For many organisations, physical security still sits on the edge of the technology conversation.
Cameras, access control and sensors are often viewed as facilities infrastructure rather than information systems. They are installed, monitored and maintained, but rarely governed or integrated in the same way as core IT platforms.
But that view is no longer fit for purpose in 2026.
Modern physical security platforms generate large volumes of data, operate on cloud infrastructure and increasingly use automation and AI.
In practice, they behave like IT systems, and they should be treated as such.
Physical Security Data is Operational Intelligence
Every door swipe, camera event or sensor trigger is a data point. Collectively, these signals provide insight into how people, buildings and operations actually function.
Used well, this data supports incident response, compliance, safety investigations and operational optimisation. Used poorly, it becomes an unmanaged risk surface, producing sensitive information without clear ownership or intent.
The shift is not about adding more cameras or controls. It is about recognising that physical security data is business data and should be managed accordingly.
Integration Matters More Than Hardware
The real value of modern physical security is unlocked through integration.
When access control is connected to identity platforms such as Microsoft Entra ID, user access can be managed consistently across physical and digital environments. When security platforms integrate with networks and monitoring systems, faults, anomalies and risks become visible earlier. When physical and cyber signals are correlated, organisations gain a more complete picture of risk.
Without this integration, physical security remains reactive and fragmented, regardless of how advanced the hardware may be.
AI is Already in Play: The Risks & Responsibilities
AI is no longer a future consideration in physical security. It is already embedded in many platforms, driving features such as motion detection, pattern recognition, behavioural analysis and automated alerts.
This introduces both opportunity and heavy responsibility. AI can significantly improve safety and security response times, but it also raises questions around accuracy, bias, privacy and governance. Treating physical security as an IT system ensures these capabilities are understood, governed and aligned with organisational risk appetite.
Ownership is Shared, Governance is Essential
Physical security should not be “owned” by a single function.
Facilities and maintenance teams bring essential operational knowledge and are critical to day-to-day effectiveness. IT teams bring expertise in identity, networks, security and data governance. The most effective organisations recognise that physical security sits at the intersection of both.
This is where governance matters. Clear decision rights, shared accountability and agreed standards allow teams to collaborate without confusion or conflict. Governance does not slow things down, it ensures everyone is working toward the same outcome.
Avoiding Shadow Systems – Is Physical Security Under the Remit of Facilities or IT?
Because physical security has historically lived outside IT, it is often excluded from formal governance frameworks. Systems are selected locally, deployed quickly and maintained independently.
Over time, this creates ‘shadow systems’ that store sensitive data, rely on cloud services and introduce cyber risk without clear oversight. The issue is not intent, it is visibility and accountability.
Bringing physical security into IT governance helps organisations reduce risk while improving reliability and transparency.
A Leading Approach to Integrated Security: Verkada
In our view, the market is moving toward platforms that treat physical security as a unified, cloud-managed system rather than a collection of standalone tools.
Verkada is a strong example of this shift. Founded by the original visionaries behind Meraki, Verkada was built with the same principles of simplicity, scalability and cloud-first design. By combining cameras, access control, sensors and analytics into a single platform, it enables tighter integration with IT environments and clearer governance across physical security.
When implemented thoughtfully, platforms like this support both operational teams and IT leaders, without forcing trade-offs.
Looking Ahead
As AI becomes more deeply embedded and security environments continue to converge, the distinction between physical and digital security will continue to blur.
Organisations that treat physical security as data and as an IT capability, governed collaboratively across teams, will be better positioned to manage risk and extract value. Those that do not may find themselves with systems that are critical, intelligent and insufficiently governed.
The door is no longer just a door. It is a data source. The question is whether it sits inside your technology strategy, or outside it.
Find Out More at VerkadaOne Sydney 2026
VerkadaOne is coming to Sydney, bringing together security, IT and operations leaders to explore the future of physical security, cyber resilience and cloud-based safety solutions. The event will feature real-world use cases, product insights and practical perspectives on how organisations are converging physical and digital security.
We encourage clients and peers to register and join the conversation.
Register Now
