Facilities today face increasing challenges, from managing security across sprawling campuses to ensuring operational efficiency in the face of rising costs and evolving threats. Meeting these demands requires smarter, more adaptable tools, and video surveillance has emerged as a critical solution. Driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud technology, and innovative hardware, surveillance systems are no longer just about monitoring—they are transforming how facilities safeguard people, assets, and processes.
The 2025 Trends in Video Surveillance Report by Eagle Eye Networks identifies six key developments driving this transformation. The convergence of AI and cloud capabilities addresses long-standing challenges in facility security, such as response times, resource constraints, and clarity in critical situations. Beyond security, integration of smart technology means facilities are empowered with tools to better drive decision-making and operational efficiency.
From crime prevention and emergency response to privacy concerns and scalability, surveillance systems that protect facilities must keep pace with these demands while offering flexibility and future-proofing. The 2025 report serves as a roadmap, offering insights into how facilities can leverage technology, cutting-edge security, and sustainable operations.
Remote Monitoring: A Practical Reality with Far-Reaching Benefits
Thanks to AI and cloud-based technologies, remote monitoring of facilities to ensure safety is now a practical, cost-effective solution. Where on-site personnel or an array of hardware was once needed to monitor facilities, today, businesses can centralize their operations and access live feeds and analytics from anywhere.
The ability to monitor incidents from a distance creates instant visibility and lessens the need for on-site security guards in all locations. AI surveillance helps managers monitor incidents remotely, cutting costs and reducing the need for on-site security at large facilities like retail stores, warehouses, and factories. AI also helps security staff filter out false alarms so teams can focus on real threats, speeding up response times and improving efficiency.
Expanding the Surveillance Footprint
One of the most groundbreaking recent advancements in video surveillance is the capability to deploy high-performance cameras outdoors in remote or hard-to-wire sites previously considered impossible to secure due to lack of power or internet. With the introduction of pre-configured, outdoor surveillance units, facilities and events managers can now place AI-powered security cameras anywhere outdoors.
These modular cabinet systems are ideal for problematic or severe environments such as construction sites, outposts of critical infrastructure, parking lots, and temporary event locations. Advancements in wireless communication, solar power, and battery efficiency have enabled cameras to operate in remote areas, such as construction sites, agricultural fields, and areas devoid of conventional power infrastructure.
With cabinets, facilities managers can expand the surveillance footprint, protecting central operations and peripheral areas important for overall security. For instance, logistics companies can monitor loading docks in remote areas, while agricultural operations can track activities across large acreage to prevent theft and enhance visibility.
Multi-Sensor Cameras: Doing More with Less
Multi-sensor cameras are becoming a cornerstone in modern surveillance, offering the ability to cover large areas with fewer devices. Unlike single-lens cameras, these systems provide wide-angle or panoramic views, minimizing blind spots and reducing the need for multiple installations.
Facilities with high foot traffic—such as airports, shopping centers, and stadiums—stand to benefit enormously. Multi-sensor cameras reduce infrastructure complexity and lower maintenance costs by consolidating coverage into fewer devices. They also make it easier for security directors to review video and track incidents across expansive spaces.
Gun Detection: A Technological Imperative
AI-powered gun detection is positioned to become a key safety measure in schools, retail, and public spaces. Unlike traditional surveillance, AI can process video feeds in real time to identify and flag potential firearms or suspicious behavior.
This technology addresses a growing need. According to the Gun Violence Archive, 656 mass shooting incidents involving four or more victims occurred in 2023. Early detection by AI provides emergency responders with valuable information that leads to quicker and more effective interventions. However, there is also a limit to the technology: While it has been developed to identify visible firearms, the detection of concealed weapons remains beyond the capabilities of today’s systems. Further advances in behavioral analytics may eventually help bridge this gap.
Low-Light Capabilities: A Visionary Development
Camera low-light technology has been a game-changer for facilities operating at night or in dimly lit environments. Advanced imaging sensors and AI-driven enhancements have enabled cameras to capture clear video even in near-total darkness.
This development will significantly enhance key AI applications like object recognition, face detection, and license plate reading. For facilities such as warehouses, parking structures, and residential complexes, better visibility means that important details are not lost in the dark—a factor that bolsters security and the veracity of AI analysis.
AI-Integrated Cameras: Autonomy in Action
The integration of AI directly into camera hardware represents a major leap forward. These “smart” cameras can analyze video feeds on the spot, detect objects, recognize faces, and identify anomalies without relying on external processing systems.
This reduces the need for centralized systems, offering facilities managers more flexibility. However, it also means staying on top of software updates and security measures to keep up with new threats.
What These Trends Mean for Facility Security
The trends identified in the 2025 report reveal how the development of surveillance technology is addressing security threats and broader operational challenges. Facilities are no longer passively monitored; active surveillance systems enhance decision-making, improve efficiency, and create safer environments.
Remote monitoring allows the centralization of security operations, meaning facilities no longer require extensive on-site personnel at every location. Multi-sensor cameras will simplify infrastructure and expand video coverage; for those with low-light functionality, no detail around critical incidents is left uncaptured, regardless of the environmental conditions, while AI-driven gun detection takes threat assessment to a whole new level.
These innovations provide a powerful advantage in high-risk situations, potentially saving lives. By embracing these advancements and proactively addressing privacy, data security, and ethical considerations, facilities can build trust while ensuring the safety of those who rely on them. These technologies not only protect people and assets but also underscore a facility’s commitment to creating a secure environment for all.
Hans Kahler is the chief operating officer at Eagle Eye Networks, where he oversees a wide range of critical functions, including engineering, technical support, professional services, quality assurance, Eagle Eye University, compliance, and IT.