Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

• By Craig Newell
• Sep 15, 2025

Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits.

Companies will find an issue and evaluate solutions from a siloed and narrowed perspective, missing opportunities to partner and collaborate internally with other departments like IT or operations. If they have a problem with unauthorized access, they search for a new badge reader or an intricate access control upgrade.

This can cause fragmentation, making monitoring and maintenance difficult. Further, they may miss an easier win if they were to interact with peers in other areas that may have a quicker, simpler path forward. Beyond the low-hanging fruit, security solutions need to be evaluated of how they fit into a dynamic ecosystem, requiring a 64,000-foot perspective that explores their impact on the organization.

However, because this interconnected framework is where security in many industries is trending, it is important that companies have all key stakeholders in the room when deciding on a solution. Previously, it was up to either security, IT or operations to identify technology to fix the problem.

However, because security technology continues to advance, especially through its integration with software, it often has far-reaching effects that change more than just a surface-level purpose. Consider electronic key management. Some end-users may see it as a simple solution for their fleet vehicles or as a backup asset in case of an outage or attack. But modern key cabinets are now integrated into access control platforms, so if a vendor needs access to a certain part of the building to perform maintenance, they are provided with a temporary access badge that grants them access to an electronic key cabinet where sensitive or sector-specific keys are kept.

The transaction of this key is watched in real-time, and a system administrator assigns a curfew to the key so that if the vendor does not return it to that cabinet on time, the administrator can be notified at once.

That example highlights an important trend in security integration. HID released a study earlier this year that surveyed nearly 2,000 security and IT experts. Approximately two-thirds of the respondents said they are adopting software-driven security solutions to streamline their processes. It boils down to the importance of collecting data and information, which are critical to evaluating operations and maintaining a safe environment.

By having all solutions connected to the same system, companies have the flexibility to scale and adjust operations as needed. Each company scales at a different pace, especially when considering system-wide changes, so it is vital to have the infrastructure in place so that it can be done effectively. When companies have too many solutions that operate independently, it is much harder to scale and make sure they are all working cohesively.

Another trend that is growing in popularity in security integration has been in mobile apps. The possibilities are encouraging, as security app development mirrors functionality to those we use daily. Having access control capabilities at your fingertips with a built-in credential that travels everywhere and can integrate a seemingly endless number of apps is promising.

For instance, if you’re visiting a company and they would like to onboard you, they can send a notification to your phone where you can input your information, take a photo, and transmit it into their system, which can allow you access and helps them maintain important auditing of all staff that are on the premises.

This approach can be helpful with environments like construction sites that constantly have workers and vendors coming and going. By using an asset that everyone carries, security teams establish a solitary platform that anyone can access, and they can monitor through strategic integration.

All the measures noted above serve a crucial purpose. It simplifies the onboarding and training requirements for new employees, which can go a long way into keeping a workforce. If employees do not have to worry about multiple passwords, badges, or physical keys, they have more time to focus on tasks and spend less downtime searching for right access information.

The question is still: How do you create this ideal, integrated security ecosystem with all the components working in sync? Suppliers that are part of a large portfolio of related companies are at an advantage, as many solutions speak the same language and integrated easily. HID has developed a unique way to do so through an integration platform as a service (IPaaS) called HID Integration Service.

Advancements, like HID’s IPaaS, will be critical for companies as they seamlessly incorporate physical security, cybersecurity and digital identity management. The future lies in a merged security operations environment and companies with leadership who recognize the value in approaching solutions from an integrated perspective will have a head-start. With the future of integration driving not only security but its role in business, the companies that imagine innovation across departments and actively adopt aligned solutions will create competitive advantages for themselves. Doing so determines the true value of technology and how it can represent a clear return on investment in the long term, especially as threats continue to evolve in parallel.

This article originally appeared in the September / October 2025 issue of Security Today.