used by authorities to give early warning of potential disasters and support the most rapid & effective response.
Risk management, compliance to health & safety directives, and regulatory requirements is another key reason for the continued growth in safety-related use cases. Video surveillance will be used extensively within organizations to ensure adherence to H&S policies and safe working practices. Where incidents do take place, video surveillance will be an increasingly useful and important tool in investigations. While security as a use case for surveillance is well-established, safety will continue to evolve.
Regulation & Compliance Driving Technology
The global regulatory environment is having an increasing impact on the development of technology, its application, and use. Compliance with them is something that vendors and end users need to be aware of and should be looking to work in close partnership. Areas like AI, cybersecurity, sustainability, and corporate governance are coming under greater regulatory scrutiny. Thus, vendors need to develop their own technologies and operate their own businesses in ways that support their customers’ compliance requirements. Additionally, geopolitical and trade relations between nations are also leading to regulations that demand transparency to a component level if vendors want to maintain a license to operate in key international markets.
Taking the ‘Total System’ Perspective
The impact of every aspect of a security system will be under increased scrutiny, with vendors and customers needing to monitor, measure and report on a broad range of factors. As a result, taking a total system perspective will be essential. Energy consumption is a good example. A single video camera consumes a relatively small amount of energy. But when also considering the servers, switches, hubs, and routers through which the data is transferred, the picture changes. This total system perspective is useful and will lead to innovations in new technologies and cameras that bring benefits throughout the system, not in isolation.
More efficient transportation of products, sustainable packaging, and the use of standard components can all also play a part. Visibility and greater control across the supply chain is essential. We all accept that TCO is an important measure, but security vendors will increasingly need to consider the total impact of ownership, taking non-financial aspects into account, including environmental and societal. It will no longer be possible for vendors to operate in isolation of their own and their customers’ value chains.
To conclude, we have no doubt that 2024 will see further advancements in technology, and with that bring further challenges for us all to navigate.
