For the 2023 report, cyber security has once again been recognised as the top trend impacting the industry, narrowly supplanting artificial intelligence (AI), which fell to a close second place in the 2023 report. The cyber security of solutions has become a business differentiator, and government requirements have led to changes among top government contractors and integrators, and policy changes like the NDAA and FCC requirements have created prohibitions on select firms while forcing other product manufacturers to change sourcing. This trend has also led steadily to more convergence in how corporations manage their security posture, often creating greater relationships and improved information sharing among teams specialising in cyber security, physical security and information technology.

AI, though dropping slightly to a No. 2 position, continues to hold high promise for the industry, with many manufacturers embedding AI-driven analytics into their solutions. AI-powered solutions like facial recognition appear to be steadily gaining steam among public safety markets, particularly as policies and frameworks have been developed to ensure the intelligence is used ethically (“ethical and safe use of data and technology” was itself identified as a 2023 Security Megatrend, ranked No. 5).

Workforce development jumped to a No. 3 position in the 2023 report, and while some in the industry speculate that a cooling economy may alleviate some of the hiring backlog, many indicate that some roles, like security technicians, are facing such a critical shortage, that it will take long-term and coordinated efforts to change the talent pipeline crisis.

Newer trends on the list such as “Changing Economic Conditions” (No. 4), “Elimination of Industry’s Boundaries” (No. 6) and “Proliferation of Sensors” (No. 7) indicate a world in which security must be highly adaptive to early business signals, provide more value to the business unit beyond a security and safety impact, and leverage data from any input in the quest to protect people, property and assets.

The 2023 Security Megatrends are:

• Cybersecurity and Physical Security

• Artificial Intelligence

• Workforce Development

• Changing Economic Conditions

• Ethical/Safe Use of Data and Technology

• Elimination of Industry’s Boundaries

• Security as a Service

• Supply Chain Assurance

• Autonomous Devices

• Proliferation of Sensors

“Cyber security rose once again to be the top Security Megatrend for 2023, with AI closely following at No. 2 and autonomous devices entering the 2023 ranking for the first time ever. These new solutions and services like AI and autonomous devices hold great promise for improvements in security,” said James Rothstein, chair of SIA’s board of directors and operating partner with Lee Equity Partners. “We were pleased to see the industry recognise cyber security and ethical and safe use of data and technology among the top trends for 2023. This clearly demonstrates that security industry business leaders are focused not just on business opportunities but are mindful of the global impact that our industry’s advanced technologies can deliver.”