Nearly Half of Businesses Fear Economic Uncertainty Will Impact Physical Security in 2026
As organisations plan for 2026, nearly half of business leaders surveyed say economic uncertainty is expected to negatively affect their physical security strategies, underscoring persistent concerns about risk, crime and technology adoption in a challenging business environment.
According to The State of Physical Security Entering 2026 report from Pro-Vigil, 46% of respondents believe economic instability could compromise their physical security programs in the year ahead. Physical incidents remain stubbornly persistent: 88% of organisations reported that physical security incidents either increased or stayed the same in 2025, and more than half expect incident levels to rise further in 2026.
Respondents cited a combination of local crime trends and broader economic factors, including inflation, unemployment and global market uncertainty, as drivers behind their security concerns. When breaches occur, impacts extend beyond the immediate threat: damage to assets, inventory loss and project delays were highlighted as significant operational consequences.
Despite rising anxiety around risk, many organisations have been slow to adjust their strategies. Adoption of AI-enabled physical security technologies remains modest, with only about 15% reporting that AI is part of their current security plan. Yet perceptions of AI’s usefulness are increasing, with 61% believing it can be a valuable tool in preventing incidents, indicating a widening gap between confidence in innovation and actual implementation.
For security leaders and integrators, these findings suggest a need to prioritise proactive security investment, agile technology deployment and stronger risk monitoring in 2026. As economic pressures amplify risk perceptions, organisations focused on resilience and intelligent security design will be better positioned to manage emerging threats.
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