As Newgate looks ahead, the team asks: What role will AI play in physical security systems over the next five years?
We are all getting used to AI being a big part of our lives, but it is no longer confined to digital spaces, as it is already starting to reshape our physical security systems.
Adoption is accelerating at a significant rate, with surveys predicting that AI is likely to have the biggest impact on physical security operations in the next five years.
In this article, the team at Newgate explore the current systems that are in place – as well as the new AI applications – and find out more about the benefits for high-risk sites and the challenges that might still need to be overcome.
Importantly, we will also consider how these changes are likely to affect the role of security professionals themselves.
While AI can carry out repetitive tasks such as monitoring cameras or logging entry data, human oversight remains essential for decision-making, incident response and applying context to what the systems detect.
In many cases, AI should be seen as an assistant that frees up staff to focus on higher-value, strategic activities rather than replacing them altogether.
The current landscape of physical security
Access control systems are widely used as part of a physical security measure. These control who is allowed to access a site, and there is widespread use in logging employee or visitor data and managing permissions.
ANPR systems are also widely used, and these are one of the earliest AI-driven physical security applications.
These are widely deployed at logistics hubs and car parks where they can read the number plates of vehicles to determine whether they are authorised to be on site.
AI can help with anomaly detection in logs and access records by doing things like flagging unusual access patterns that it is possible for a human to miss.
This could include repeated entry attempts or unusual out-of-hours activity.
Motion sensors and gate sequencing are also used with the help of AI as this optimises the sequencing of automatic gates, barriers and alarms.
Real-time alerts are connected to security systems which already feed into central monitoring, showing that AI foundations are already in place.
With these kinds of measures already in place, the next five years are likely to see a shift from reactive security to even more predictive and adaptive systems.
Emerging AI applications in physical security
AI is particularly useful in predictive threat detection. It can analyse behaviour and access data to spot anomalies.
This might be used to highlight unusual entry attempts, failed access or activity outside of standard hours.
It can help security teams to intervene much earlier and reduce the number of false positives that are flagged in comparison to manual monitoring.
AI tools do not just detect intrusions but also predict potential risks by analysing trends, weather and crowd movements.
When integrated with drones and robotics, AI is likely to be even more successful in providing perimeter security for larger sites.
Video analytics integration is also proving to be a successful AI application in physical security.
This is a form of CCTV which has been enhanced with AI to help detect loitering, tailgating, trespassing or perimeter breaches.
It enables real-time barrier activation or alerts and helps to reduce the reliance on human CCTV operators.
It is currently being trialled at various transport hubs and large events.
Smart access control decisions are dynamic permissions which are based on the time of day, role or previous behaviour.
This might mean that temporary site workers are only granted access to specific areas during scheduled hours and helps to reduce insider threats whilst strengthening compliance with security policies.
Predictive maintenance is a form of AI-enabled servicing. This allows AI monitoring system usage to predict things like the wear and tear of gates, locks and barriers.
It has proved to be extremely useful in reducing downtime and improving the overall reliability of security infrastructures.
Whilst there is some initial investment required, the long-term cost savings through proactive servicing are proving to be significant.
Benefits for high risk or complex sites
Logistics hubs, transport depots, utilities, retail parks and critical infrastructure are all deemed high-risk or complex sites when it comes to the subject of physical security.
By implementing AI applications, it is possible to enhance situational awareness through integrated data feeds and quicker incident response times.
It means there will be a lower reliance on human monitoring staff and some easy scalability for multi-site operations.
It means that organisations can benefit from strong perimeter defences without having to compromise on the efficiency of their operations.
AI systems can also provide 24-hour vigilance without the risk of fatigue, which makes them especially valuable for critical infrastructure where a lapse in concentration could have serious consequences.
It is important to remember that this does not take over the human role but will complement human judgement instead.
Challenges and considerations
One of the biggest challenges regarding AI technology is the issue of data privacy and GDPR. It is important that any video analytics or behavioural monitoring always remains compliant with the regulations.
The cost of adoption is also proving to be a significant barrier as AI enabled systems not only require a financial investment themselves, but often also need infrastructure upgrades such as cameras, sensors and software integration.
In addition to this, AI does present its own cybersecurity risks.
With an increasing number of physical systems becoming connected to one another, new digital vulnerabilities are also created. It is therefore necessary to have digital security measures in place to protect physical security systems.
When bringing in AI security systems, you will need to ensure that staff are fully trained in how to operate them and interpret their outputs.
This will still require a degree of analysis; they should be encouraged not to simply blindly trust these systems.
Looking ahead
AI is not a replacement for physical security measures, but it is proving to be a powerful enabler for them.
Over the next five years, we can all expect to see a stronger integration of AI into access control, video monitoring and predictive threat detection.
The clients who invest now in adaptable AI-ready infrastructure will help to futureproof their own operations and strengthen their resilience, ensuring that physical security will move from being reactive to proactively intelligent.
