Genetec Inc. officially released education-specific findings from its 2026 State of Physical Security Report. Based on responses from North American K-12 and higher education professionals, the company said the data shows schools are prioritizing improved situational awareness, faster incident response and unified security systems.

The company said that education institutions are primarily using physical security data to monitor and respond to incidents across campus. Monitoring and responding to incidents on campus was cited by 86% of higher education and 79% of K-12 respondents, making it the most common application overall. The report also found that almost 80% of higher education and 77% of K-12 respondents said they rely on security systems to manage and audit building access for students, staff and visitors. Additionally, 76% of higher education and 80% of K-12 professionals use security data to investigate student or staff conduct issues.

Genetec said the findings also revealed that emergency preparedness remains a priority. Over half of higher education respondents (54%) and 59% of K-12 respondents said physical security data supports emergency response planning and drills, reinforcing the need for real-time visibility and coordinated response during critical situations.

The company reported that budget constraints remain the biggest challenge, as cited by 72% of higher education respondents and 74% of K-12 respondents. When asked which metrics are used to justify physical security investments, improved visibility and situational awareness across campus ranked highest, cited by 77% of higher education respondents and 64% of K-12 respondents. Genetec said compliance with district, state or federal regulations was also a key driver, particularly in K-12, where 62% said meeting safety mandates is a primary justification for security investments.

Genetec said that the findings suggest a need for more unified security operations where video, access control and other security data can support faster understanding and response across classrooms, buildings and campus grounds.

“Education institutions are under pressure to strengthen campus safety while managing limited budgets,” said Stephen Homrighaus, vertical sales director, education at Genetec Inc. “By unifying video, access control, and other security data into a single platform, schools can improve visibility, respond more quickly to incidents, and meet compliance requirements, all while making the most of their existing investments.”