The evolution of physical security no longer forces companies to choose exclusively between on-premises infrastructure or fully cloud-based solutions. According to the State of Physical Security 2026 report by Genetec, hybrid models continue to gain prominence among organizations, increasing from 43% to 45% in the past year, while fully on-premises deployments slightly decreased from 49% to 48%.
This shift confirms a growing trend: companies seek to benefit from the advantages of the cloud without sacrificing control over their data, systems, or pace of technological deployment. In organizations with multiple locations, specific regulatory requirements, or prior equipment investments, a complete migration to the cloud environment is not always necessary or practical.
In this context, Genetec Inc., a company specializing in enterprise physical security software, highlights the growth of cloud-managed appliances as an intermediate solution to modernize systems gradually and flexibly. “Adopting the cloud doesn’t mean completely replacing all existing infrastructure overnight. Many organizations need to advance technologically while maintaining operational control and leveraging investments that are still useful,” says Rafael Martín, Sales Director for Southern Europe at Genetec. “Cloud-managed appliances enable the integration of new functionalities where they add real value, while keeping local infrastructure intact when business needs, regulations, or operations require it.”
Modernize without starting from scratch
One of the main barriers to adopting cloud solutions in physical security is the fear of having to replace existing cameras, access control readers, sensors, or other devices already installed. Cloud-managed appliances directly address this concern by allowing existing infrastructure to connect to native cloud services without requiring a complete system overhaul.
This approach is especially useful for organizations with distributed environments. For example, a corporate headquarters, a remote warehouse, or a new branch may have very different connectivity, storage, maintenance, or compliance needs. With a hybrid model, each location can evolve at its own pace: some can continue operating on-premises, while others incorporate cloud capabilities when it makes operational sense.
Furthermore, this architecture facilitates connecting multiple sites to a centralized security operations platform, enabling a unified view even in organizations with dozens or hundreds of locations.
Cybersecurity accelerates cloud adoption
Pressure on IT teams is also driving this change. Keeping physical security systems up to date requires managing patches, firmware, vulnerabilities, and maintenance cycles across an increasing number of devices and locations. As these systems connect more to corporate networks, cybersecurity becomes a critical factor.
Genetec’s report indicates that automatic updates have been the leading reason for end users to adopt cloud-based solutions for two consecutive years. Additionally, organizations value ease of deployment and maintenance simplification as key benefits.
Cloud-managed appliances help reduce this burden by centralizing updates and security patches, avoiding unnecessary visits to each site, and enabling access to new features as they become available. Many of these devices also incorporate backup and resilience capabilities to safeguard recordings and critical information against hardware failures.
Ultimately, for Genetec, moving toward the cloud in physical security should not be viewed as a one-time, irreversible migration but as a gradual evolution. Cloud-managed appliances offer the flexibility to decide what to move, when, and at which sites, keeping options open as business needs change.