The Evolving Security Landscape: The Path to International Expansion

About the Report

Change can be both challenging and exciting, and one of the Security Industry Association's (SIA's) objectives is to help the security industry maximize and focus the benefits of disruption while managing its negative effects. In 2024, SIA partnered with Novaira Insights to develop a report on “The Evolving Security Industry: The Adaptation of the Systems Integrator,” which examined the new technologies and business models that are reshaping the sector. Since then, the pace of change has only increased, with SIA’s “2025 Security Megatrends” report identifying the Evolution of the Channel as the top megatrend for this year: “Artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, technology upheaval, razor-thin margins, new competitors, changing requirements of end users: They’re all converging to create the most challenging wave of change the channel has ever seen.”

The current report, also produced in collaboration with Novaira Insights. builds on the previous findings, looking, especially, at the impact that new entrants, including big tech companies, are having on security. In addition, it outlines a path by which legacy companies, even small and medium-sized firms, can use international expansion to compete in this new environment. As with last year’s “Evolving Security Industry” paper, this project was guided by the members of the SIA Executive Advisory Board, a panel of security leaders led by Ken Francis, CEO of Actuate. SIA is grateful for advisory board members’ eagerness to share their limited time and vast expertise to enhance the knowledge, professionalism and success of the security industry, as a whole.

Executive Overview

The physical security industry is undergoing increased mergers and acquisitions activity and growing influence from big tech organizations; small and mid-sized North American companies (integrators and technology vendors) need to consider these trends in their growth and competitive strategies.

International expansion can be a strategy to increase revenue growth and company value and provide a competitive edge.

• Reactive Growth Model: International expansion is primarily driven by existing multinational customers seeking consistent service and technology implementation across their global footprint.
• Technology vs. Integrator Ease: Scaling internationally is significantly easier for technology vendors utilizing global cloud infrastructure and as-a-service business models; however, integration remains a challenge due to the critical “last mile” requirement for reliable local installation, maintenance and technical support, a barrier that cloud solutions do not eliminate.
• Operational Barriers: The greatest operational hurdles include complying with complex requirements concerning data privacy, country-specific certifications, differing labor laws and business cultures.

There is a gap in resources to support navigating global market entry in physical security. In this report, SIA provides a starting point as to the steps interested businesses should take and the available resources to aid its members.

Topics discussed include:

• How new entrants are shaping the industry
• How to meet these challenges and the case for global expansion
• The path forward, including resources and industry support
• And more!

This content is for SIA members only.

Log In

All employees of SIA member companies have access rights to this content. If you do not have an account with SIA, click here to create an account.

If you are not a SIA member, click here to join the SIA.