As part of an online miniseries, Rachel Akbar, Senior Communications Manager at Gallagher Security discusses her industry predictions for 2026.
Can you tell me a bit about yourself, your job role and how long you have been at the company?
I’m the Senior Communications Manager at Gallagher Security, where I oversee our global trends analysis. I’ve been with Gallagher for three years, but I bring nearly two decades of experience in composition, research communication and strategic writing from my time in higher education.
My role sits at the intersection of industry insight and communication, translating complex research into practical, accessible narratives that help security leaders understand where the industry is heading and why it matters.
That means working closely with teams around the world, listening to the conversations happening on the ground and connecting the dots between global pressures, customer needs and emerging patterns in technology and business strategies.
What are some of the key trends and predictions you think we will see in the security industry in 2026?
2026 is shaping up to be a year of recalibration. Broader economic pressures are shifting expectations across the industry, but rather than slowing momentum, they’re sharpening focus.
We’re seeing a renewed emphasis on demonstrating measurable value with return on investment becoming the common language that unites technical teams, operational leaders and executives.
Organisations want to understand not just what a system does, but what it delivers, whether that’s efficiency gains, reduced manual workload, operational clarity or cost reduction.
This shift is happening largely because more stakeholders are now involved in purchasing decisions, each bringing different priorities and definitions of value.
That also means that organisations are beginning to recognise that their security platforms contain significant untapped intelligence, like insights about occupancy, workflows, inefficiencies and compliance.
As budgets face pressure, the ability to uncover this hidden value will become even more important.
Finally, cost and efficiency pressures are quietly reshaping priorities across the industry, but instead of being barriers, they’re prompting organisations to simplify, stabilise and build stronger foundational systems.
In many ways, 2026 is the year where security will become more intentional and more aligned with broader organisational outcomes.
What is one piece of advice you would give organisations and professionals as they head into 2026?
Treat 2026 as a year to get crystal clear on value.
Security is no longer judged only on protection, it’s judged on how well it supports people, operations and organisational goals.
My advice is simple: make sure your security strategy can tell that story.
Prioritise integration, invest in communication and build confidence in measuring impact.
When everyone can see the return security delivers, it becomes far easier to secure investment, drive adoption and navigate the year ahead with momentum.