With each team protecting different organisational assets, integration between physical and digital security isn’t just efficient, it is a best practice imperative.
By Jaroslav Barton, Head of Product Marketing, Physical Access Control, Europe at HID
Working in the physical security space for several years, I often interact with cybersecurity teams and recognise a challenge we both face: our areas rarely connect as much as they need to. Cybersecurity teams rightfully focus on network security, attack prevention and controlling user access to systems and data, while physical security teams concentrate on access control and facility safety.
But this siloed organisational structure is particularly damaging in security, where the interconnected nature of threats requires close collaboration between physical security, cybersecurity, IT, and facilities management. Each team holds a crucial piece of the puzzle, responsible for protecting different facets of an organisation’s assets. But when these teams function in isolation, vulnerabilities abound.
U.S. retailer Target’s 2013 data breach demonstrates just how costly silos can be. The attack exposed payment card data from 40 million customers and personal information of 70 million individuals. Attackers initially infiltrated Target’s network using stolen credentials from an HVAC contractor. The vendor’s access was limited to billing and project management, yet poor network segmentation and insufficient cross-departmental communication allowed attackers to move freely through Target’s infrastructure.
I’ve witnessed it too often: when teams operate in isolation, they don’t just miss opportunities, they create vulnerabilities that threaten the entire organization.
The Rising Cost of Security Breaches
The average cost of a data breach was nearly $5 million in 2024 (a 10% increase from 2023), but the implications go far beyond direct financial impact. A compromised access control system, for example, can trigger a cascade of security failures, enabling unauthorized entry, disabling alarms, manipulating access privileges, and ultimately leading to the exfiltration of valuable information. When security operates in silos, a holistic view of the system becomes impossible, creating blind spots that malicious actors can exploit, and exacerbating the potential financial impact.
Industry Recognizes Integration is Needed
The security industry is taking note of these challenges. According to this year’s State of Security and Identity Report from HID, which surveyed over 1,800 end users and industry partners—including installers, integrators, and original equipment manufacturers—across the globe, a significant majority (67% of security leaders and 73% of integrators and consultants) are shifting toward software-driven solutions that unify critical functions such as video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection into a single platform.
One key aspect of this shift towards integrated security is the rise of mobile credentials, which are transforming how organizations manage access control.
As physical security systems transitioned from analogue, closed circuit, siloed systems to IP-based networks and endpoints, cyber and physical security operations became increasingly interconnected. This has been particularly evident in access control, where mobile credentials are emerging as a crucial component of modern security frameworks.
The adoption of mobile credentials is striking, with 61% of respondents identifying mobile identity as a top trend, and almost two-thirds of security leaders having either deployed (37%) or planning to deploy (32%) them for access control. Currently, 84% of security leaders use a mix of mobile and physical credentials, recognizing the need for different credential types for different user groups.
Mobile credentials offer several key advantages:
- Enhanced security and convenience through smartphone integration: This eliminates the need for physical cards, which can be lost or stolen, and allows for centralized management and revocation of access.
- Seamless integration with smart building technologies: Mobile credentials can enable automated access control based on user presence, improving efficiency and convenience.
- Support for sustainability goals by minimizing physical waste: Reducing the need for plastic cards contributes to a more environmentally friendly approach to security.
- Valuable insights through real-time access tracking and analytics: Organizations can gain a better understanding of building usage patterns and identify potential security risks.
Breaking Down Walls, Building Up Security
When it comes to security, each department is a crucial piece of the puzzle, as previously mentioned. But those pieces only form a complete picture when they’re connected. Imagine a scenario where the IT team is implementing a new cloud-based application. If they don’t coordinate with the security team, they might overlook critical vulnerabilities in the application’s access controls, leaving the organization exposed to data breaches that could compromise sensitive customer information, disrupt operations, and damage the company’s reputation. Only through collaboration can these risks be proactively addressed. Similarly, while Product Development might be working on a new feature, IT might be implementing a new network infrastructure, and security needs to ensure both are secure. If these teams don’t talk to each other, you end up with gaps and vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The increasing adoption of integrated platforms by security leaders is a clear indication that the industry recognizes the need for better communication and collaboration. The increasing pressure to address vulnerabilities and rising threat levels directly supports the findings of the State of Security Report, which highlights key benefits for security integration, including:
- Improved efficiency (44%) across the operations and maintenance of multiple disparate systems used within a security framework.
- Simplified management (30%) for faster incident response for better detection, analysis and response to security incidents.
- Enhanced visibility (16%) across multiple solutions for better
This industry trend toward integration is further substantiated by Gartner, which reports that 41% of enterprises plan to converge aspects of their cyber and physical security operations by 2025—a significant 10% increase from 2020.
To be sure, creating a fully integrated security ecosystem is an ongoing journey, not a destination. There’s no single, perfect “one-size-fits-all” solution that completely integrates every aspect of a business, especially when dealing with something as complex as security. Each organization has unique needs and challenges. However, the increasing adoption of integrated platforms by security leaders demonstrates the industry’s commitment to improved communication and collaboration, and a recognition that even incremental improvements in integration can yield significant benefits.
Mitigating Risk in the age of mobile credentials
The convergence of physical and cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s imperative for modern enterprise security. As organizations face increasingly sophisticated threats across both digital and physical domains, the traditional siloed approach to security becomes not just inefficient, but dangerous. The industry’s shift toward integrated security platforms, supported by mobile credentials and unified management systems, represents a fundamental evolution in how we approach enterprise protection.
While challenges like integration complexity and implementation costs remain, the benefits of improved efficiency, enhanced visibility, and stronger security far outweigh these hurdles. Plus, reputable providers offer integration support and implementation assistance to ensure seamless connectivity between all security systems.
Organisations that successfully break down these departmental barriers and embrace a unified security ecosystem will be better positioned to proactively identify and mitigate threats, respond more effectively to security incidents, and adapt to emerging challenges with greater agility. This proactive approach will not only strengthen their security posture but also enhance their overall business resilience. The future of security lies not in the strength of individual components, but in the seamless integration of all security elements working in concert to create a robust, responsive, and resilient security framework.