Axis Communications, the technology leader in network video, has identified various technology trends that will shape the security sector in 2025. The trends present both challenges and opportunities, for example, to achieve greater flexibility, efficiency and improved value for manufacturers, system integrators and end customers.

Some of the trends identified by Axis are developments that have emerged from trends in previous years. These include, for example, the increasing interest in using artificial intelligence (AI) for various applications in the security sector. Others are new developments or ones that have not been the focus of attention for some time, but have taken on new importance due to technological progress.

‘Generally speaking, all these trends will be an opportunity for national and international legislators to keep pace with technological progress in the form of new requirements – for example, with regard to cyber resilience in critical facilities. While these new requirements and their demands are not a new trend in themselves, they arise as a side effect of other developments and present a challenge for every company. Dealing with them must therefore be a priority,’ says Tobias Metsch, Regional Director Middle Europe at Axis Communications.

The six trends identified by Axis include:

1. Hybrid solutions: The basis for freedom of choice

Hybrid architectures that combine edge, cloud and on-premise technologies are increasingly becoming the preferred choice in the security sector. They offer companies maximum freedom of choice to develop tailored solutions that meet technological, legal and ethical requirements. The flexibility of hybrid solutions also makes it possible to customise storage and management options to address new regulations and growing demands such as data control, energy efficiency and scalability.

2. AI evolution and AI efficiency

The rapid development of AI is revolutionising the security sector through advanced object recognition, analytical functions and generative AI technologies. Deep learning is already established, while generative models offer new possibilities for interaction, for example through natural language processing. Among other things, AI models can optimise security solutions by detecting anomalies and providing valuable insights for planning through multimodal sensor data. These advances open up opportunities, but they also raise ethical, legal and environmental questions. For example, the high computing requirements of generative AI have sparked a debate about costs and energy efficiency and once again highlight the importance of hybrid architectures in the coming years.

3. Applications beyond the security sector

In the future, sophisticated networked technologies such as computer vision or audio and access control systems will continue to be used in building and personal security, enabling faster and more effective responses to incidents through AI-supported object recognition. The data generated by sensors also enables use cases beyond traditional security, such as improving operational efficiency, analysing data to gain business intelligence, or improving employee and customer experiences.

4. The ‘renaissance’ of image quality

With images increasingly being analysed and evaluated by computers, the topic of image quality takes on a new significance. This is because advances in AI and AI-based analysis functions, combined with high-resolution images, enable more precise object recognition and classification, thus generating more detailed metadata. Higher-resolution images also increase efficiency and effectiveness in use cases such as crowd analysis or production processes.

5. Good software support ensures the long-term value of products

Continuous software support is increasingly becoming a guarantee for the long-term added value of hardware. Despite the ever-longer lifespan of modern premium devices, functionality, security and total cost of ownership depend on regular software updates. This means that comprehensive software support and updates from the provider are essential to ensure that the devices offer maximum efficiency and security throughout their entire lifespan. In the long term, investing in hardware with reliable software support will be the most cost-effective and sustainable approach for businesses.

6. customer benefits from autonomous technologies

Autonomous technologies are increasingly being designed to address specific customer needs in terms of personal and building security, operational efficiency and sustainability. This means that providers who develop their own core technologies and rely on open, standards-based platforms can deliver more customised and flexible solutions, better meet cybersecurity standards, and thus maximise the customer value of their products. For example, the trend towards in-house development, such as semiconductors for AI applications in software companies, strengthens the quality of service and the resilience of supply chains to risk.