The Security Industry Association (SIA) has published its annual Security Megatrends report, highlighting the key forces shaping the security industry for the coming year. Among the most notable trends for 2025 are advancements in biometric technology and authentication methods, and the growing adoption of digital and mobile ID solutions. The report builds on SIA’s previous analyses, which have consistently highlighted the increasing convergence of physical and digital security technologies since 2021.
Biometrics a Key Driver of Identity Solutions
The report emphasizes the growing role of biometric-based identity in access control and authentication systems. Biometrics offer a significant advantage by allowing individuals to inherently serve as their own identity credentials. “With biometrics, the user is inherently the owner and provider of their own identity,” the report notes, underscoring the reliability and convenience of this approach. This trend follows significant developments in the field, including recent innovations in palm biometrics and the increasing adoption of multimodal authentication systems.
As security systems move away from traditional physical credentials, biometric authentication is poised to bridge the gap between convenience and security. The shift not only enhances security but also mitigates risks associated with lost or stolen credentials. The report suggests that biometric technologies will play a pivotal role in the democratization of identity, offering more secure and accessible solutions for both enterprises and end-users.
Mobile Credentials and the Rise of Digital ID
Another standout theme in the 2025 report is the increasing adoption of mobile credentials and digital ID solutions. Traditional access cards and physical badges are being replaced by digital alternatives stored in mobile devices. The report highlights the role of platforms like Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, which now support various forms of digital identification, including driver’s licenses and even passports. “More and more, those [secure transactions] are expected to occur on our phones,” said Donnie Scott, CEO of IDEMIA, reflecting the industry’s move toward mobile-first solutions.
The report identifies a key challenge in the transition to mobile credentials: cost and interoperability. While the upfront costs of mobile ID infrastructure can be high, these solutions often streamline processes and reduce long-term expenses. Martin Huddart, Senior VP at HID, points out that “end users do not appreciate the total cost of physical credentials… What mobile does is automate a lot of those physical and analog processes.”
The Democratization of Identity
A related trend in the 2025 report is the democratization of identity, which involves making secure and reliable identity solutions more accessible to a broader audience. This shift is driven by advances in mobile credentialing and biometric authentication. The report notes that identity-based systems are becoming less exclusive and more affordable, paving the way for widespread adoption. “The real winner in all of this digital transformation is the customer because they now have the choice of modality, experience, and level of assurance desired,” says Lee Odess, CEO of the Access Control Executive Brief.
Evolution of the Security Channel
The evolution of the systems integration channel emerges as the top-ranked trend in the report. Security integrators are facing challenges as technology becomes more advanced and customer needs evolve. The report underscores the need for integrators to adapt by offering managed services, specialized expertise, and deeper integration with IT and operational technology (OT) systems. As the industry shifts toward software-driven solutions, integrators are urged to stay current with new technologies to remain competitive.
They also must come to grips with the convergence of IT, OT, and security systems. As businesses integrate their physical security with IT networks and operational systems, the boundaries between these domains are blurring. This convergence requires security professionals to have a holistic understanding of their organization’s infrastructure. Properly understood, this can be a key driver for innovation and efficiency, allowing organizations to unlock new operational insights and improve security posture.
AI and Intelligent Automation
Of course, there is no escaping the growing importance of artificial intelligence in security operations. AI is increasingly being used to automate tasks, reduce false alarms, and extract actionable insights from large datasets. “We want to get to more predictive security rather than reactive security,” says Jeff Stanek, President of Security at Honeywell. AI-driven automation is expected to enhance both physical and cyber security, making operations more efficient and responsive.
However, the report also warns that AI presents significant security threats, particularly in the form of deepfakes and synthetic media. Masato Nakao, Chairman and CEO of i-Pro, stresses the need for ethical AI usage: “Fake images can’t be generated, machine learning must not be biased, and privacy must be protected with machine learning.” The potential for AI-generated content to deceive and manipulate highlights the importance of implementing safeguards to mitigate these risks.
The SIA’s “2025 Security Megatrends” report provides a comprehensive look at the forces shaping the future of security. With biometrics, digital ID, and mobile credentials leading the way, the industry is poised for significant transformation. These technologies, combined with advancements in AI, channel evolution, and IT-OT convergence, reflect a dynamic landscape where security solutions are becoming smarter, more efficient, and increasingly user-centric. As the report suggests, staying ahead of these trends will be crucial for organizations seeking to navigate the ever-changing security environment.
Source: Security Industry Association
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December 12, 2024 – by Ji-seo Kim and Alex Perala
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