HID’s 2026 State of Security and Identity Report finds organisations are re-architecting identity strategies around convergence, trust and user choice, as ethical and privacy concerns reach record levels.
Based on responses from more than 1,500 security and IT professionals, end users and industry partners, the report outlines seven trends reshaping identity, access and trust across physical and digital environments.
Identity management rises to the top
Identity management has become the dominant strategic priority, with 73 percent of respondents ranking it as a top focus area — the highest category in the study. Organisations are moving away from fragmented credential systems toward unified identity governance spanning both physical access and digital systems.
The shift reflects a broader market transition: consolidation is no longer optional, but execution remains complex. Respondents cited the need to reduce friction, ensure regulatory compliance and demonstrate measurable return on investment as central considerations.
Mobile credentials reach maturity
Mobile credential adoption is now primarily driven by security (50 percent) rather than convenience (34 percent), marking a notable shift in motivation. However, hybrid environments remain the norm, with 84 percent of end users maintaining physical credentials alongside mobile deployments to support diverse operational requirements.
Biometrics expand — alongside scrutiny
Biometric technologies continue to gain traction, with 45 percent of respondents viewing them as strategic. Fingerprint recognition (71 percent) and facial recognition (50 percent) are the leading modalities.
At the same time, ethical and privacy concerns have more than doubled year-on-year, rising from 31 percent to 67 percent. The data suggests organisations are increasingly aware of the reputational and regulatory implications of biometric deployment, prompting greater emphasis on governance frameworks and transparency.
Real-time location systems move mainstream
Real-time location systems (RTLS) are gaining ground in healthcare, manufacturing and logistics. Forty-two percent of end users identified RTLS as a strategic priority, and 40 percent reported active deployments.
Adoption barriers remain, including cost (33 percent), privacy concerns (29 percent) and integration complexity (29 percent). Additionally, 38 percent of partners said customers remain unfamiliar with RTLS capabilities, indicating an ongoing need for education and awareness.
Physical-digital convergence accelerates
Unified identity solutions are moving into the mainstream, with 75 percent of organisations either having deployed (29 percent) or actively evaluating (46 percent) converged identity platforms.
While single credentials spanning buildings, networks and applications promise operational efficiency and improved security, organisations continue to face budget constraints (51 percent), technical complexity (37 percent) and expertise gaps (34 percent).
RFID becomes embedded infrastructure
RFID adoption continues to grow, with 54 percent of respondents reporting active use for asset tracking, inventory management and loss prevention. Once considered niche, RFID is increasingly viewed as core operational infrastructure.
Respondents cited faster tracking (62 percent) and improved visibility (41 percent) as key benefits.
Investment shifts toward integrated platforms
The report indicates a decisive move away from point solutions toward integrated identity and security platforms. Organisations are prioritising systems that improve visibility and resilience across complex, interconnected environments.
Integration complexity remains the primary barrier, cited by 52 percent in identity systems and 37 percent in physical-digital convergence initiatives.
Privacy at the forefront
Across all trends, privacy and ethical considerations have emerged as defining concerns. Sixty-seven percent of end users expressed moderate to high concern about biometric privacy implications. Similar tensions are evident in location tracking and unified identity platforms, where organisations are balancing enhanced protection against individual rights and regulatory obligations.’
Ramesh Songukrishnasamy, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at HID, said organisations modernising identity infrastructure are increasingly focused on governance and transparency alongside security performance.
The report draws on responses across healthcare, education, government, finance, manufacturing and critical infrastructure sectors, providing perspectives from both end users and integration partners.
Overall, the findings suggest that identity has moved to the centre of enterprise risk management — not only as a security control, but as a foundation for digital trust in increasingly converged physical and cyber environments.
You can read the full report here.
