Security Expectations in 2026: How Business Protection Is Changing

If you’re responsible for a business premises in 2026, security is no longer a background concern. It’s a board-level issue, an insurance issue, and increasingly, a continuity issue.

Over the last few years, the way businesses think about security has shifted. What used to be seen as a box-ticking exercise — an alarm on the wall, a couple of cameras, maybe a keypad by the door — is now judged on how well it actually prevents disruption, loss, and downtime.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about realism.

Criminal behaviour has changed. Insurance expectations have changed. Technology has changed. And quietly, the baseline for what counts as “adequate” business security in the UK has moved.

From deterrence to protection

Historically, most commercial security systems were designed to deter. A visible camera. A flashing alarm box. The hope was simple: make your premises look less appealing than the one next door.

That approach still matters — but it’s no longer enough.

In 2026, business security is judged on what happens next:

• What happens when someone actually enters the site?

• Who is alerted, and how quickly?

• What evidence is captured?

• How does the system reduce downtime, not just record the damage?

This is why many businesses are moving away from standalone systems and toward integrated commercial security systems that combine CCTV, alarms, access control, and monitoring into a single, responsive setup.

CCTV is no longer “just recording”

One of the biggest changes we see across business security in the UK is how CCTV is being used.

Traditional CCTV systems were passive. They recorded footage, which was reviewed after an incident — often too late to prevent loss, disruption, or insurance disputes.

Modern commercial CCTV and video surveillance systems (often now referred to as VSS) are active:

• Motion-based alerts rather than continuous recording

• Remote access for authorised users

• Integration with alarms and access control

• Live monitoring options where intervention can happen in real time

For many insurers, this shift matters. Evidence quality, system maintenance, and response capability are now part of how risk is assessed.

Insurance expectations are quietly tightening

One of the biggest surprises for business owners is how often insurance requirements change without much fanfare.

In 2026, insurers are increasingly focused on:

• Whether alarms are monitored

• Whether CCTV systems are maintained and fit for purpose

• Whether access to premises is controlled and logged

• Whether regular security reviews are carried out

It’s no longer unusual for claims to be delayed — or challenged — because a system was outdated, poorly maintained, or didn’t match what was declared on the policy.

This is why business security reviews and surveys are becoming an annual expectation rather than a one-off event.

The rise of the security review mindset

More businesses are now treating security the same way they treat health and safety or IT: something that needs reviewing, not installing and forgetting.

A proper business security review looks at:

• How the building is actually used, day and night

• Where vulnerabilities exist during quiet periods

• How staff access is managed

• Whether existing systems still reflect real-world risk

In many cases, the outcome isn’t “rip everything out and start again”. It’s small, targeted improvements that significantly reduce exposure.

Why “good enough” is no longer good enough

In 2026, the question businesses are being asked — by insurers, landlords, and sometimes regulators — is no longer “Do you have security?”

It’s “Is your security appropriate?”

An alarm that no one responds to.Cameras that don’t cover key areas.Systems installed years ago for a different way of working.

All of these can leave a business exposed, even if something is technically in place.

Where Rossells fits in

At Rossells, we see this shift every day. Businesses aren’t looking for gadgets — they’re looking for clarity.

That’s why everything starts with understanding the site, the risk, and the reality of how the premises operates. A business security survey isn’t about selling more equipment. It’s about identifying gaps before they become incidents, claims, or downtime.

In 2026, strong business security isn’t louder, more complex, or more expensive by default.

It’s smarter. Integrated. Maintained. And reviewed.