Genetec highlights why access control is becoming a governance and cybersecurity priority in the Middle East

Access control is rapidly shifting from a door-management function to a core governance and cybersecurity priority across the Middle East, driven by the region’s expanding smart cities, critical infrastructure and large-scale commercial and government environments, Genetec Inc. warns. The Montreal-headquartered security technology firm says modern access control systems now generate and store sensitive data, connect to enterprise networks and integrate with identity platforms and business applications—making them part of the enterprise attack surface rather than an isolated physical-security tool.

“As access control becomes more connected to enterprise networks and business applications, it can no longer be managed in isolation from wider cybersecurity and governance strategies,” said Hassan Makki, Area Sales Director at Genetec Inc.

Context and details

Genetec highlights several concrete risks and governance challenges that arise as organisations scale across multiple sites and jurisdictions. Readers, controllers, credentials and management software are increasingly considered alongside endpoints, networks, cloud services and identity platforms in the same risk conversations. If compromised or poorly governed, these components can create exposures that are both digital and physical.

The company points to common technical and operational weak points that organisations must address: whether communications are encrypted, how users are authenticated, the speed and consistency of software updates, and whether policies are enforced uniformly across locations. Managing access for a single facility differs markedly from overseeing dozens of sites across regions, where frequent role changes, contractor access and mergers or acquisitions can introduce policy drift.

• Standardisation: Genetec argues that consistent processes for credentialing, approving access and reviewing permissions are essential to prevent accumulation of inconsistencies—such as employees retaining access longer than required or divergent privilege models across sites.
• Shared visibility: The firm stresses the need for a consolidated view of permissions, credential activity and security events to enable effective incident response and cross-team collaboration between physical security, IT, compliance and risk functions.
• Governance: Without a clear governance framework, manual processes become hard to sustain and the likelihood of human error increases as organisations expand their footprint.

Outlook

Genetec recommends closer collaboration between physical security and IT teams, consistent policy frameworks and tools that provide shared visibility to manage evolving cyber and physical security risks. The company notes that access control products should be designed with cybersecurity at their core and that governance, standardisation and visibility will be essential as operations grow more interconnected.

Genetec positions itself as a long-standing player in the sector: the company has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years, serves more than 42,500 customers via an accredited channel partner network in over 159 countries, and offers a portfolio that includes video management, access control, ALPR, intrusion detection, intercom and digital evidence management solutions.