Physical Security Trends: What You Need to Know in 2025

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Staying ahead of emerging trends is not just an option—it’s a necessity. Organizations must proactively address these changes to effectively protect their assets, infrastructure, and personnel. In this blog, we’ll explore the key physical security trends set to shape the industry in 2025 and discuss how companies can rise to these challenges.

 

  1. Executive Protection will become a heightened issue and receive additional scrutiny.  Following the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO in December 2024, and recent domestic terrorist incidents in the New Year, the need and desire for executive protection has received added emphasis. Historically, some corporate executives have resisted investing in protection, falsely believing they are not at risk, or operating under incorrect assumptions about what executive protection entails. In 2025, expect executive protection to emerge with renewed focus on understanding the essential components of a holistic and robust executive protection program, prioritizing investments in the appropriate technology, processes, personnel, and training.
  2. Intelligence and Threat Management Capabilities of Corporate Security teams must expand in 2025, to include bolstering intelligence and threat analysis skills, adopting better intelligence verification, and focusing on the issues most likely to impact the specific organization.
  3. A renewed focus on Workplace Violence and Insider Risk will be essential in 2025, as threats and social engineering attacks grow and given recent legislation requiring expanded programs around workplace violence.  Training programs to inform employees and managers will increase reporting; however, companies must have programs and tools in place to properly respond to, investigate, manage, and mitigate such risks.
  4. Establishing and supporting a GSOC is essential, as employee travel and events continue returning to pre-pandemic levels and companies re-occupy office space.  These changes, combined with geo-political conflict and similar, broadens the threat landscape significantly.  A 24x7x365 capability is needed to see the world in real time, anticipating potential disruptions that threaten assets, navigating the complexity of emerging situations and informing management so they may make timely, informed decisions.
  5. Hiring Freezes present a growing imbalance between investment value and the resources with skills needed to provide subject matter expertise in various security disciplines.  The Security field continues to evolve and the complex risks to personnel, assets, and operations are also evolving.  Security personnel must evolve as well to meet these growing challenges and an inability to hire subject matter expertise when and where needed could prove detrimental to any security organization not keeping pace.

 

In conclusion, the physical security trends of 2025 emphasize the critical need for organizations to adapt and innovate in response to evolving threats. By prioritizing executive protection, enhancing intelligence and threat management capabilities, addressing workplace violence and insider risks, and establishing comprehensive GSOCs, companies can better safeguard their assets and personnel. Despite hiring challenges, investing in the right technology, processes, people and training is essential for resilience. Stay informed and proactive to navigate the future of physical security successfully, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for all.