A new report from Genetec reveals a significant transformation in how healthcare organizations approach physical security. According to the company’s 2025 State of Physical Security Report, 68% of healthcare facilities plan to move more of their security data to the cloud within the next 18 months. This shift toward hybrid-cloud and cloud-based models aims to enhance scalability, simplify maintenance, and address escalating regulatory and security challenges.
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The report underscores the healthcare sector’s increasing focus on hybrid-cloud models, with 48.3% of healthcare organizations now utilizing some combination of on-premises and cloud-based solutions. Meanwhile, 8.7% have fully transitioned to cloud-based security systems. Despite these changes, 43% of healthcare organizations continue to rely entirely on on-premises systems, reflecting the industry’s historically cautious stance on cloud technology.
“Our State of Physical Security report data underscores the healthcare industry’s gradual yet strategic movement toward hybrid and cloud security deployments,” said Mark Feider, National Director for Enterprise at Genetec Inc. “With compliance demands and the need to scale their security operations quickly, healthcare organizations are adopting these models to balance control, cost, and flexibility.”
Physical Security Threats in Healthcare on the Rise
The shift to cloud adoption comes at a time when healthcare facilities are combating a surge in physical security threats. The report outlines a troubling increase in incidents at hospitals and medical facilities:
- 46% of organizations reported rising injuries to employees, and 31% reported injuries to visitors
- 39% reported an increase in physical attacks on staff
- 36% noted an uptick in insider theft
- 34% experienced more break-ins and robberies.
These figures highlight the critical need for robust security measures to safeguard healthcare facilities, patients, and staff.
To address these challenges, healthcare organizations are ramping up investment in advanced security technologies. The top focus areas for 2025 include:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (34%)
- Access control systems (31%)
- Video surveillance (28%)
- Digital evidence management systems (24%)
- Incident management systems (24%)
These tools are part of a broader strategy to enhance healthcare security, particularly in response to the rising number of assaults, thefts, and break-ins reported throughout 2024.
5 Drivers Behind Cloud Security Solution Adoption in Healthcare
The Genetec report identifies several key factors driving the adoption of hybrid and cloud models in healthcare security:
- Cost Savings (62%)
- Continuous Updates and Software Enhancements (55%)
- Speed and Ease of Deployment (47%)
- Disaster Recovery (35%)
- Data Ownership (32%)
The findings highlight a healthcare industry in transition. While many organizations remain cautious about fully migrating to the cloud, the growing interest in hybrid-cloud solutions indicates a recognition of their potential to meet the sector’s evolving needs.
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By investing in advanced security technologies and cloud-based systems, healthcare organizations are positioning themselves to address both current and emerging security challenges. This strategic evolution reflects a broader shift toward proactive, tech-driven approaches to ensuring safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance across the industry.
