However, digital reform and identification security are not solely the focus of government agencies, with many Australian organisations now taking a closer look at what they need to do to increase secure access both online and at the physical office.
A new HID Global 2025 State of Security and Identity Report has identified five big trends that will fortify Australia’s digital security in the coming year.
Trend One: Proliferation of mobile identities and biometrics
Australian organisations have already begun to move from traditional physical credentials to mobile-based identities such as mobile wallets and app-based identity ecosystems. The HID report shows that nearly two thirds of global organisations, including those in Australia, are either deploying or planning to deploy mobile solutions. Concurrently, demand for biometric technologies such as fingerprint, iris, and facial recognition is growing, with organisations such as the Australian Open moving to biometric technologies to improve access security. In addition to the security and access benefits of mobile and biometric identity technologies, reducing physical access cards enables organisations to better meet new mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements by providing real-time data on how people access and use workspaces and the resulting impact on energy use.
Trend Two: Growing demand for streamlined security solutions
Providing visibility and control through a unified interface is key to enhancing threat detection and response. For this reason, many security leaders (67% identified in the HID report) are adopting software-driven security solutions, citing that unifying multiple data collection methodologies would be important (73%) to their organisation. This is because software can be quickly and cost-effectively consolidated, updated and scaled as necessary. There is a strong preference for open platforms that enable the seamless integration and interoperability of technologies, especially across physical and digital functions such as video surveillance and access control into office spaces.
Trend Three: Digital transformation across the channel
Rapidly changing customer demands, ongoing advances in cloud solutions and direct go-to-market strategies from manufacturers are pushing channel integrators to evolve their services so they can remain relevant in a dynamic security landscape. This year we will see significant channel transformation driven by digital innovation. While 77% of channel partners believe they are adapting well to these changes, growing end-user demand for AI, cloud solutions, Internet of Things integration, and advanced analytics continues to reshape service expectations across access control, identity management, video, and security management platforms. For Australia in particular, local resellers will have a big role to play in protecting data sovereignty in the midst of the rise of AI, and will be key advisors to global integrators that want access to this market.
Trend Four: The adoption of AI agents is accelerating
Fighting fire with fire – while AI is increasing cyber risk especially around deep fakes, Australian organisations are accelerating their use of AI-driven solutions and machine learning tools to counteract threats in real time, particularly when it comes to identification and access. Key benefits cited in the HID report of this approach include improved efficiency and speed of security processes (50%), enhanced real-time data analysis capabilities (47%), reduced human error (45%) and proactive threat identification (37%).
Trend Five: Sustainability at the centre of security
As Australia adopts mandatory ESG reporting, and with sustainability a focus in the national election, most organisations consider it a significant factor in security decision-making. With 75% of security leaders factoring sustainability into solution selection, many actively seek technologies that minimise energy consumption, support green building certifications and reduce waste. However, this is still balanced against the level of security and cost-effectiveness that identity management and access control solutions provide.
As Australians contemplate the privacy and security risks of the next evolution of cheap AI, organisations are already one step ahead by embracing intuitive, secure identity management and access control systems. This includes mobile and biometric technologies, unified systems based on scalable software solutions and the increasing use of AI agents.
In the new age of AI, Australia is also capitalising on the local knowledge of its reseller community and ensuring sustainability remains a core consideration of the next digital revolution. To learn more about the latest digital security trends and what this means for Australian and global organisations, view the full HID Global 2025 State of Security and Identity Report here.
