ASIS International, the world’s largest association of security management professionals, has published new State of Security Convergence in the United States, Europe, and India research conducted by the ASIS Foundation.

Using survey responses from more than 1,000 security leaders from around the globe – plus more than 20 follow-up interviews – the study analyzes the relationship between physical security, cybersecurity, and business continuity in modern organizations. It provides relevant benchmarks to compare strategies, plans, and operations and determine best practices for creating more effective and cost-efficient security and risk operations.

According to the report, despite years of predictions about the inevitability of security convergence, just 24 percent of respondents have converged their physical and cybersecurity functions. When business continuity is included, a total of 52 percent have converged two or all of the three functions. Of the 48 percent who have not converged at all, 70 percent have no current plans to converge.

“For years, security practitioners have accepted that organizations are increasingly converging their physical security and cybersecurity functions,” says Brian Allen, CPP, president, ASIS Foundation Board of Trustees. “This study collected current data to measure trends and progress with converging environments. What we’ve learned is that, although convergence has brought positive results, there is still much work to be done.”

The study’s executive summary is available free on the Foundation’s website. The full report is available for purchase and is complimentary for all ASIS members.

Supported by member and corporate donations, the ASIS Foundation invests in elevating security practice through research and education. The Foundation awarded more than 170 scholarships in 2019 totaling more than $75,000. Learn more about 2020 ASIS Foundation scholarships.