What will be the biggest security headlines in 2017?

Undoubtedly, open platform systems will be a highlight of the security industry in 2017, with flexible integration now essential to a market looking to mix and match the best combination of components for the job. We have moved from proprietary systems to a security world that changed completely when the Mercury controller came to market. Open controllers and the use of REST API and ONVIF Profile A will move access control along, taking us to the next level. Open platform is specifically designed to integrate with many other systems, including powerful software and hardware to make the most of these advances. With the Internet of Things, truly open platform systems have never been in more demand and will take centre stage. While security providers need to invest in this technology, the rewards will be substantial for businesses which embrace it fully and provide the best products for customer needs.

Moving into 2017, the big trends and headlines will continue to be about cybersecurity; who is doing it well and who isn’t? Threat assessment and vulnerabilities will also continue to grab headlines. Furthermore, smart sensors and Security Internet of Things (SIoT) will become buzzwords. As security devices are smarter and online, SIoT is starting to gain steam. Looking further ahead as smart security devices are cyber-secure and always connected, the management of those devices, collection of actionable data and reporting will lead the physical security world further into the IT trend of Cloud and Big Data. In a way, the “convergence” that was predicted years ago is really starting to happen as mobility, security and IT collide and converge. The dreams of rapid, instant (mobile) information for security and forensic long term intelligence will move ahead more quickly in the coming year.

Data vulnerability and integrity have always been critical to the security space; however, as we go into 2017, they have become even more top-of-mind. With the exponential growth of IP cameras and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the challenges facing IT management have also grown. We have already seen IP cameras create "backdoor" vulnerability for corporate networks; whether intentionally or otherwise, easily accessible developer credentials are left in post-production products. This must absolutely be resolved. The situation places the burden on OEMs, integrators and end users both to maintain prudence in new system design and implementation and to revisit and confirm compliance of systems previously installed. Often, critical firmware upgrades are required. Compounding this concern is the ever-growing list of residential/consumer-based IoT devices making their way onto security system networks. Organisations must maintain vigilance to maintain responsible methods on policy compliance (i.e. security certificates, encrypted data storage/communication).

In 2017, we will continue to see Big Data analysis and IoT-powered devices allow for the collection of myriad data points across systems, services, and devices. This process will allow businesses to investigate threats in a more intelligent manner. The organisations that generate actionable intelligence from collected data points will be firmly positioned to achieve their strategic intelligence and business objectives in the coming year. Overall, the alignment of risk management, IT, and business continuity will continue as it allows leaders to realise a comprehensive security strategy that takes into account cyber, IT and physical security to recognise threats proactively.

There are a number of critical issues that the security marketplace faces as we move into 2017. Perhaps the most important is the rise in cybersecurity issues with security equipment. Earlier this year, hackers were able to access vulnerable IP cameras and penetrate networks. As these instances increase, manufacturers must be diligent in providing products that can be fully secured over a network and work with IT departments to strengthen security policies related to IoT devices. Next year the industry will continue to see a rise in consolidations, mergers and acquisitions, as we have seen this year. Cloud services will also be a large trend going into the new year, as manufacturers meet the demand that end users have to store data in the cloud for ease-of-access and more remote capabilities. Finally, we'll continue to see Chinese manufacturers cause prices to drop as they continue to grow in the market.

In 2017, we can expect to see increased scrutiny over very low-cost, private-label or white-box products that may not meet modern-data security requirements. Organisations will continue to align internal security departments and processes with IT to address evolving cyber and physical threats. New technologies, such as deep learning and GPU acceleration, will enable the rise of more reliable, accurate analytics and broader market adoption of these types of technologies. Additionally, we also expect to see the emergence of cloud and hybrid-cloud platforms as viable enterprise video storage alternatives.