Latin American Firms Adopt Unified, Hybrid Security as Risks Rise

Organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean are accelerating the transition to unified physical security systems and hybrid cloud models to mitigate rising incidents, reports Genetec. In the State of Physical Security 2026 report, Genetec reveals that the sector has evolved into a strategic business function that strengthens operational resilience and cybersecurity.

 “As it becomes more tightly woven into the broader fabric of the enterprise, security is emerging as a genuine enabler of business outcomes — helping organizations work more cohesively, respond more effectively, and stay focused on long-term goals,” says Christian Morin, Vice President of Product Engineering, Genetec.

The region is navigating a period of hybrid vulnerability where the boundaries between physical and digital threats are increasingly indistinct. During 2025, Genetec reported that 43% of organizations showed an increase in security incidents, a figure that rises among corporations with more than 10,000 employees. This reality has forced a reevaluation of legacy technology.

Historically, physical security operated within technological silos. However, the analysis of 7,368 global survey responses — of which Latin America and the Caribbean represent 26% — indicates that integration is no longer optional. The primary motivation for 60% of leaders in the sector is the ability to integrate new capabilities, displacing traditional factors such as immediate cost. Security is now understood as an operational intelligence tool that provides critical data for strategic decision-making.

Security system architecture is migrating toward more flexible and resilient models. In 2025, 45% of end users adopted hybrid cloud environments, an increase from 43% in the previous year. This trend highlights a preference for flexibility. Organizations seek the benefits of the cloud, such as automatic updates and scalability, without compromising data sovereignty or the operational continuity provided by on-premises processing.

Genetec also reports that AI is being positioned as a top investment priority for 2026, reaching levels of relevance comparable to video surveillance and access control. Projected applications focus on operational efficiency: automating repetitive tasks, filtering events to reduce noise in monitoring centers, and accelerating forensic investigations. However, adoption remains cautious. Only 29% of users state they have no concerns regarding AI, while the remainder point to risks related to data privacy and the lack of transparency in algorithmic functions.

Cybersecurity has become an intrinsic component of physical security. The deployment of digital protection tools within physical environments increased from 32% in 2024 to 43% in 2025. Current efforts center on infrastructure hardening, technical training for personnel, and securing edge computing devices, which are identified as critical vulnerability points in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem.

Despite technological advances, the sector faces a structural challenge in talent management. As the report noted, Latin America, along with North America and Asia-Pacific, is experiencing a shortage of specialized technical profiles. The lack of systems engineers, installation technicians, and technical support experts threatens to slow the pace of modernization. For companies, long-term viability no longer depends exclusively on software, but on the stability of the vendor — cited by 73% of respondents as a key factor — and its ability to manage the technical skills gap in a high-risk environment.

Toward 2026, the collaboration between information technology and physical security departments is expected to deepen. This shift will transform protection infrastructure into a source of analytical data that optimizes both security and general business value chain efficiency.