Brivo has released its 2026 Video Surveillance Trends report, outlining seven developments expected to reshape how businesses use video systems next year. The report points to a shift beyond traditional video recording to systems that support proactive safety measures and business intelligence use cases.
Video surveillance is undergoing a “fundamental transformation,” the report says, driven by advances in software capabilities, expanding regulatory requirements, and real-world operational demands. The report states that these forces are accelerating changes across the commercial landscape rather than evolving gradually.
The seven trends are:
- Cloud-based AI is now the default, not the exception
- Enterprise cloud adoption has reached a tipping point
- Increasing regulation as a fundamental reality of business
- Privacy and PII protection become operational standards
- Incident response is replaced by proactive preparation
- Gun detection emerges as a key feature
- Parking becomes a key operational driver
A central theme running through all seven trends is the continued advantage of cloud infrastructure. This report characterizes the cloud as a platform that enables organizations to access video from any device and location while supporting system expansion through open APIs, standard data formats, and flexible display options. When designed properly, cloud infrastructure also supports continuous system updates, including interface improvements and bug fixes. In some cases, firmware updates and other software improvements could be applied across connected cameras, according to the report.
Artificial intelligence is also recognized as a centripetal force shaping modern video systems. The report notes that while AI has long been used to detect anomalous or dangerous activity, its role is expanding to support new workflows, custom searches, and business-specific reporting with minimal or no programming required. These capabilities enable organizations to not only improve security outcomes but also extract operational insights from video data.
The report also notes the shift from reactive incident response to proactive response, the emergence of gun detection as a key feature, and the increasing operational importance of the parking environment.
“Understanding these trends can help companies decide how to best leverage their surveillance infrastructure,” the report says, noting “the continued dominance of the cloud” and the “increasing use of rapidly evolving AI.”
Brivo CEO Dean Drako commented on the findings, saying the report reflects a broader inflection point in enterprise security. “2026 will be a turning point as the majority of enterprise businesses begin the transition to cloud-native security,” he said in the announcement.
This report, which can be downloaded here, is intended to help decision makers determine how to best utilize their existing monitoring infrastructure as they plan for future needs. It is designed for business leaders, IT managers, and security integrators tasked with addressing privacy obligations, public safety concerns, and technology modernization.
