2026 TRENDS IN VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
Is your security system ready for what’s next?
From single-door high-end retailers to globally distributed enterprises operating in harsh, remote environments, video security is moving ever further from the old “rewind and review” model.
For users who take advantage of new and emerging technological capabilities, video surveillance is already an always-on tool for gathering business information and driving instant reactions — including in emergencies.
Video surveillance trends aren’t all about cameras:
They’re also about AI, privacy, regulation, and logistics.
See how cloud adoption intersects with physical security, and how regulatory requirements and privacy demands are shaping the industry.
Explore more: Today’s trends in the real world
Gun detection as a top-line capability
Advancements in algorithms, training data, and camera technology have all contributed to the development of reliable video-stream based detection of firearms.
Active readiness, with emergency camera sharing.
If there’s a crisis, calling law enforcement or otther emergency responders is the obvious best path. Sharing cameras give real-time visual information to inform their actions.
Where does your video surveillance infrastructure stand in 2026?
What we’ve designated Trend Zero — the ongoing move to the cloud for video surveillance access, storage, and management — is in evidence across the other business and technology shifts we’ve identified in our report.
If your organization has long since gone to the cloud, you might be surprised to learn that some of the holdouts in cloud adoption aren’t there because of a lack of technical skill. Instead, it’s because they’ve had the capabilities to put off fuller use of the cloud as they preserve long-useful legacy systems. This year may represent a tipping point, as the costs of maintaining on-site infrastructure for major business functions become ever harder to justify.
Intelligent, proactive security solutions continue to gain steam. Familiarity with natural language control, and exposure to ever more accurate recognition systems will only strengthen this move.
The 2026 Trends in Video Surveillance report is meant to provide business leaders, IT managers, and security integrators with practical knowledge to help them choose which aspects of video security make sense for their own organizations to pursue over the next year.
Resellers who understand the growing capabilities of today’s video surveillance can help their customers select the features that make the most sense for their businesses now, whether that means enabling smooth access to properties, securing valuable equipment or data, or preparing a confident emergency response.
– Dean Drako, CEO
