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A recent article in Campus Safety Magazine makes a compelling observation about the state of physical security: the biggest challenge is not a lack of technology, but a lack of connection.
Security teams are drowning in data while operating within a complex network of disconnected systems. The video management system does not talk to access control. Access control does not talk to the intercom. And neither speaks fluently to intrusion alarms. Every "door-held" alert requires an operator to manually switch between applications, identify the correct camera, and scrub footage just to verify if the incident was a security breach or a colleague holding the door for a visitor.
This fragmented approach leads directly to alert fatigue, slow response times, and missed opportunities.
The Shift from Reactive to Proactive
The industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in philosophy. We are moving away from alarm-driven systems that merely document breaches toward intelligence-driven platforms that learn, anticipate, and prevent incidents.
The focus is no longer on what happened. It is on what is happening now and what is likely to happen next.
At the heart of this transformation is Microsoft Teams. With over 320 million monthly active users, Teams has become the de facto collaboration platform for organizations worldwide. But while Teams excels at virtual collaboration, physical security infrastructure often remains isolated.
Breaking Down the Silos
The Campus Safety Magazine article emphasizes the importance of unified security platforms that consolidate all data feeds into a single, cohesive view. When a security event occurs, the system should automatically correlate the data: a door alert immediately triggers real-time video, showing the specific entrance and the individual involved.
This is exactly where organizations face a practical challenge. You have invested in quality intercom systems, access control hardware, and surveillance infrastructure. Replacing all of that is expensive, disruptive, and often unnecessary.
The real question is: how do you connect your existing physical security infrastructure to the platform your team already uses every day?
Connecting Physical Security to Microsoft Teams
This is where the "no rip-and-replace" philosophy becomes relevant. Your existing SIP intercom can become part of your Teams environment without additional hardware, SBCs, or complex middleware.
When a visitor rings your intercom, your security team receives the call directly in Teams. They see live video, communicate with the visitor through two-way audio, and can open the door with a single click. All from the Teams desktop client, desk phone, or mobile app.
The result: your intercom becomes a native part of your communication infrastructure. No more separate systems. No more switching between applications. No more fragmented workflows.
The Practical Benefits
For organizations moving toward unified security operations, connecting intercoms to Teams delivers immediate value:
Faster response times. When your team receives intercom calls in the same interface where they handle all other communications, there is no delay from switching applications or finding the right camera feed.
Remote access control. Team members can manage building access from anywhere. Working from home during bad weather? You can still see visitors and open doors for authorized personnel.
Complete visibility. Every intercom interaction is logged and can be recorded for compliance purposes. You gain a comprehensive audit trail without additional systems.
Reduced training burden. Your team already knows Teams. There is no learning curve for a separate intercom management interface.
Looking Ahead
The Campus Safety Magazine article concludes that the physical security system of 2026 is not about purchasing the fastest camera or the newest card reader. It is about strategically integrating intelligence.
Organizations that succeed will be those that tear down security silos and leverage their existing infrastructure within unified platforms.
Your intercom system does not need to be an isolated island. It can be a connected part of how your team communicates, collaborates, and keeps your facilities secure.
The question is not whether physical security will integrate with collaboration platforms. That direction is clear. The question is whether your organization is ready to make that connection today.
Interested in connecting your SIP intercoms to Microsoft Teams? Learn how CyberGate enables two-way audio and live video from your existing intercom infrastructure directly to Teams. No additional hardware required.
Source: "Physical Security in 2026: A Preview of Things to Come" by Michael Cruz, CPP, PMP in Campus Safety Magazine, January 5, 2026