The role of physical security systems in smart buildings
Physical security systems are enablers of
smarter, safer and more efficient build-
ings.
surveillance system.
· Visitor management can be made
smoother without compromising
security.
According to James McHale,
it is important for security system
vendors to "blur the boundaries"
between physical security and
smart building IoT to fully capture
the opportunities that smart build-
ings present.
"Those who fail to adapt risk
being left behind," he says.
Open standards
as a prerequisite
A key factor in this development is
the use of open standards. Propri-
etary systems may offer short-term
functionality but often lead to
lock-in, high lifecycle costs and
limited integration.
· Future-proofing: Technologies
based on open standards such
as ONVIF for video surveillance,
BACnet for building automation
and OPC UA for secure, platform-
independent communication
between machines, sensors and IT
systems.
· Flexibility and scalability: Prop-
erty owners can replace or expand
parts of the system without being
tied to a single vendor.
· Innovation and security: Open
ecosystems drive development and
allow vulnerabilities to be identi-
fied and addressed more quickly.
With the growing cyber threat,
standardisation and security have
become inherent components of
smart building infrastructure.
IoT and increased security
requirements
In Memoori's report IoT Platforms
in Smart Commercial Buildings
2025 to 2030, the number of IoT
devices in commercial buildings is
estimated to grow from 2 billion
today to over 4 billion by 2030.
With this rapid growth come
risks: over 80 per cent of organisa-
tions report IoT-related security
incidents.
As more devices become
connected and physical security
becomes increasingly intertwined
with IT and IoT infrastructure,
robust frameworks such as Zero
Trust, NIST and ISO/IEC 27001
are critical to safeguarding smart
building ecosystems.
Security and trust
While integration and intelligence
bring significant benefits, privacy
and data protection must not be
overlooked. Clear policies, secure
data management and compliance
with regulations such as GDPR,
the EU's NIS2 Directive, and the
upcoming Cyber Resilience Act
(CRA) and AI Act are essential to
building trust in smart environ-
ments.
Contributing
beyond security
Physical security systems are no
longer just "guards at the door"
they are enablers of smarter, safer
and more efficient buildings. Ac-
cess control and video surveillance
not only provide protection but
also deliver insights, interoperabil-
ity and resilience.
As Memoori and other market
analysts emphasise, the conver-
gence of physical security and
smart building IoT is both inevita-
ble and necessary. But for this vi-
sion to become reality, the industry
must fully embrace open standards.
Only then can physical security
evolve into the backbone of the
smart building era securing not
only places, but the very intelli-
gence that makes them `smart'.
Note:
The Memoori report "IoT
Platforms in Smart Commercial
Buildings 2025 to 2030" can be
ordered from www.armedia.se
(click on Reports).
www.securityworldmarket.com
AR Media International AB
www.securityworldmarket.com, www.armedia.se
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