Healthcare security in 2026: A strategic pivot toward smarter protection

Healthcare security leaders are stepping into 2026 with a clear-eyed focus: protect people, safeguard assets, and do it all with fewer resources and rising expectations. 

Hospital environments are becoming increasingly complex, with 80% of healthcare security leaders reporting a rise in violent incidents pushing teams to think smarter and move faster.

Here are ten insights and some predictions healthcare security decision-makers should have on their radar heading into 2026.

2025 Physical security healthcare review

According to the 2025 Security Benchmark Report, healthcare institutions continued to grapple with rising incidents of workplace violence, persistent staffing challenges, and aging security infrastructure. 

Snapshot of the healthcare sector’s top physical security risks in 2025:

• 80% of healthcare security leaders reported an increase in violent incidents compared to the previous year, making hospitals one of the most hazardous workplaces in the U.S.
• Over 60% of healthcare facilities cited difficulty maintaining full-time security staffing levels, pushing teams to rely more heavily on technology and third-party services.
• More than 40% of installed video surveillance systems were considered outdated or unsupported, increasing operational risk and making modernization an urgent priority.

Yet, amidst the pressure, the sector made notable progress in modernizing surveillance systems and leaning into digital transformation through cloud adoption and integrated technology platforms.

2026 is shaping up to be a year of rethinking the strategy altogether.

Workplace violence in healthcare remains a top concern

If one issue stayed firmly at the top of the agenda in 2025, it was workplace violence. Unfortunately, there’s no sign of it slowing in 2026.

Healthcare workers face significantly higher rates of violence than nearly any other profession. A 2024 survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians found that 90% of emergency medical staff had been physically assaulted or threatened in the past year. 

These incidents are often driven by patient dissatisfaction, poor communication, long wait times, and broader systemic stressors. Nurses and frontline clinical staff are the most frequent victims.

In response, healthcare security teams are being asked to move beyond traditional reactive models and implement proactive, prevention-focused strategies. Many organizations are expanding the use of incident reporting platforms, real-time communication tools, and increasing visible security presence.

There’s also growing emphasis on de-escalation training, consistent policy enforcement, and multi-layered technology systems built to detect, deter, and document incidents with greater efficiency.

This trend will continue to shape how hospitals and healthcare systems allocate resources and structure their security programs in 2026.

Cloud adoption accelerates across healthcare security programs

Historically, healthcare organizations have been cautious about moving physical security systems to the cloud, largely due to compliance, privacy, and cybersecurity concerns. 

On-premise infrastructure was seen as the safer, more controllable option.

That mindset is shifting.

In 2026, cloud adoption is expected to accelerate across healthcare security programs. 72% of large health systems cited remote access and centralized management as primary drivers for cloud adoption, especially across multi-campus environments.

Over 58% of healthcare security leaders reported implementing at least one cloud-based physical security solution in 2025, up from 41% in 2023.

Cloud-based solutions are also proving to be more cost-effective over time, reducing the burden of maintaining aging hardware and enabling more flexible licensing models. 

As budget constraints continue, this financial advantage is becoming a key driver of adoption.

Lifecycle management becomes a strategic priority for healthcare security

In 2026, more healthcare organizations will integrate lifecycle management into their core security strategy. As physical security environments grow in complexity, maintaining visibility into the health and performance of devices across large campuses is becoming essential.

Why lifecycle management is a strategic priority

Proactive risk mitigation

Lifecycle management helps identify vulnerabilities across physical security assets such as surveillance cameras, access control panels, and badge readers throughout their operational lifespan. 

In the real world, this translates into identifying outdoor PTZ cameras nearing end-of-life before winter, preventing critical system failure during peak patient volume.

Enhanced visibility and control

Centralized platforms provide a complete inventory of deployed security devices, including their age, performance, and software status. This eliminates unmanaged or outdated hardware and ensures all devices, cameras, sensors, and controllers are accounted for and actively monitored.

In operations, this plays out as uncovering devices that were active but not under policy control, and bringing them into full compliance.

Regulatory compliance

In healthcare environments, compliance with regulations like HIPAA and HITECH extends to physical systems that protect access to restricted areas and sensitive data. Lifecycle management supports consistent policy enforcement, audit readiness, and the secure operation of systems protecting PHI and critical infrastructure.

 

Operational efficiency and cost savings

Managing the lifecycle of physical security infrastructure, including automated tracking of service intervals, credential renewals, and hardware end-of-life, reduces administrative overhead and avoids unexpected downtime or costly emergency replacements.

Healthcare security budgets face continued constraints in 2026

Economic pressures will continue to shape how healthcare organizations plan and allocate their physical security budgets in 2026. Rising labor costs, inflation, and increased demand for operational efficiency are forcing security leaders to make difficult trade-offs.

With limited flexibility, healthcare security programs are under increased pressure to demonstrate ROI on every investment.

Cost control strategies are shifting toward subscription-based licensing, cloud-native infrastructure, and vendor consolidation to reduce overhead and simplify system management.

Capital projects are expected to move more slowly, while short-term, high-impact upgrades, especially those tied to compliance or risk reduction, will take priority.

Resource limitations are not new in healthcare security, but in 2026, success will increasingly depend on smarter planning, scalable technology, and a focus on long-term value over short-term fixes.

Positioning healthcare security for the future

Healthcare security has entered a new era defined by complexity, constrained resources, and dynamic threats. Staying reactive is no longer enough. Success depends on strategic foresight, scalable systems, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Cloud infrastructure, integrated platforms, and lifecycle-based planning are helping healthcare systems shift from fragmented operations to connected, intelligent security programs.

Looking ahead, the healthcare organizations that lead will be those that invest in smarter infrastructure, embrace proactive planning, and align physical security with broader operational priorities.

See how future-ready security teams are using SiteOwl to modernize their infrastructure, simplify operations, and build smarter healthcare environments.