By Ettiene van der Watt, Regional Director – Middle East & Africa at Axis Communications

The beginning month of any year is characterised by many articles listing the technology trends that will shape industry sectors in the next one. But over the years, one can see a pattern develop, a roadmap that reveals the sentiments, and technologies we should be prioritising.

In this case, the keyword is ‘trust’, which is an interesting one. The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer shows that among online survey respondents in 28 countries, trust in the technology sector is declining globally, along with concerns of climate change, job losses, and cyberattacks.[1] Worries that are all valid to the global security and surveillance sector.

In the pursuit of realising a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world built on the back of a trustworthy and reliable ecosystem of innovation, these are the technologies and insights that will continue to transform security in 2022 and beyond.

A post-pandemic world

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt in multiple ways. We see its physical manifestation in the challenges to supply chains, with global manufacturing brought to a near standstill and companies having to re-evaluate where and how they source key components and equipment for their respective products and services. We also see it in deployed technology – how intelligent solutions in video and monitoring are used to enforce social distancing and implement public health strategies.

A global shortage of semiconductors has also seen companies explore in-house manufacturing and the potential of system on a chip (SoC) for relevant sectors. While this may be a very specific trend, combined with the substantial shifts caused by the pandemic, more businesses will consider SoCs for their security solutions going forward.

Embracing a sustainable future

Sustainability is no longer just a trend, nor should it be deemed as such. With a global focus and push towards environmentally friendly principles and practices, exemplified by initiatives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals towards industry, human settlements, and consumption and production, a business must exhibit sustainability in its offerings and examine new possibilities through a sustainable lens.[2]

Companies must pay closer attention to their processes from end to end. They need to scrutinise their products and services in terms of sustainability factors, such as power efficiency, building materials, and ethical deployments. These discussions are already taking place at events like Expo 2020, where the conversations have taken on a more forward-thinking position, and real progress is being made for long-term impact. More conversations like this need to be had, and it’s up to companies to facilitate them.

Healthy scepticism equals effective cybersecurity

We don’t always think of scepticism as a positive trait, but in relation to cybersecurity it can be a prudent one. In a highly connected world with an increasing number of interconnected systems, comprehensive security strategies must ensure that if one area is compromised, the rest of the system won’t collapse. 

A trend that’s emerged from taking a sceptical eye towards technology is zero trust networks. Built on the fundamental assumption that no device or entity connected to a network can be trusted, the deployment of these architectural setups is likely to accelerate and become the default approach. In turn, this will dramatically impact video surveillance in the form of encryption, identification, and hardware and software maintenance. COVID-19 has also played a role in forming this approach, as remote working solutions call for more connected devices in a wider context.

This high-impact technology conference at Expo 2020 further unpacks cybersecurity as the cornerstone of trust. 

5G is connecting the world

What is commonly used as a buzzword for the next era of internet connectivity is starting to see real-world applications. With 5G networks projected to cover one-third of the world’s population by 2025, this technology is starting to make its way into the security and network video surveillance sectors, hinting at it being more than just a trend.[3]

A specific 5G-related trend that is likely to grow in leaps and bounds is the deployment of private 5G networks – wireless networks that use 5G-enabled technology and dedicated bandwidth to serve as a closed solution for a company. They are faster than public networks, more reliable, and offer an ideal situation for specific industries. These networks also present security benefits which, when applied to the sector, could potentially streamline and improve solutions of varying size. This specific manifestation of technology is one to watch out for.

Artificial intelligence, formalised

No trends piece for the next decade would be complete without mentioning artificial intelligence (AI). In the case of security and surveillance, this ranges from image quality and analytics to camera configuration and performance. By taking a simple process and applying AI to it, you optimise that process to its full potential. 

With more widespread use comes the need for regulation, specifically for the applications of AI. The solution is legislation on multiple levels of governance, ensuring AI is being used ethically and without bias. With a common agreement on local, regional, and international levels, we will be able to lay the foundation for the next industrial revolution and the growth of other technological trends, most notably smart cities.

Increased authentication measures

With the question of trust and increased scrutiny in cybersecurity, authenticity is becoming the next big hurdle in the age of data manipulation. This is valid for both hardware networks and video surveillance itself. How can you trust surveillance when you assign no value to its authenticity?

Deepfake technology is a growing threat. With improved methods of manipulating and altering images and videos, the authenticity of captured real-world events and people is compromised. This is not a problem exclusive to the security sector, but it is one that requires comprehensive solutions to overcome, such as applying digital signatures and verifying the source of data to specific hardware. The application of AI also shows promise in being able to detect when manipulation has occurred. Regardless, this is a challenge that multiple sectors have to contend with and work harder to combat.

All these trends factor into the need for businesses and other entities to rethink their security solutions for 2022 and beyond. With a focused and driven approach and by embracing the technology of the future, today’s challenges can be met head-on.

[1] 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer Tech Sector Report

[2] THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org)

[3] GSMA | 5G Global Launches & Statistics – Future Networks