CIOs Take Broader Role in Physical Security as Cloud and Cyber Risks Converge

That separation no longer reflects how organizations operate, according to the article. Modern physical security systems run on cloud platforms, connect with enterprise networks, generate large amounts of operational data and increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to help people find information faster and respond more effectively. The article said these systems have become part of the technology ecosystem organizations depend on every day, bringing them onto the CIO's agenda and making technology leaders more involved in how they are deployed, integrated and governed.

The article argues that physical and cyber security are becoming inseparable. Security incidents increasingly span both worlds. A compromised badge, an unsecured entrance or unauthorized access to a building can quickly become a cybersecurity incident if attackers gain access to corporate devices or networks. Cyber attacks can also disable physical security infrastructure, affecting everything from access control to video surveillance.

TechRadar cited red team exercises that regularly demonstrate how closely these risks are linked. In one example, a team posing as contract cleaners entered an office building, connected to the corporate network and remained inside for hours before being challenged. From a cybersecurity perspective, the article said, every firewall and endpoint protection system was functioning exactly as intended. The weakness was physical access. Most organizations have invested heavily in protecting their digital perimeter, but if someone can walk through the front door and reach critical IT infrastructure, those investments become significantly less effective. The article said conversations about enterprise resilience increasingly involve CIOs and CISOs alongside physical security leaders, requiring a joined-up view of people, places, devices and data.

Many organizations still rely on physical security infrastructure designed for a different era, the article said. On-premise video management systems often require dedicated servers, regular software upgrades, specialist maintenance and significant time from internal IT teams. As estates grow, so does the complexity of managing multiple vendors, aging hardware and disconnected systems across different locations. For many CIOs, this creates a familiar problem: technology teams are expected to modernize infrastructure, reduce operational complexity and improve resilience, yet physical security frequently remains outside those programs despite facing the same challenges as other legacy technology.

The article argues that discussion should no longer focus solely on the upfront cost of replacing equipment. Total cost of ownership matters as much. Maintaining aging systems often consumes more time, budget and internal resources than organizations initially expect. Cloud-based platforms offer a different operating model: software updates happen automatically, systems can be managed centrally across multiple sites and organizations gain greater visibility without continually investing in new infrastructure. For IT leaders already overseeing cloud migration across other business systems, extending that thinking to physical security is a logical next step.

TechRadar also said physical security provides value far beyond security. Historically, organizations reviewed security footage after an incident had taken place. Today, AI-powered search and analytics mean that video, access events and environmental sensors can provide instant operational insight across the business. Retailers can better understand what is happening in stores, whether it is queue wait times or occupancy trends, and adjust staffing schedules accordingly. Manufacturers can identify operational bottlenecks or prevent health and safety incidents with real-time alerts. Facilities teams can understand building usage and gain a clearer picture of how workplaces function throughout the day. None of these outcomes replace human judgment or intervention, the article said, but they can empower workers with hard data.