This month’s cover story — State of the Market: Video Surveillance — marks the beginning of our annual State of the Market Series. This year’s report features a lot of talk about cloud, along with an overall sense of optimism.

Senior Editor Rodney Bosch cites the recent edition of the Genetec State of Physical Security (SOPS) report writing that, “Over the past decade, the integration of cloud technology has been a gradual process, but lately is gaining momentum. In the 2023 SOPS survey, 44 percent of end users indicated that over a quarter of their physical security environment is cloud or hybrid-cloud compared with 24 percent in the 2022 survey.”

What’s more, many of the sources interviewed for this extensive look at the video surveillance space predict cloud will continue to play a large role in what end users are looking for, presenting security integrators with increased RMR opportunities.

“We estimate that only 10 percent of video surveillance systems are cloud-based today,” says Ken Francis, president of Eagle Eye Networks, in the article. “That means the addressable market for cloud video surveillance is huge. And the transition for business owners is not difficult because true cloud video surveillance systems are compatible with thousands of security cameras and can even work with some existing cameras and infrastructure.”

Other big trends to look for include AI — which featured prominently in the most recent SIA Megatrends survey and cybersecurity.

“With IT departments demanding new levels of cybersecurity protection for physical security installations and retrofits, increased cyber-awareness will drive a further wedge between cheap, non-protected devices and those purpose-built to protect businesses from those seeking to exploit IoT devices,” Bosch writes in the article.

Speaking of cybersecurity, make sure to check out our brand new column debuting this month: Cybersecurity Chronicles, written by Chris Maulding of AlchemyCore, a managed services provider.

Cybersecurity also features in this month’s Access Control & Cybersecurity feature, written by Laura Stepanek.

Looking ahead, I hope to see some of you at upcoming events such as Barnes Buchanan, and of course, ISC West in April. We are also turning our attention to this year’s top lists, beginning with the 2024 SDM 100 in May and the Top Systems Integrators Report in July. The survey for both of those rankings is now open and if you have never applied to be ranked on either list, or did not choose to participate last year for some reason, I would like to encourage you to fill out the 2024 survey here. Submissions are due March 1! If you are a returning company ranked on either list you should have received an email with a login. Please let me know if you did not receive one. //