The physical security industry is undergoing a massive transformation. Video surveillance is moving past the era of simple video recording into an age of proactive intelligence. This transformation isn’t just about better cameras; it’s fueled by breakthrough cloud software, tightening legal requirements, and a fundamental shift in how businesses protect their assets.
Dean Drako, CEO of Brivo, and Jonathan Frase, CEO of ArcEye Property Defense recently sat down to discuss the trends in the video surveillance landscape. They shared critical insights on how this shift, alongside rapid AI advancements, is changing how businesses approach security.
Cloud-based AI is now the default, not the exception
« If you want accurate, up-to-date AI for high-quality video surveillance, you’re going to need models of a size and scale that are only practical to deploy in the cloud. » — Dean Drako, CEO of Brivo.
While edge AI (running on local cameras) has its place, it simply cannot compete with the massive computing power of the cloud. During our webinar, 65% of attendees said AI is already an essential foundation or a key enhancing tool in their current operations.
By leveraging LLMs and massive GPU clusters in the cloud, AI can now understand context. This centralized power allows businesses to update their existing cameras without needing to “rip and replace” devices every time a new AI feature is released.
Enterprise cloud adoption reaches a tipping point
The numbers tell a clear story: Gartner forecasts worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services to total $723.4 billion in 2025, up from $595.7 billion in 2024.
Large enterprises are moving away from maintaining on-premise servers at every branch. As Drako explains, « maintaining hardware at the edge is highly burdensome to the large enterprises » due to the logistical nightmare of security patches, physical maintenance, and compliance audits. Cloud platforms allow enterprises to consolidate disparate systems into a single cloud interface much faster than traditional setups.
Beyond security, cloud platforms offer real-world ROI for mid-market clients. Frase says, “we’re only at the tip of the iceberg,” when it comes to what is possible with AI analytics. If a customer enters a self-storage facility and waits more than 30 seconds to be helped, they may walk out.” With advanced analytics, you can set KPIs and measure staff efficiency in real time.
Incidence response gives way to active readiness
Video surveillance is evolving from a reactive tool to a proactive tool. Instead of just reviewing footage after a crime, AI can now watch all cameras simultaneously. Through agentic AI tools like the Eagle-Eye Video Agent (Eeva), users can simply type a natural language prompt to find exactly what they need. This shift has paved the way to create what Frase calls « Intrusion 2.0. »
Traditional intrusion systems have remained the same for 50 years and suffer from high false-alarms rates. By combining Remove Video Monitoring (RVM) with AI, your false alarm rate drops to virtually zero. Frase shares a compelling example of a property manager who used RVM to detect vagrancy near dumpsters after hours. Instead of discovering damage after the fact, the system deterred six intruders in the first two weeks. Integrating video with access control and event management enables automated responses, such as initiating a lockdown or triggering a safety protocol, the instant a threat is detected.
Gun Detection emerges as a critical feature
The conversation around gun detection has shifted from one of possibility to one of responsibility. Fast, accurate gun detection is now a sought-after feature of video surveillance in schools, workplaces, public venues, and multifamily spaces.
AI-powered visual detection has a significant advantage over acoustic sensors: it covers a wide field of view and identifies the threat before a shot is fired. Drako suggests that within 5 to 10 years, states may mandate that public facilities use AI-powered gun detection. By leveraging existing camera infrastructure, schools and workplaces can implement this critical layer of safety without the friction of TSA level check-ins.
Conclusion: The Future of Security is Consulting, Not Selling
The overarching theme of 2026 is clear: Security professionals must stop being hardware installers and start being consultants. Because technology is moving so fast, end-users are operating with a 15 year old understanding of what is possible. The winners in this new era will be those who can look at a client’s business problems, not just their doors and cameras, and provide a unified, intelligent solution.