In observance of World Cloud Security Day on April 3, Genetec Inc., a prominent figure in enterprise physical security software, has raised concerns regarding the mismatch between cloud adoption strategies in physical security and the governance, operational, and risk management needs of large enterprises.
Comprehensive cloud adoption by these organisations demands a focus on governance, risk management, and the practical requirements of extensive operations. Many enterprises operate across numerous sites, must comply with strict regulatory and cybersecurity protocols, and depend on infrastructure meant to function reliably over the years. However, when cloud models are presented as straightforward migrations, they may ignore the complex operational realities of substantial enterprises, potentially hindering flexibility and the capacity for sustained resilience.
Cloud Adoption Models
Francis Lachance, Senior Director of Product at Genetec Inc., emphasised the necessity for flexible cloud strategies, stating, “Enterprise physical security seldom operates within a single deployment model, and cloud strategies must reflect that reality. Organisations run cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments in parallel, and their systems must work seamlessly across all of them. That is how enterprises maintain governance, visibility, and control over environments that are built to operate for years.”
Recent insights from the Genetec 2026 State of Physical Security Survey, involving over 7,300 participants, indicate that hybrid-cloud adoption is a strategic decision aimed at meeting long-term operational requirements.
- 39% of enterprises highlight scalability as a primary motive for adopting hybrid-cloud environments.
- 38% emphasise redundancy, underscoring a commitment to long-term resilience and operational continuity.
Supporting Hybrid Environments
Lachance further explained, “For enterprises, cloud is an operating model that must withstand ongoing operational, regulatory, and threat pressures. The goal is not to become cloud-only, but to adopt cloud in ways that preserve governance and continuity over time.” To bolster secure and resilient cloud adoption, Genetec suggests prioritising four key areas:
- Put governance at the centre of cloud decisions: For enterprises, cloud strategies should prioritise accountability over convenience, incorporating cybersecurity, compliance, and oversight as foundational elements rather than afterthoughts.
- Design for hybrid environments: Organisations rarely transition fully to the cloud all at once. By supporting hybrid systems—with cloud, on-premises, and edge solutions in use—enterprises can modernise gradually without losing control over crucial infrastructure and sensitive data.
- Treat cloud as an operating model, not a destination: Cloud solutions should enhance visibility and control over physical security systems, supplementing rather than completely replacing existing infrastructure. Emphasis should be on integrating cloud capabilities into larger operational frameworks.
- Build for long-term resilience: Enterprise physical security frameworks are built to remain operational for extended durations, even in the face of network disruptions, service interruptions, or economic shifts. Architectures supporting autonomous operation and graceful degradation facilitate continuity, compliance, and risk management without compromising functionality.
In recognition of World Cloud Security Day on April 3, Genetec Inc. (“Genetec”), the global pioneer in enterprise physical security software, is highlighting a disconnect between cloud adoption models in physical security and the governance and operational demands of large enterprises.
Large organisations need to approach cloud adoption through the lens of governance, risk management, and operational requirements. Most enterprise environments span hundreds of sites, face strict regulatory and cybersecurity requirements, and rely on infrastructure that must remain operational for years. When cloud models promote adoption as a simple move to the cloud, they can overlook the operational realities of large enterprises, limiting flexibility and making long-term resilience harder to sustain.
Cloud adoption models
“Enterprise physical security seldom operates within a single deployment model, and cloud strategies must reflect that reality,” said Francis Lachance, Senior Director, Product, Genetec Inc. “Organisations run cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments in parallel, and their systems must work seamlessly across all of them. That is how enterprises maintain governance, visibility, and control over environments that are built to operate for years.”
Findings from the recent Genetec 2026 State of Physical Security Survey, with input from over 7,300 respondents, show that hybrid-cloud adoption is a strategic design choice driven by long-term operational needs:
- 39% of enterprises cite scalability as a key reason for adopting hybrid-cloud environments
- 38% cite redundancy as a key reason for adopting hybrid-cloud environments, reinforcing a focus on long-term resilience and continuity
Supporting hybrid environments
“For enterprises, cloud is an operating model that must withstand ongoing operational, regulatory, and threat pressures,” continued Lachance. “The goal is not to become cloud-only, but to adopt cloud in ways that preserve governance and continuity over time.”
To support secure and resilient cloud adoption, Genetec recommends four priorities:
- Put governance at the centre of cloud decisions - At enterprise scale, cloud adoption should be shaped by accountability rather than convenience. Cybersecurity, compliance, and oversight requirements need to be addressed from the start, not added later.
- Design for hybrid environments - Enterprise cloud adoption rarely happens all at once. Most organisations operate cloud, on-premises, and edge systems in parallel, often for extended periods of time. Supporting hybrid environments allows enterprises to modernise at their own pace while maintaining control over critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
- Treat cloud as an operating model, not a destination - Cloud deployments should strengthen visibility and control across physical security systems, not replace existing infrastructure outright. The focus should be on integrating cloud capabilities into broader environments rather than forcing uniform deployment models.
- Build for long-term resilience - Physical security infrastructure is expected to remain operational for years, even during network disruptions, service outages, or changing economic conditions. Architectures that support autonomous operation and graceful degradation across cloud, on premises, and edge systems help organisations maintain continuity, meet regulatory requirements, and manage evolving risk without disruption.
