Research: Global Video Surveillance Market Remains Resilient Despite COVID-19

Research: Global Video Surveillance Market Remains Resilient Despite COVID-19

It is sometimes said that the video surveillance market is recession proof. That when economic conditions deteriorate, there continues to be spending on security hardware and software. However, market conditions in 2020 were unprecedented. Restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that many organizations were closed for large parts of the year. Many of them were in sectors which normally invest heavily in video surveillance equipment (e.g. education facilities, banks, airports, retailers, sports stadia, casinos, hotels, fitness centres). It is therefore not surprising that the market for video surveillance hardware and software declined in 2020. However, what is surprising is that the rate of this decline was so modest. A new report from Novaira Insights reveals that the video surveillance market declined 2.6% in 2020. What is more, the report, “The world market for video surveillance hardware and software” forecasts a rapid recovery and high growth over the next 5 years.

According to lead analyst and founder of Novaira Insights, Josh Woodhouse, “High growth in sectors like healthcare and critical infrastructure somewhat compensated for big declines elsewhere. Also, in early 2020, a market for body temperature monitoring solutions emerged, often sold by video surveillance vendors utilizing their expertise in video. These products provided a short-term boost to their revenues”.

The COVID-19 pandemic was not the only challenge faced by the video surveillance equipment market in 2020 though. Tariffs and trade restrictions also impacted vendors. Woodhouse continued, “Chinese vendors were particularly affected. They faced both U.S. Government tariffs on their products and the NDAA ban. However, they and many other vendors were also affected by disruption in the semiconductor market such as HiSilicon being effectively unable to supply semiconductors. This caused big changes in the component supply chain.” The global video surveillance market is forecast to grow at 14.3% in 2021 and will be worth an estimated $24.5 billion.

In some markets such as the U.S., the pandemic acted as catalyst for end-users making greater use of cloud and managed services in their video surveillance systems. According to Jon Cropley, principal analyst at Novaira Insights, “Revenues for software and managed services continued to grow in the U.S. in 2020 while revenues for hardware declined.” Cropley added “In the past decade there have been many acquisitions of video surveillance software vendors. A comprehensive software and managed service offering can provide a path to transforming business models to higher recurring revenues. The transition to recurring revenues is a major industry trend”. See the entire report here from Novaira Insights.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.