Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

  • By Emma Falck
  • May 20, 2025

In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical.

The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial.

Hybrid security solutions, which seamlessly blend traditional on-site systems with cloud-based capabilities, are emerging as an optimal approach to futureproof physical security for smart buildings.

Embracing the Hybrid Advantage
Hybrid security solutions combine the reliability and control of on-prem systems with the flexibility, scalability, and advanced capabilities of cloud architectures. This approach allows organizations to leverage their existing investments in physical security infrastructure while enhancing them with the benefits of cloud-based technology.

The hybrid approach can be considered a game-changer for the physical security market. The reasons are clear: It allows organizations to safeguard their security investments; enhance operational efficiency, availability, and resilience; and shift from capital expenditures (CAPEX) to operating expenses (OPEX).

Additionally, it unlocks new services such as false-alarm detection and remote maintenance diagnostics, facilitating a smooth transition to smart building capabilities. Key advantages of hybrid security solutions include:

Protecting existing investments. Hybrid solutions enable a gradual migration to cloud-based security, avoiding the need for costly and disruptive "rip and replace" overhauls of on-prem systems. Organizations can leverage their existing infrastructure while incrementally adding cloud-powered features and capabilities like mobile access, visitor management, and unified multi-site identity management.

Enhancing maintenance and performance. Cloud-based components of hybrid solutions offer enhanced maintenance, remote diagnostics, and automatic updates, resulting in a reduced workload for security teams. The cloud also enables improved data visualization, cross-domain use cases and harmonized resource management. Additionally, automation of tasks, as well as unified alarm and work management, allows for customization of workflows to streamline operations.

Improving cybersecurity. Hybrid architectures enable security managers to remotely monitor, diagnose, and update systems. By using edge hardware that allows for native cloud connectivity, robust protection against cyber threats is ensured. Cloud-based security services also provide the latest patches and cybersecurity features.

his is particularly important as new regulations like the EU Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER) and the US Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) place increasing demands on organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity position. Therefore, security teams can comply with these new regulations more effectively by providing centralized visibility, remote management capabilities, and seamless integration of the latest security updates and protection.

Increasing sustainability. By migrating from on-prem to cloud-based infrastructure, organizations can more easily connect access control and video data with building automation, enabling occupancy-driven building management. This can reduce energy consumption by up to 65 percent.

Hybrid Security – The Heart of Smart Buildings
Hybrid security is not just about physical protection – it is about unlocking the full potential of smart buildings. For example, access management systems can leverage occupancy data to improve visitor management, reduce food waste in canteens, and optimize smart heating and cooling.

Intelligent video management platforms, powered by cloud-based analytics, can differentiate between humans and animals, automate license plate recognition, and support real-time identity checks – all while ensuring compliance with local regulations.

Moreover, these solutions enable remote monitoring and management, allowing security teams to oversee multiple sites from a centralized cloud-based platform anywhere, anytime and from any device. This streamlines incident response, enhances overall safety and reduces the workload for operators.

Ultimately, by seamlessly blending on-prem and cloud technologies, organizations can protect their investments, enhance operational efficiency, improve cybersecurity, and drive sustainability. This lays the foundation for a new era of intelligent, user-centric buildings.

Hybrid security is not in the future – it is here now. Forward-thinking organizations are already embracing this approach to stay ahead of the curve and deliver the secure, smart and sustainable buildings of tomorrow.

This article originally appeared in the May / June 2025 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”