IP security – a disruptive or sustaining technology shift?

The shift towards IP-based security products and systems is often touted as an example of a disruptive technology that have had – and will continue to have – profound consequences for the electronic security industry as a whole. Based on Clayton Christensen’s theories on disruptive innovation, this document argues that the in- troduction of IP-based technology has different effects depending on the product segment observed. In the case of video surveillance, it is argued that IP has brought about a disruptive change, whereas the effect on access control is found to be more of an incremental, or sustaining character. These conclusions are based partly on an analysis of the impact of IP technology on product platforms, and partly on observations of changes in industry structure that can be observed in the video surveillance and access control sectors.