Security Pros Reported More Missing Cyber Features
Mercury Security data shows growing concern over access controller capabilities as organizations shift toward cloud-based management.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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A 2026 survey of 561 industry professionals found that 32 percent now identify missing cybersecurity features in their systems. This represents an 11-point increase from 2025 levels, signaling a gap in current infrastructure modernization.
Why it matters
Organizations are increasingly pressured to integrate cloud connectivity and automation, yet struggle to secure these modern workflows. The data highlights a tension between the need for advanced features like behavioral analysis and the difficulty of managing increasingly complex access systems.
While 78 percent of professionals view access controllers as critical to their strategy, 80 percent reported that managing AI and automation is more difficult than it was three years ago. Furthermore, only 41 percent of respondents currently operate cloud-enabled controllers.
The players
Mercury Security
An industry firm focused on providing hardware components and software platforms for physical access control and security management.
The details
Access controllers are the hardware units that manage physical entry points, validating credentials such as badges or biometric data. The rising demand for cloud connectivity—cited by 56 percent as a primary purchase driver—requires these units to handle network traffic and remote authentication. Integrating these systems with building occupancy data and facial recognition—a feature identified by 60 percent of respondents—adds further technical complexity to the underlying security architecture.
Timeline
2025 served as the baseline year for cybersecurity and cloud adoption comparisons.
Early 2026 was when Mercury Security conducted the survey of 561 professionals.
October 10, 2026, marked the release of the Trends in Access Controllers Report.
The Tech Race
The industry is currently grappling with the transition from local hardware management to interconnected, cloud-native infrastructure. This survey confirms that as organizations attempt to match the convenience of building occupancy software and facial recognition, they are outpacing their own ability to secure the resulting network footprint.
The report suggests that organizations will likely prioritize interoperability and cloud-enabled features in upcoming procurement cycles. As half of surveyed professionals plan to adopt mobile solutions, end users should prepare for infrastructure upgrades aimed at closing the current security feature gap.
The takeaway
The widening gap between infrastructure capability and security requirements highlights a critical need for standardized, interoperable management tools. Stakeholders should monitor the adoption rate of mobile-first access solutions throughout 2027 to see if vendor security updates catch up to user demand.
Further reading
Explore the latest shifts in protection and infrastructure in our Cybersecurity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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