A growing emphasis on integrated security is evident as 78% of respondents now view the controller as important or critical to physical access control, up from 72% a year earlier.

There is a clear modernization gap: 86% are actively working to meet cybersecurity and data protection standards, yet many systems still lack essential features.

Mobile credentials are reshaping procurement, with half of respondents using or planning to use mobile solutions and nearly half noting mobile credential integration as a purchasing trend.

Advanced analytics and AI-driven features are raising expectations for controller infrastructure, with over half pursuing behavioral analysis and anomaly detection, camera-based facial recognition, and predictive security.

Cloud readiness is on buyers’ minds, as 56% consider cloud connectivity in decisions, yet only 41% of controllers are cloud-enabled and 26% lack cloud support.

Mercury Security’s 2026 Trends in Access Controllers Report highlights a widening cybersecurity gap in access control infrastructure, based on a global survey.

Edge computing is gaining traction, with over 39% exploring or using it, and 41% integrating controller data with building occupancy programs to extend access data use beyond door management.

Interoperability remains a key buying criterion, with 69% citing it as critical and 82% valuing backward and forward compatibility for future planning.

Cybersecurity features are increasingly expected, as 32% report missing cybersecurity capabilities in current controllers, up from 21% last year, while 74% describe greater IT-security coordination complexity.

Mercury Security now has over 8 million controllers installed worldwide, underscoring the scale and potential impact of these evolving trends.