HiveWatch has released its latest benchmark study, "The State of Physical Security Operations in 2026," shedding light on the performance of enterprise physical security programs.
The report, compiled by independent research firm Censuswide, surveyed 300 U.S.-based professionals who handle physical security operations in organizations that employ over 500 people and generate at least $5 million in annual revenue. Key findings reveal a significant disparity between confidence and the actual operational efficiency of security operations centers (SOCs).
Current Security Program Challenges
Ryan Schonfeld, Co-Founder and CEO of HiveWatch, commented, “At a time when security teams are being asked to manage more devices, more alerts, and more operational complexity than ever before, many organizations still lack the visibility and operational benchmarks needed to understand how effectively their programs are actually performing." The study underscores a growing gap between perceived readiness and tangible performance, highlighting the role of AI and automation in distinguishing advanced security operations from those lagging behind.
Among the noteworthy findings, large enterprises indicated false alarm rates nearing 44%, and nearly 30% of surveyed organizations continue to depend on manual device health checks as opposed to deploying fully automated monitoring systems. Furthermore, 97% of participants are either utilizing AI or considering its use in their security operations. Specifically, AI integration stands at 75% among organizations with highly mature programs, versus 43% in those with lower maturity.
Addressing the Automation Deficit
This comprehensive data serves as a resource for security leaders to compare operational maturity
The report also brings attention to an "automation deficit" in the sector, with operators frequently engaged in mundane administrative tasks like manual alarm triage rather than concentrating on critical threat analysis and response.
Jordan Hill, Co-Founder and Head of Product at HiveWatch, stated, “The physical security industry has spent years talking about technology adoption, but the more important question is whether security programs are remaining operationally effective as complexity scales.” He emphasized that organizations seeing genuine progress are those integrating AI and automation to lessen disruptions, enhance responses, and enable operators to concentrate on real threats.
The publication merges independent survey findings with operational benchmark insights from HiveWatch customer environments. This comprehensive data serves as a resource for security leaders to compare operational maturity, AI adoption levels, device monitoring efficiencies, alarm management strategies, and SOC frameworks.
HiveWatch, a physical security software company reimagining how organizations keep their people and assets safe, releases The State of Physical Security Operations in 2026, a new benchmark report examining how enterprise physical security programs actually perform when measured against operational realities, including alarm volume, SLA attainment, operational maturity, and AI adoption.
Commissioned through independent research firm Censuswide, the report surveyed 300 U.S.-based professionals responsible for physical security operations at organizations with 500 or more employees and at least $5 million in annual revenue. The findings reveal a striking disconnect between confidence and operational effectiveness across modern security operations centers (SOCs).
Lower-maturity programs
“At a time when security teams are being asked to manage more devices, more alerts, and more operational complexity than ever before, many organizations still lack the visibility and operational benchmarks needed to understand how effectively their programs are actually performing,” said Ryan Schonfeld, Co-Founder and CEO, HiveWatch. “This report highlights the growing gap between perceived readiness and measurable performance, while also showing how AI and automation are beginning to separate mature security operations from those struggling to keep pace.”
Among the report’s key findings:
Large enterprises report false alarm rates approaching 44%
- Nearly 30% of organizations still rely on manual device health checks instead of fully automated monitoring systems
- 97% of respondents are either currently using AI or actively evaluating it for security operations
- AI adoption reaches 75% among organizations that rate themselves at the highest maturity levels, compared to 43% among lower-maturity programs
The report also identifies a growing “automation deficit” across the industry, with operators spending significant time on repetitive administrative work such as manual alarm triage and routine notifications instead of higher-value threat analysis and response.
Making meaningful progress
“The physical security industry has spent years talking about technology adoption, but the more important question is whether security programs are remaining operationally effective as complexity scales,” said Jordan Hill, Co-Founder & Head of Product, HiveWatch. “The organizations making meaningful progress are the ones operationalising AI and automation to reduce noise, improve response, and give operators the ability to focus on actual threats.”
The report combines independent survey data with operational benchmark insights from HiveWatch customer environments to provide security leaders with comparative data across operational maturity, AI adoption, device monitoring, alarm management, and SOC structure.
