Security Integrators: Conquering the Physical-Cybersecurity Gap

The Blurring Lines: How Security Integrators are Bridging the Physical-Cyber Divide

The lines between physical security and cybersecurity are fading fast, placing security systems integrators in a pivotal position. They’re now tasked with ensuring that these historically separate worlds communicate and work together seamlessly.

This shift is being fueled by technological leaps, evolving regulations, and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks targeting physical security infrastructures.

“While physical security and cybersecurity are intrinsically linked, there can be a significant communication gap between the two disciplines,” notes Boudewijn Pesch, Vice President of Japan and Asia Pacific Channel Sales at Verkada. “Physical security professionals and cybersecurity teams have in the past operated siloed in their respective disciplines.”

This disconnect creates vulnerabilities that malicious actors can exploit. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting physical security devices like access control systems, IP cameras, and networked sensors to infiltrate entire enterprise networks.

Integrators, therefore, play a crucial role in harmonizing security policies, ensuring interoperability, and implementing solutions that offer a truly holistic approach to security. By fostering collaboration between physical and cybersecurity teams, integrators can empower organizations to develop a unified defense strategy that minimizes risk and boosts operational efficiency.

The Challenge of Legacy Systems

One of the biggest obstacles for integrators is modernizing outdated security infrastructure. Many organizations still rely on on-premise systems that simply weren’t designed for today’s technological demands.

These legacy systems often require manual upkeep and lack the scalability and user-friendliness of modern cloud-based solutions. What’s more, these older devices may not support the encryption, authentication, or update mechanisms needed to meet today’s cybersecurity standards, leaving them exposed to attacks.

“Many organizations still rely on outdated physical security infrastructure that wasn’t built with ease-of-use or today’s modern technology infrastructure in mind,” Pesch explains. “These systems often require tedious, manual maintenance—a contrast to cloud-based solutions that cybersecurity teams are accustomed to.”

This mismatch can lead to inefficiencies, with physical security teams struggling to keep pace with the rapid advancements in cybersecurity. Additionally, legacy systems can be difficult to integrate with newer platforms, making data-sharing and analytics-driven security operations challenging. Integrators can tackle this challenge by guiding organizations toward cloud-based solutions that provide continuous updates, enhance interoperability, and simplify security management.

“These solutions are not only easy to integrate and scale alongside existing technology infrastructure but also help protect organizations from multilayered threats,” Pesch adds. “Ultimately, this enables a more secure and efficient end-to-end security approach as the physical security and cybersecurity worlds continue to merge.”

The Impact of IoT and Cloud-Based Security

The rise of IoT and cloud-based security solutions is reshaping how integrators deploy and manage security systems. Cloud technology has made physical security more intuitive and scalable, while IoT has enabled greater connectivity between devices.

However, these advancements come with added complexity – integrators must ensure that cloud-based security platforms are properly configured, that IoT devices are secured against cyber threats, and that data privacy regulations are met.

“IoT and the cloud have transformed physical security and the ways that integrators deploy solutions,” Pesch notes. “These technologies are not only making standalone solutions more intuitive, user-friendly, and more advanced but they’re also making it easier to integrate other systems and solutions.”

This deeper level of convergence is unlocking new business opportunities for integrators. By leveraging cloud-based platforms and IoT-enabled security devices, integrators can offer organizations customized solutions that extend beyond traditional safety and security applications.

These integrations provide richer insights, greater context, and expanded use cases, from business intelligence to operational efficiency.

For example, modern cloud-based access control systems can integrate with HR databases to enable automated provisioning and de-provisioning of credentials. AI-powered video surveillance can analyze occupancy patterns to optimize building management, reducing energy consumption while enhancing security. These use cases highlight how integrators can add value by helping organizations leverage security investments beyond traditional protection measures.

Regulatory and Compliance Considerations

As physical security becomes increasingly networked, compliance with cybersecurity regulations is becoming a top priority. Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are implementing stricter security requirements for connected devices, mandating encryption standards, data protection measures, and incident response protocols.

Integrators must be aware of evolving regulatory landscapes and ensure that the solutions they deploy meet these requirements.

For instance, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has strict mandates on how video surveillance footage is collected, stored, and accessed. In the US, regulations such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) prohibit the use of certain foreign-made security devices in government contracts.

Understanding these regulations and aligning security solutions with compliance standards is crucial for integrators looking to serve enterprise clients effectively.

Opportunities for Security Integrators

As the industry continues to evolve, security integrators who can bridge the physical-cyber divide will be well-positioned for growth. By fostering collaboration between physical security and cybersecurity teams, integrators can help organizations build more cohesive security strategies.

This extends to providing training and education, ensuring that end-users understand how to manage modern security systems effectively.

Additionally, as organizations increasingly migrate to cloud-based platforms, integrators who specialize in deploying and managing cloud security solutions will have a competitive edge.

Providing expertise in cloud migration, system integration, and ongoing management will be key differentiators in an increasingly digital security landscape. Companies are looking for integrators who can ensure that cloud-based security deployments are resilient, scalable, and cost-effective.

The shift toward Security as a Service (SaaS) also presents new revenue streams for integrators. Subscription-based security models allow organizations to adopt flexible and scalable solutions without significant upfront capital expenditures.

By offering managed services, remote monitoring, and predictive maintenance, integrators can establish long-term client relationships while generating recurring revenue.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Security Integration

The convergence of physical security and cybersecurity presents both challenges and opportunities. For integrators, success will depend on their ability to adapt to new technologies, align security priorities across disciplines, and provide forward-thinking solutions that enhance security resilience in a connected world.

As AI, machine learning, and edge computing further transform security operations, integrators will need to stay ahead of emerging trends. AI-driven security analytics can provide real-time threat detection, while edge computing enables faster response times by processing data closer to the source.

The role of the integrator will expand beyond traditional installation and maintenance to strategic consulting, helping organizations leverage next-generation security technologies effectively.

Ultimately, those who embrace innovation and facilitate a seamless merger between physical and cybersecurity will become the most valuable partners in the evolving security landscape.

Integrators who position themselves as trusted advisors—offering expertise in interoperability, compliance, and cloud security—will be best equipped to thrive in the future of security integration.