Detection and surveillance solutions - from biometrics to video surveillance to explosive or hazard sensors - continue to gain momentum, while background screening, data analytics, biometrics, digital video, and sensor-based detection will continue to be major security investments over the next three to five years. The market is currently growing at 30 per cent annually.

This could well be a Rs 1,800-crore (Rs 18 billion) window for the players to cash on. Deepak Thakur, Honeywell [Get Quote] director (security-south Asia) says, "The security market will grow with commercial establishments, companies and government agencies looking to beef up their deployments. People will now think of security as a comprehensive solution and not just a standalone closed circuit television deployment."

He is betting on next-generation solutions such as video analytics, which detects, analyses, tracks and classifies the behaviours of people and vehicles as they move through a scene setting off an alarm in case of a deviation.

In fact, a report by IMS Research forecasts that the video analytics market will explode over the next five years, growing from $67.7 million in 2004 to $839.2 million in 2009, at a CAGR of 65.5 per cent.

Zicom managing director Pramoud Rao, who is expecting the government sector alone to drive the electronic surveillance industry to a CAGR of 60 per cent, says, "Video analytics-based surveillance equipment will be the most sought after, post the recent terror attacks."

Already, he has started getting hordes of enquiries to upgrade the CCTV deployments to network-based installations. "Network-based cameras enable consumers to monitor their environments remotely, allowing access even via mobile phones," he adds.

Harish Chandra, business manager (Hospitality and Travel), Avaya GlobalConnect [Get Quote], agrees. "Security will now become the top priority for most CIOs/CTOs of existing and upcoming hotels in India. Following security will be the deployment of high class business communications technology which helps guests and hotel employees stay connected at all times," he says. Avaya's customers include Marriott Group, The Leela, The Oberoi Group, Accor India Hotels in India.

Further, players also expect a renewed impetus from medium-sized commercial enterprises with multiple locations such as banks, hospitals, retail shops, factories, real estate construction sites, restaurants, and malls.

"The transition from traditional CCTV surveillance to networked digital surveillance has just started, with IP-based surveillance only a single-digit percentage point penetration. End users are beginning to realise that they can actually save money by installing intelligent cameras because they need to hire fewer security guards," reasons Vijay Khuspe, general marketing, (South Asia), Cradle Technologies.

The company had recently launched enVigil, a line of networked video surveillance systems that take full advantage of the ubiquitous broadband internet. "Users can improve their business by supervising their factories, warehouses, bank branches, retail shops, offices, franchisees or any remote location from anywhere in the world.

Frost & Sullivan estimates the global IP surveillance market at $1.4 billion in 2008 and $6.5 billion in 2012 with a compounded annual growth rate of 47 per cent for 2005-12.

Video surveillance, Khuspe explains, finds uses in a variety of vertical markets such as retail, education, banking, transportation and corporate business.