Our series highlighting 2026 security industry predictions continues with Christine Lanning, president of Integrated Security Technologies and 2025 SSI Industry Hall of Fame inductee. She looks ahead to some of the biggest changes and developments in the sector.
Lanning shared her 2025 security industry reflections last month.
Christine Lanning 2026 Security Industry Predictions
Read on to check out Christine Lanning’s 2026 security industry predictions. We’ll have many more predictions from others among the brightest minds in the security industry throughout the month!
Security Sales & Integration: What technology category or solution area do you see as 2026’s ripest, most profitable growth opportunity for security dealers, installers and integrators? Explain your reasoning.
Christine Lanning: The most profitable technology category in the security industry tends to still be base systems with modular add-ons, particularly those enhanced with artificial intelligence capabilities.
Base systems—like video surveillance, access control or intrusion detection—provide a stable foundation, while add-ons such as AI analytics, advanced reporting or automated alerts create recurring revenue opportunities and higher margins.
This model is especially effective because it allows customers to start with essential functionality and gradually expand their systems as their needs grow, making both initial sales and ongoing upgrades highly profitable for providers.
SSI: Which emerging security technologies do you think are overplayed? Which ones do you think will truly transform the practice of security integration in the coming years?
Lanning: Overhyped is products that don’t integrate well with existing systems. Solutions like standalone AI analytics, drones, or advanced sensors can generate a lot of excitement, but without seamless integration across all layers of security—physical, digital and operational—they often fall short.
Security is 360 and real value comes from technologies that work together to provide a complete, cohesive solution rather than isolated capabilities that add complexity without improving overall effectiveness.
SSI: What’s getting better about the security industry these days? What seems to be getting worse?
Lanning: One area that’s getting noticeably better in the security industry is the adoption of FedRAMP-certified systems. These systems provide a standardized, government-approved framework for cloud security, which increases trust, simplifies compliance and reduces the burden on organizations managing sensitive data.
Over the past year, we’ve seen more vendors achieving FedRAMP certification and improving the usability, scalability and integration of their solutions, making it easier for organizations—both public and private—to deploy secure, reliable systems without sacrificing functionality.
What’s getting worse is the proliferation of new manufacturers whose products are not designed for government networks. Many of these offerings lack the security, compliance, and interoperability needed in highly regulated environments, creating potential risks for agencies that adopt them without thorough vetting.
This contrast highlights the importance of relying on trusted, certified solutions while being cautious of new entrants that aren’t built for stringent requirements.
SSI: What’s liable to catch some security industry dealers, installers and integrators off guard in the coming year?
Lanning: One area that could catch security companies off guard is CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) compliance. As more organizations, particularly those in the defense industrial base, are required to meet CMMC standards, companies that haven’t built robust processes and systems to manage compliance may find themselves unprepared.
It’s not just about technology; it’s about people, processes and documentation. Companies that underestimate the complexity and rigor of CMMC risk delays in contracts, lost business opportunities, and increased operational strain.
SSI: What’s the single most pressing challenge that professionals in the security industry must tackle right now? And how would you suggest tackling it?
Lanning: The most pressing challenge in the security industry right now is bringing in new talent and effectively training them. There’s a growing need for skilled professionals who can not only install complex systems but also operate them. Addressing this challenge is critical, because without the right people, even the most advanced security technologies can’t deliver their full value.
To tackle this, we’re broadening our recruitment lens by engaging with high schools and colleges, creating apprenticeship programs, and giving technicians the chance to “try before we hire.” This approach not only helps identify motivated candidates early but also allows us to develop the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving security landscape.
By investing in hands-on experience and education, we’re building a stronger talent pipeline and ensuring our teams can fully leverage advanced technologies.
SSI: Finish this sentence: 2026 will be remembered as the year that the security industry…
Lanning: … had a good year.
Click here to check out all the entries in our 2026 security industry predictions series!
