2026 Physical Security Trends Every Facility Manager Should Know
Physical security technology evolves rapidly, but 2026 marks a particularly significant inflection point. The convergence of several trends is fundamentally changing how organizations protect their assets and people.
Trend 1: Agentic AI Takes Action
Previous generations of AI security were passive: detect and alert. 2026 sees the rise of agentic AI that takes autonomous action within defined parameters. When a threat is detected, the system can activate lighting, issue audio warnings, and begin response coordination without waiting for human input.
Trend 2: Solar-Powered Becomes Standard
Infrastructure requirements have traditionally limited where security could be deployed. Solar-powered systems eliminate those barriers, and 2026 adoption curves show that infrastructure-free deployment is becoming the default for new installations.
Trend 3: Edge Processing Dominates
Processing video at the camera (edge computing) rather than streaming to the cloud reduces latency, bandwidth costs, and privacy concerns. Modern security cameras are essentially purpose-built AI computers with lenses attached.
Trend 4: Outcome-Based Pricing
Security vendors are increasingly moving to outcome-based pricing models. Instead of paying for cameras and monitoring, organizations pay for measurable results: reduced incidents, faster response times, verified deterrence.
Trend 5: Unified Security Platforms
The days of separate systems for cameras, access control, and monitoring are ending. Unified platforms integrate all security functions with shared data and coordinated response capabilities.
Trend 6: Predictive Security
Moving beyond reactive detection, advanced systems analyze patterns to predict where and when incidents are likely to occur, enabling proactive resource deployment.
Trend 7: Insurance Integration
Insurance carriers are increasingly requiring -- and rewarding -- specific security technologies. Documented AI monitoring and response capabilities can significantly reduce premiums and improve coverage terms.
