We continue our 2026 security industry predictions series with Merlin Guilbeau, executive director and chief executive officer of the Electronic Security Association (ESA). He looks ahead to some of the biggest development in the sector in the next 12 months and beyond.
Guilbeau shared his 2025 security industry reflections in a post last month.
Merlin Guilbeau 2026 Security Industry Predictions
Read on to check out Merlin Guilbeau’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’s liable to catch some security industry dealers, installers and integrators off guard in the coming year?
Merlin Guilbeau: We’ve been talking about cybersecurity for years but it’s now getting to the point where it’s hitting codes and standards, being adopted by state and local jurisdictions. Recent updates to NFPA 72 introduces some of the most meaningful updates in over a decade.
Cybersecurity moves from guidance to expectation, requiring that fire alarm and life safety systems with IP connectivity follow defined security practices and hardening provisions.
Cybersecurity is no longer a back-office concern; it’s now a frontline responsibility. As more intrusion, access control, fire, and video systems move onto networks, integrators who aren’t prepared for evolving cybersecurity codes and standards face real risks: failed inspections, liability exposure, system vulnerabilities and damage to client trust.
ESA’s NEWLY Enhanced Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level 1 will be launched in early 2026 and the revised coursework has an entire module on cybersecurity and data privacy, ensuring field technicians have the foundational knowledge to recognize cybersecurity requirements, follow best-practice configuration standards and implement secure installation practices from day one.
By building cybersecurity awareness directly into the technical foundation of your workforce, our newly revamped ESA’s certifications will help safeguard integrators who might otherwise be taken off guard by costly issues.
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?
Guilbeau: One of the most pressing challenges facing security professionals right now is keeping pace with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence while making sure its use remains responsible and aligned with the expectations of the public.
AI is changing everything from how systems detect threats to how data is processed in the background, and the industry has reached a point where innovation is moving faster than clear guidance or shared standards. To tackle this, we need a space where experts can compare experiences, identify risks early and shape practical guardrails before problems arise.
That is why ESA created the AI Readiness Council (ARC), which brings together people from across the industry to study emerging issues, answer tough questions and prepare companies for the next wave of technology. The goal is not to slow progress but to make sure the industry grows in a way that protects consumers, supports technicians and integrators, and builds long term trust in the systems our members deploy every day.
SSI: Finish this sentence: 2026 will be remembered as the year that the security industry…
Guilbeau: … played a more visible and nationally significant role—protecting the people who choose to serve in elected office.
Through our advocacy and engagement, ESA has played a pivotal role in elevating awareness around the SECURE Act (Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures Act), which affirmed that the safety of candidates and public officials is not a partisan issue, but a practical necessity.
By opening the door for candidates to use campaign funds for credible security measures installed by licensed professionals, like the nearly 2,000 ESA integrator member companies, the Act aligned directly with the standards we have championed for decades.
This shift shined a spotlight on the life-safety work our members perform every day and reaffirmed the critical importance of properly trained, credentialed security professionals at a time when threats continue to rise.
It also marked a defining moment of partnership between policymakers and ESA, demonstrating how thoughtful legislation and strong industry leadership can advance public safety while upholding the highest professional standards.
Click here to check out all the entries in our 2026 security industry predictions series!
