In recognition of World Cloud Security Day on April 3, Genetec, a global leader in enterprise physical security software, is highlighting a disconnect between cloud adoption models in physical security and the governance and operational demands of large enterprises.

Genetec said large organizations need to approach cloud adoption through the lens of governance, risk management, and operational requirements. According to Genetec, most enterprise environments span hundreds of sites, face strict regulatory and cybersecurity requirements, and rely on infrastructure that must remain operational for years.

When cloud models promote adoption as a simple move to the cloud, they can overlook the operational realities of large enterprises, the company said, limiting flexibility and making long-term resilience harder to sustain.

“Enterprise physical security seldom operates within a single deployment model, and cloud strategies must reflect that reality,” said Francis Lachance, senior director, product, Genetec Inc. “Organizations run cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments in parallel, and their systems must work seamlessly across all of them. That is how enterprises maintain governance, visibility, and control over environments that are built to operate for years.”

Hybrid-Cloud for Resilience

Findings from the recent Genetec 2026 State of Physical Security Survey, with input from over 7,300 respondents, show that hybrid-cloud adoption is a strategic design choice driven by long-term operational needs:

• 39% of enterprises cite scalability as a key reason for adopting hybrid-cloud environments
• 38% cite redundancy as a key reason for adopting hybrid-cloud environments, reinforcing a focus on long-term resilience and continuity

“For enterprises, cloud is an operating model that must withstand ongoing operational, regulatory, and threat pressures,” Lachance added. “The goal is not to become cloud-only, but to adopt cloud in ways that preserve governance and continuity over time.”

Governance at the Center of Cloud Decisions

At enterprise scale, Genetec said cloud adoption should be shaped by accountability rather than convenience. Cybersecurity, compliance, and oversight requirements need to be addressed from the start, not added later.

Designed for Hybrid Environments

Enterprise cloud adoption rarely happens all at once. Most organizations operate cloud, on-premises, and edge systems in parallel, often for extended periods of time. Supporting hybrid environments allows enterprises to modernize at their own pace while maintaining control over critical infrastructure and sensitive data.

Operating Model, Not a Destination

Genetec said cloud deployments should strengthen visibility and control across physical security systems, not replace existing infrastructure outright. The focus should be on integrating cloud capabilities into broader environments rather than forcing uniform deployment models.

Physical security infrastructure is expected to remain operational for years, even during network disruptions, service outages, or changing economic conditions. Architectures that support autonomous operation and graceful degradation across cloud, on-premises, and edge systems help organizations maintain continuity, meet regulatory requirements, and manage evolving risk without disruption.

More information is available from Genetec about securing enterprise physical security systems in the cloud. More findings from 2026 State of Physical Security Report are available online.