Despite the fact that 2020 was an extremely unusual year, the security industry’s constant transformation has not stopped. Furthermore, the security industry is facing some significant technological changes, such as the development of multi-perception technologies and cloud solutions, the convergence of security systems, the popularity of artificial intelligence, and so on.
These changes broaden and reshape the security industry’s scope, from protecting people and property to creating safer, more efficient, and smarter environments.
Looking ahead, we have high hopes for 2021. As a result, we’d like to share some encouraging ideas and thoughts on key trends that may have an impact on the security industry in the short and long term.
1) Smart video solutions during the pandemic
Companies prioritize finding solutions to help them resume safe activities in order to deal with the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Smart video technology has the potential to provide a secure environment in which employees and customers can feel safe.
The security cameras, which are equipped with AI technology, monitor densely populated areas to ensure that employees comply with required safety measures such as social distancing, mask wearing, and crowd control, as well as preliminary temperature screening.
As a result, employees will avoid unnecessary physical contact with shared devices as a result, and the use of a touch-free access control system will be encouraged, a market trend that we have already seen. There are several popular methods for providing access, including facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, NFC, and QR codes.
2) Multidimensional perception
Capturing visual images was the foundation and the only perception capability for video security systems for a long time. However, with the advancement and application of detection technologies, new skills such as intelligent algorithms, integrated security devices, and systems that use multiple sensors have become available. Security cameras now have a variety of sensing capabilities, including radar detection, multispectral imaging, humidity and temperature measurement, and gas pressure detection, all of which are built into the device. This integration enhances the perceptual capabilities of cameras and video systems, broadening application scenarios and enabling multidimensional data collection and use.
For example, one promising approach now combines cameras with radar technology that uses centimeter and millimeter waves to detect objects and track movement up to and beyond 100 meters away. Multispectral imaging is another effective method for cameras to detect information in the light spectrum that is not visible to the naked eye. For example, ultraviolet (UV) detection improves cameras’ perceptual capabilities, even when capturing invisible electric arc phenomena; this technology has a key application in safety checks on obsolete electrical networks.
The evolution of the video security industry will rely heavily on multidimensional perception capabilities. In this regard, we can see an increasing number of security devices and systems that are integrated with multiple sensors.
3) Visibility-anytime, under any conditions.
Users have come to expect consistent performance from their camcorders, regardless of season, weather, or time of day. It is critical to have cameras that can respond quickly and effectively in order to capture clear images, regardless of the time of day, night, or weather.
Low-light imaging technology, which provides color images in low-light and nighttime environments, is becoming increasingly popular in the security industry, and customers are showing a strong interest in 24/7 color imaging cameras. Several front-facing cameras now include low-light imaging technology to ensure that they can “see” and reproduce the image’s color both day and night.
But how can we ensure that security cameras provide clear images even in extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow, fog, or smog? Thermal imaging technology that measures heat-or thermal radiation-is commonly used by industry professionals to generate images from their field of vision. The rendered image is much less affected by these conditions when using thermal imaging.
4) 5G technology for UHD and wireless video security
The security industry may see significant changes as a result of 5G technology. The higher bandwidth and lower latency of 5G technology enable regular transmission of high-quality images and, with the widespread adoption of high-definition (UHD) cameras, may open up new opportunities for video security.
Furthermore, the cable video security market will be revolutionized today by reliable wireless transmission enabled by 5G technology. Wireless cameras will proliferate on future 5G networks, and more marginal devices will be connected to remote locations. This will also make it easier to deploy AI applications on edge devices more widely and quickly.
5) Convergence of several security systems
We work in an industry where customers expect comprehensive solutions. The vast majority of security professionals have long desired the concept of systems that work flawlessly together.
Converging multiple security systems-including video, access control, alarm, fire prevention, and emergency management-into a unified platform has numerous advantages, the most obvious of which are efficiency and cost-effectiveness. When an alarm is triggered, for example, an integrated system automatically connects the alert to the exit of the nearest camera, allowing the entire situation to be easily assisted by the monitoring center. This translates to significant savings in time, effort, and, most importantly, costs. Labor, installation time, separate maintenance costs, separate software licenses, and other savings all add up to create an appealing package for customers.
Furthermore, convergence expands security solutions. On the same central platform, the existing infrastructure will meet and manage future needs.
6) Digital transformation of enterprises allowed by video security systems
Aside from security and protection, the offer of value-added video security systems has grown to help enterprises with their digital transformation and to obtain information on development opportunities.
Today’s smart video security solutions, which include AI technology, are intended to improve automation and operational efficiency in a variety of vertical markets, including traffic, retail, manufacturing, construction, education, and others. Retailers, for example, can use smart video solutions to better understand the walking traffic in their stores and optimize their marketing strategies.
These solutions include digital dashboards that display data and information from the company’s internal information systems. These systems enable operators to receive real-time status updates, allowing them to make the best decisions for their business.
The trend of digital transformation in many businesses presents enormous opportunities for security firms to broaden their scope and play an important role in the future of a smart world.
7) Integrated cloud-based security solutions
In the security industry, the trend of “cloud switching” for businesses of all sizes has accelerated in 2020. More and more businesses, from small to enterprise, are turning to cost-effective cloud services to increase the flexibility of operations, deployment, and management.
Cloud-based security systems, which combine security, networking, storage, analysis, and management, make deployment easier because no local servers or software are required. This saves them a lot of time and money while also extending or decreasing their security systems.
These solutions also benefit customers with remote operations and maintenance, quickly alerting them to key security events and allowing them to keep up with the latest firmware, upgrades, and services via a cloud hosting infrastructure.
8) Increased edge computing to put AI everywhere
Security cameras now have access to increasingly powerful edge computing, and we are constantly seeing smarter algorithms with broader applications. As a result, we believe the desktop computer has a good chance of “putting AI everywhere.”
In the security market, automatic number recognition (ANPR), automatic event alert, person counting, heat mapping, illegal parking detection, and helmet detection, among other AI applications, are gaining popularity. With a cutting-edge computer and optimized AI algorithms, it will be common to see security cameras supporting smarter tasks in the near future to help improve local community security and data system efficiency.
9) Open AI application ecosystems
With the use of AI applications in many new areas, the market requirements for AI algorithms are becoming more diverse, as is the demand for customization. We’ve seen more collaboration between industries and new ecosystems to meet the market’s various needs.
Several security vendors have launched programs to keep their cutting-edge devices open to third-party artificial intelligence applications. This results in a wider range of smart features, while openness benefits development partners as well.
Providing open AI training platforms for customers to directly create and train their own algorithms is a fairly common practice in other industries, and is now gaining traction in the physical security field. Customers have a better understanding of their own businesses, and it will be easier and more efficient for them to develop their own algorithms based on their data and specific security and business needs with easy-to-use open-AI training platforms.
10) Emphasis on cyber security and data confidentiality
Since the first security device was connected to the internet, cyber security and data protection have been a challenge for the security industry. Millions of devices and security systems are now joining this connected network, fueled by growth in cloud-based solutions and a slew of innovative technologies such as IoT, big data, 5G, and AI.
Protecting security devices and systems from cyber attacks and ensuring data confidentiality are more important than ever. The industry will continue to be concerned about cyber security at every stage of data processing, from data generation, transmission, and storage, to data applications and deletion.
“Zero Trust” is a popular cybersecurity concept, and it can be a motivating idea for security companies to build higher-level cybersecurity standards with the position of “don’t trust, always check.” Only time will tell.