News / CCTV & Access Control
Cyber vulnerabilities and interoperability become major issues in access control systems Published on 29 September 2026 by Christ-loisele (2 min read)
Mercury Security’s 2026 report highlights a rise in cybersecurity gaps and growing demand for interoperability in physical access control infrastructures. Professionals also emphasize the increasing importance of cloud integration and behavioral analytics.
A heightened awareness of cyber risks
According to the 2026 Trends in Access Controllers Report published by Mercury Security, 32% of surveyed professionals (up from 21% in 2025) state that their current access control systems lack cybersecurity features. This increase is accompanied by greater complexity in coordinating cybersecurity and IT, as noted by 74% of respondents. Yet, 86% of organizations claim to be actively working to comply with evolving data protection standards, as Steve Lucas, vice president of sales at Mercury Security, explains: « Organizations recognize the risks facing connected access control systems, but existing infrastructure does not always keep pace. »
Organizations acknowledge cyber risks in connected systems, but existing infrastructure often fails to match the pace of threats.
Illustrative photo: network switch (Sub, Public domain) Interoperability and compatibility: non-negotiable criteria
The study reveals that 69% of professionals consider interoperability a critical factor in selecting access controllers, while 82% emphasize the importance of upward and downward compatibility for future projects. This demand reflects a desire to modernize infrastructures without abandoning past investments, as Steve Lucas notes: « Users want to protect their existing investments, making interoperability increasingly essential. »
Additionally, 56% of respondents cite cloud connectivity as an influential factor in their 2026 purchasing decisions, up from 50% the previous year. However, only 41% of current controllers are cloud-compatible, and 26% of systems lack this capability altogether.
The rise of advanced technologies and mobile credentials
Emerging technologies are gaining traction: 56% of professionals mention behavioral analytics and anomaly detection (up from 44% in 2025), while 60% highlight facial recognition and 50% proactive threat prevention. Additionally, 50% of respondents already use or plan to adopt mobile credentials. Finally, 39% are exploring or have integrated edge computing into their security ecosystems.
What this means here
For businesses and government agencies in Benin and West Africa, these trends could accelerate the modernization of access control systems, particularly in sensitive sectors such as critical infrastructure, data centers, or public spaces. The identified cyber vulnerabilities could prompt local decision-makers to prioritize solutions incorporating advanced security protocols, while ensuring their compatibility with existing systems to avoid prohibitive migration costs.
The growing adoption of cloud technologies and solutions like behavioral analytics or edge computing could also drive innovation in physical access management , particularly in environments where connectivity and responsiveness are critical. Finally, the rise of mobile credentials could simplify secure access for employees and visitors , provided local infrastructures are adapted to support these advancements.
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