Genetec report finds healthcare ramping up hybrid-cloud and AI security

Healthcare organisations are stepping up security investment after reporting a sharp rise in physical attacks on staff, unauthorised entry and break-ins, according to newly released findings from Genetec.

The healthcare-specific data, published this week as part of Genetec's 2026 State of Physical Security Report, shows security teams prioritising hybrid-cloud deployments, access control upgrades and increased use of AI as they respond to growing safety and operational risks across hospital environments.

Based on responses from physical security professionals worldwide, the findings point to mounting pressure on healthcare operators as open campuses, high foot traffic and 24-hour operations collide with workforce shortages and ageing infrastructure.

Hybrid cloud remains the model of choice

Hybrid-cloud deployments continue to dominate healthcare security strategies, reflecting the sector's need to balance flexibility, cost control and governance.

Nearly six in ten respondents (59%) said continuous updates and software upgrades were the primary driver for adopting cloud or hybrid systems. Cost savings followed at 46%, while 42% cited faster and simpler deployment.

Disaster recovery (40%) and data ownership (37%) also ranked highly, underlining the operational and regulatory constraints facing hospitals and health networks.

Genetec said the results indicate steady modernisation rather than abrupt technology shifts away from on-premises systems.

"Healthcare organisations are taking a measured, strategic approach to modernisation," said William Glasson, National Sales Manager at Genetec. "Flexible deployment options support long-term planning while allowing organisations to adapt as clinical and operational needs evolve."

Security priorities sharpen for 2026

Despite growing risk exposure, healthcare security teams continue to face internal constraints. Training and upskilling staff was cited as the top challenge by 42% of respondents, followed by ageing IT infrastructure (40%) and difficulty attracting and retaining talent (38%).

Against this backdrop, access control emerged as the leading investment priority for 2026, selected by 55% of respondents. AI followed at 40%, with video surveillance close behind at 39%.

The report also highlights an expanding remit for physical security teams. Almost four in ten respondents (39%) said closer collaboration with departments such as human resources and facilities management is now a priority, particularly around workforce access, visitor management and day-to-day site operations.

Physical incidents on the rise

The most striking findings relate to incident trends across healthcare environments.

More than half of respondents reported increases in physical attacks on employees (55%) and verbal assaults (52%). Unauthorised entry was reported as rising by 50%, while break-ins (47%) and insider theft (44%) also showed significant increases.

Genetec said these figures reflect the inherent complexity of healthcare settings, where emergency departments, outpatient clinics and public entrances present very different risk profiles from secured clinical areas.

Data sharing becomes central to security operations

The report also points to a shift toward more data-driven and integrated security operations.

More than half of respondents said access activity data from security operations centres is now shared with other systems across the organisation. Many also reported sharing alarms, incident records, and video and audio data beyond security teams.

At the same time, security operations centres are increasingly ingesting data from cybersecurity tools, HR systems, intrusion and asset monitoring platforms, and external threat intelligence feeds - reinforcing the convergence of physical and cyber security in healthcare.

Beyond traditional security outcomes

Healthcare organisations are also using physical security data for broader operational goals. Safety and security improvements were cited by 60% of respondents as the primary outcome, followed by improved efficiency within security teams (52%).

Regulatory compliance (49%) and better employee and patient experience (44%) also ranked highly, with many organisations applying security data to occupancy management and facilities planning.

Overall, the findings suggest healthcare security leaders are entering 2026 with a sharper focus on workforce readiness, flexible technology deployment and cross-department coordination - as incident rates continue to climb and expectations on security teams expand well beyond traditional roles.