Axis research highlights growing role of security technology in UK utilities

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More than half (51%) of UK utilities decision-makers expect security technology to deliver its greatest future value through business intelligence or operational efficiency, according to new research from Axis Communications.

The findings suggest that utilities increasingly see security systems as tools for improving operational performance, as well as protecting people, assets and infrastructure.

The survey of 600 decision-makers across energy and renewables, water and wastewater, and oil and gas is presented in Axis’s report, In Focus: A spotlight on utilities by Axis.

Looking ahead three to five years, 32% of respondents expect business intelligence and analytics to deliver the greatest value, while 19% identify operational efficiency and productivity.

The research also highlights the operational pressures facing the sector. Rising costs are cited by 71% of respondents, followed by labour and skills shortages (46%) and business continuity and asset reliability (40%).

Using visual intelligence to improve operational decisions

Although 82% of respondents already use security technology for security and incident prevention, Axis identifies opportunities to extend its role by combining visual information with operational data.

Providing visual context around alarms and developing issues can help teams assess incidents, prioritise maintenance and determine when site visits are necessary. Remote visual checks can also help organisations make better use of specialist skills, reduce routine inspection requirements and intervene before equipment deterioration leads to costly disruption.

When asked where earlier detection would deliver the greatest business benefit, 45% identified critical asset failures, including fire or overheating. Health and safety or process incidents were selected by 41%, while 37% highlighted deteriorating equipment performance and maintenance requirements.

Other findings reveal that 43% of respondents have fully integrated security technology data with operational systems and routinely use it to inform real-time decisions. However, 32% report having no consistent approach to monitoring remote or unmanned operational sites.

Andrea Monteleone, segment development manager EMEA, Critical Infrastructure at Axis Communications, said: “Utilities already invest in security technology to protect essential infrastructure. Our research highlights expectations for that technology to contribute more broadly to business intelligence and operational efficiency. Visual intelligence adds context to operational data, helping organisations understand events, recognise patterns and make better-informed decisions. The opportunity is to build on the technology’s protection role and make insights useful across the business.”

Different priorities across utilities

The research also identifies distinct operational challenges and opportunities across the three sectors.

Energy and renewables: 42% of respondents identify deteriorating equipment performance and maintenance needs as an area where earlier detection would deliver the greatest business benefit. This compares with 36% in water and wastewater and 35% in oil and gas. Visual intelligence can help operators assess developing issues, prioritise maintenance and allocate specialist resources more effectively.

Water and wastewater: Regulatory or compliance failures are identified by 57% of respondents as a major threat to operational resilience. Meanwhile, 44% highlight health and safety or process incidents as an area where earlier detection would deliver the greatest benefit. Visual information can help teams verify events, support intervention and provide evidence for investigations.

Oil and gas: Critical asset failures are identified by 48% of respondents as a leading opportunity for earlier detection, the highest proportion across the three sectors. Rising operational costs are cited by 75%, while 36% report inconsistent monitoring across remote sites. These findings highlight the potential value of improving visibility across distributed operations.

Sarah Long, key account manager – End Customers at Axis Communications, said: “The priorities differ across utilities. For energy operators, earlier insight into equipment deterioration can support maintenance decisions. In water, connecting information with timely intervention and evidence for investigation is particularly relevant, while oil and gas operators are focused on asset reliability. In each case, visual intelligence can complement existing operational systems by helping teams understand the circumstances around an event and decide what should happen next.”

The findings highlight how visual intelligence could support security, engineering, maintenance and operations teams. By providing context around incidents and identifying recurring patterns, connected security systems can help inform maintenance planning, operational decisions and intervention strategies, extending their value beyond traditional protection.

Read the full report, In Focus: A spotlight on utilities by Axis, at Axis Communications.

Watch the Axis expert analysis on YouTube.