Genetec Inc., a global enterprise physical security software company, has unveiled findings from its 2026 State of Physical Security survey, revealing a growing transition across Africa toward modern, connected security infrastructure. The report, based on insights from more than 7,300 physical security professionals worldwide, including over 180 respondents from Africa, showed increasing demand for unified platforms that combine video surveillance, access control, analytics and cybersecurity within a single operational environment.
According to the report, more than 70 per cent of organisations globally now operate unified or integrated security systems as businesses move away from isolated technologies toward consolidated platforms that improve operational efficiency and visibility. In South Africa and other emerging African markets, organisations are increasingly adopting intelligent, data driven systems capable of supporting both security operations and broader business decision making.
Regional Sales Manager at Genetec Inc., Quintin Roberts, said organisations across Africa are rethinking how physical security systems align with their digital transformation strategies. He noted that unified platforms enable organisations to move beyond reactive monitoring toward real time insight, stronger operational control and improved collaboration between IT and security teams. The report also found that 73 per cent of African end users share physical security data with IT departments, significantly higher than the global average of 52 per cent.
The survey further highlighted rising interest in AI driven analytics and automation across the continent as organisations seek to improve monitoring and incident response capabilities. However, Genetec warned that challenges such as cybersecurity risks, supply chain disruptions and shortage of skilled professionals in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and data analytics continue to slow adoption in several African markets. About 38 per cent of respondents identified training and upskilling as a major challenge, underscoring the growing skills gap within the region’s evolving security ecosystem.