Can Cloud Solutions Improve Security and Monitor Activities?
Migrating physical security IoT devices to hybrid cloud architectures shifts maintenance burdens while shielding networks against escalating device hacking threats.
- By Mathieu Chevalier
- Jul 28, 2026
Physical security and cybersecurity are interlinked. Neither can be properly maintained without the other. The growing usage of IoT devices in security deployments has benefited organizations’ ability to improve security and monitor activities in large, distributed spaces.
But with the benefits of connectivity, accessibility and data sharing come cybersecurity risks.
In the 2026 Genetec State of the Industry report of more than 7,000 security professionals, 40% of respondents said they saw an increase in device hacking for network access. Increases were also noted in phishing attacks (50%), malware (41%), social engineering (36%), and compromised credentials (29%).
Devices such as cameras, access control readers and alarm panels can provide an entry point for cyberattacks on the networks of large and small enterprises. Thankfully, organizations are being more proactive.
Within the same Genetec survey, 37% of respondents plan to launch new cybersecurity projects in 2026, which is up from 24% in the previous year. Let us look at some cybersecurity best practices and how cloud solutions can help improve your threat mitigation.
First Steps in Improving Your Cybersecurity Posture
Being proactive is the first line of defence against cyber threats. Here are some considerations as you seek to protect against cybersecurity threats to your systems.
- Partner with a physical security provider that makes cybersecurity a top priority.
- Select a physical security provider that invests heavily in cybersecurity. There are several questions to help further identify whether they are taking the necessary cybersecurity precautions. For example, are they certified by a third party? Do they have a clean SOC 2 attestation report? Are they ISO 27001 certified? Are they using IT security best practices?
- Consider solutions with built-in cybersecurity measures.
- When a product is designed, built and tested with security by default, essential features such as authentication, authorization, encryption and privacy are built into the system. These measures also ensure that only those with set privileges will be able to access specified assets, data and applications.
- Minimize vulnerabilities by moving to a hybrid or cloud approach
- Moving your physical security to the cloud or using a hybrid approach can further mitigate your cybersecurity risks. Securing on-premises systems while following cybersecurity best practices takes a lot of work.
Teams with differing skill sets must stay on top of updates, patch vulnerabilities, and monitor server lifecycles. All this can strain budgets and resources. Modern cloud systems include many layers of cybersecurity designed not only to protect against malicious actors but also human error.
How Do Cloud Solutions Strengthen Cybersecurity?
There was a previous belief that cloud solutions are less secure than on-prem. Top-tier cloud platforms offer robust security. SaaS services offer built-in encryption, identity management and regulatory compliance features that internal IT teams may find difficult to match.
Moving to the cloud shares the cybersecurity responsibility with your cloud provider and takes the burden of constant upkeep off your IT and security teams. By using a hybrid or cloud solution, you always have access to the latest built-in cybersecurity features. Examples include privacy controls, strong user authentication and various system health monitoring tools.
Cloud services also eliminate the need for spreadsheets to track system components and keep them up to date and hardened. When updates are available, they are immediately pushed to your system. Your physical security system remains better protected against vulnerabilities and is actively monitored to detect and defend against cyberattacks. Your team stays focused on day-to-day operations, knowing that experts are mitigating cyber risks in the backend.
Cloud Solutions and Data Governance
Choosing a top-tier cloud service provider allows you to show compliance with various privacy and data protection standards. The right partner will offer many data center locations so you can choose where your data is stored and processed.
Cloud-based physical security solutions allow you to host your systems and data on servers in data centers around the world.
No matter where your systems are located, you can adapt each system’s settings from one cloud-based platform and establish data sovereignty in accordance with local data protection laws. You can also store multiple copies of video or data in different data center locations to add redundancy and help with disaster recovery.
Shifts in the Industry
Security teams are not as worried about the cybersecurity risks of cloud solutions as they once were. According to the 2026 Genetec State of the Physical Security Report, 61% of end users already use cloud-based or hybrid solutions. And, over the next five years, 72% of consultants plan to recommend hybrid deployments, and 71% of system integrators expect new cloud system deployments in 2026.
Tier-one providers, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud, invest considerable time and resources in cybersecurity. These major platform owners have teams dedicated to monitoring the latest cyber threats.
Regular third-party penetration testing and auditing ensures the security of their services. Choosing a physical security solution built on a top-tier cloud platform means entrusting due diligence to the experts.
When considering cloud solutions, work closely with your channel partner to select a system that helps you improve your cyber posture. System integrators, consultants, and technology partners understand cloud security best practices.
They also have tools to remotely monitor your system’s health. Giving them access to your system’s information can help them spot opportunities to enhance your cybersecurity.
As you deploy cloud solutions, your integrator may also recommend a hybrid model as an option. You can vary your deployment across sites, moving some system components to the cloud while keeping others on-prem.
All your system components connect back to one centralized cloud-based platform. This centralization lets your operators manage security across your sites from a single interface and helps you maintain cybersecurity best practices.
Regardless of the deployment model you choose, make sure to select a vendor that designs solutions with cybersecurity in mind and is transparent about their cybersecurity practices. This support goes a long way in keeping threats at bay.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2026 issue of Security Today.