Key Trends Shaping Security In 2024.
Key Trends Shaping Security – Wai King Wong, regional director, Oceania, Axis Communications, considers the key trends that will shape the Australian security sector in 2024.
In the evolving Australian security landscape, tech innovations continue to bring both immense opportunities and increasingly intricate challenges. We’ve seen an extraordinary rate of change this past year, and as these changes show no signs of slowing down in 2024, adapting to new technologies and understanding their impact on vendors, customers, and regulators requires unwavering focus, energy, and diligence from security integrators and security managers. There are 5 key trends we can expect for the next year and beyond.
The Rise of Generative AI in the Security Sector
There are multiple opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning in the security sector, specifically on advanced analytics on the edge of the network. In other words, in cameras themselves.
The proliferation of deep learning to the edge is accelerating, with virtually any new network camera being launched featuring deep learning capabilities, which vastly improve the accuracy of analytics. These capabilities are the foundation for building scalable cloud solutions as they remove heavy bandwidth requirements, reduce processing in the cloud, and make the system more reliable.
In terms of AI, 2023 has also been the year of establishing large language models (LLMs) as the basis for generative AI. This form of AI supports the creation of new content – words, images, even video – based on natural language prompts and questions from users.
As businesses are looking at the potential use case for generative AI, 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, helping them more accurately and efficiently interpret what is happening in a scene, and as interactive customer support, providing more useful and actionable responses to queries from customers. In addition, generative AI has already proven its value in software development, and this will be a benefit seen throughout the security sector.
There are risks and potential pitfalls associated with the use and deployment of generative AI. As companies continue to educate themselves on these challenges, next year we can expect to see more debates over which models to employ and how, and particularly around the use of open-source vs proprietary models, including the ethical implications of each.
Driving Hybrid Architectures Through Enhanced Solution Management
Key Trends Shaping Security – Hybrid solution architectures, which harness the strengths of on-premises, cloud, and edge technologies, have become the new norm in many security solutions. Functionalities are allocated where they are most effective, leveraging the strengths of each component within a system and offering enhanced flexibility. Ultimately, system architectures should be aligned with the customer’s needs, rather than the vendor’s preferred structure.
To a significant extent, it comes down to accessibility. The more accessible a solution is to both vendors and customers, the more responsibility vendors can assume in managing system elements, lightening the burden on customers.
Hybrid architectures also lend support to upcoming use cases for AI support and automation in solution management and operation. Key Trends Shaping Security – Increased system accessibility benefits both human support and AI support, capitalising on the strengths of each distinct instance.
Security vs Safety
While security and safety have traditionally been closely linked, there is a growing recognition that they represent distinct use cases. Security is focused on preventing intentional acts such as break-ins, vandalism, and physical aggression, while safety pertains to unintentional hazards and incidents that can harm individuals, property, and the environment.
The use of video surveillance and analytics in safety applications is on the rise and is expected to continue growing. Climate change is one unfortunate reason for this, with extreme weather conditions leading to floods, wildfires, landslides, avalanches, and more. Authorities are increasingly employing video surveillance, environmental sensors, and analytics to provide early warnings of potential disasters and support swift and effective responses.
Risk management, compliance with health and safety regulations, and adherence to regulatory requirements are other crucial factors contributing to the growth of safety-related applications. Video surveillance will be widely used within organisations to ensure compliance with health and safety policies and safe work practices, including the mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE). In the event of incidents, video surveillance will become an even more valuable tool for investigations.
Regulation & Compliance Behind Technology Push
Speaking of compliance, the Australian regulatory landscape is exerting an escalating influence on technology development, application, and use. AI, cybersecurity, sustainability, and corporate governance are all areas subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny. Compliance with these regulations is an imperative that both vendors and end-users must heed and collaborate to ensure.
Increasingly, the regulatory framework encompasses more than just the specific development and use of technology. Geopolitical factors and trade relations between nations are also giving rise to regulations that mandate transparency down to a component level, particularly if vendors aim to retain the privilege of operating in vital markets.
This field is perpetually evolving and changing, demanding ongoing diligence, development, and transparency throughout the value chain. For users of security technology, it comes down to trust. Can they be assured that every link in their supply chain operates in a manner that supports their own regulatory compliance? They should be.
Adopting Holistic Perspectives
Key Trends Shaping Security – Every facet of a security system will undergo intensified scrutiny, urging vendors and customers to continually monitor, assess, and increasingly, report on a broad spectrum of factors. Therefore, embracing a holistic approach is crucial.
Energy consumption serves as a prime example. A single video camera consumes a relatively modest amount of energy. However, when considering the servers, switches, hubs, and routers facilitating data transmission, located within sizable data centres that demand cooling, the energy landscape changes significantly.
Enhanced visibility and greater control across the supply chain are of paramount importance, and a holistic perspective can help drive innovations in new technologies and deliver benefits across the entire system, rather than in isolation. Cameras designed to reduce bit rates, storage requirements, and server loads, with the aim of decreasing the need for server cooling, exemplify this approach. Key Trends Shaping Security – Enhanced product transportation efficiency, sustainable packaging practices, and the use of standard components all play their part too.
While it’s important to acknowledge the importance of total cost of ownership (TCO), security vendors will increasingly need to consider (and be transparent about) the overall impact of ownership, taking non-financial aspects into account, including environmental and societal factors. Vendors can no longer operate in isolation from their own value chains and those of their customers.
Embracing Shifting Landscape
The Australian security sector is at the cusp of a transformative era, poised to embrace the opportunities and address the intricacies that technology innovations bring.
The ascent of generative AI, driven by LLMs, marks a pivotal moment in security, with applications spanning from enhanced operator support to interactive customer assistance. At the same time, the rise of hybrid architectures, supported by efficient solution management, is redefining the way security solutions are structured and delivered.
Key Trends Shaping Security – While the distinct realms of security and safety continue to converge, offering new insights into risk management, it’s clear that regulatory compliance is no longer confined to technology alone but extends to geopolitical and trade dynamics, emphasising the need for transparency and trust throughout the entire supply chain. To navigate this, adopting a holistic perspective is key, from energy consumption considerations to sustainable practices.
In this dynamic landscape, success will rely on security vendors and their customers collaborating seamlessly and aligning their value chains for a secure, sustainable, and innovative future.
You can learn more about Axis Communications here or read more SEN news here.
“Key Trends Shaping Security In 2024.”
