Longtime Business Fitness columnist and Matterhorn Consulting founder Paul Boucherle offers his take on the security sector’s performance in 2025.
He reflected on supply chain disruptions, tariff impacts and industry resilience driven by demand for automation.
This entry is part of our reflections series featuring industry figures.
His forecast for 2026 will appear in January.
Paul Boucherle: "2025 has been a positive year overall for the security business. The uncertainty of supply chains started with gnashing of teeth, hand-wringing, fear and uncertainty with tariffs. I felt this was short-sighted but a necessary correction in more equitable global trade terms. Above all, I think end users understood the project completion and price adjustments/variables were out of security integrators’ hands."
Boucherle: "The most surprising was the over-hype of technology, especially artificial intelligence. Every product today makes some AI claim. AI is now the Taylor Swift of the security industry with all the flash and promotion but without her enviable and reliable track record! AI will and does have a role for improving/optimizing labor-intensive, repetitive tasks that can be automated without the burden of custom software."
Boucherle: "The most important change in the security industry is that change happens fast with unpredictable business results. Two edges to this business sword are fear and opportunity. Depending on your mindset, you can grow, stand still or fall behind. If you stand still too long or fall behind, you will lose talent that will be hard to replace."
