Reimagining safe storage for intelligent buildings

Elisabeth Whitefield, VP Europe, Safes and Cabinets, Gunnebo Safe Storage says that what was once considered the mechanical endpoint in the security chain is now being redefined to integrate with smart building management.

The role of safes is being fundamentally reshaped by the merging of hardware and software.

In industries such as banking, retail and healthcare, organisations are demanding more from their physical security infrastructure.

There is a growing expectation for safes that communicate, integrate and adapt in real time.

This shift involves embedding intelligence into the physical world, so even the most established components of a security infrastructure can evolve with changing needs.

From static barriers to dynamic systems

The value of a safe has traditionally been in its physical attributes, including weight, wall thickness, locking mechanisms and resistance grades.

These characteristics are important, particularly where certification and insurance standards are concerned. But, the expectations placed on safe storage have evolved.

Smart safes are equipped with embedded sensors, connectivity modules and software interfaces that allow them to be monitored, managed and maintained remotely at any time.

They can provide instant status updates, issue alerts when anomalies occur and produce detailed access logs that support compliance and auditing requirements.

They have become active security assets with their own role in the data ecosystem of a building. This transformation is part of a trend where hardware and software no longer operate in isolation.

Just as lighting, HVAC and energy systems are managed via intelligent building platforms, physical security components like safes are being integrated into enterprise-wide monitoring and building management frameworks.

Sector-specific demands

Different industries place different demands on safe storage. This is where the evolution of the smart safe becomes valuable.

In banking, the ability to track access to cash drawers/deposit compartments – and correlate that with other operational data – is key for reducing fraud and improving accountability.

Real-time data from connected safes can be used to streamline cash handling, monitor adherence to dual-control protocols and support automated reconciliation processes.

Retail environments face similar pressures, particularly those that operate across multiple sites or countries. Currently operating with shoplifting at its highest levels in two decades, regional security managers need support with practical solutions that help prevent unauthorised access and protect against criminal threats.

Oversight of hundreds of safes, each holding high-value items, sensitive documents or restricted substances includes intelligent safes that allow for centralised visibility, enabling remote diagnostics and the remote opening or lockdown of compartments.

In healthcare, compliance with regulations around controlled substances and patient data introduces a different set of requirements.

Intelligent safes can enforce role-based access, maintain tamper-evident audit trails and ensure that critical materials are only accessible to authorised personnel, all while integrating with building management systems and electronic medical record platforms.

Building resilient, scalable systems

The capability of intelligent safe storage lies in the infrastructure that supports it. Connectivity is only as valuable as the architecture behind it.

Scalability, reliability and security begins with gateway devices that bridge physical safes to the cloud, collect sensor data, manage firmware updates and enforce encryption and authentication protocols.

From there, cloud platforms provide the interface for managing fleets of safes, setting access rules, monitoring status and running diagnostics.

These platforms are engines for analytics and helping organisations detect patterns, predict failures and respond proactively to emerging risks.

One especially valuable feature of this infrastructure is the ability to deliver over-the-air updates.

This ensures safes can be kept current with the latest security patches, compliance requirements or functionality enhancements without the need for on-site interventions.

It also allows for configuration changes to be made at scale, supporting agile responses to changes in threat landscapes or operational policies.

By connecting safes to this kind of robust digital backbone, they become serviceable, upgradable and adaptive components of an interconnected security strategy.

Intelligent buildings still need physical protection

As intelligent buildings increasingly rely on sensors, software and networked systems to automate and enhance operations, some may question the continued relevance of physical infrastructure.

No amount of digital intelligence can replace the foundational requirement for physical protection.

A safe with the right resistance grade, built-in sensors and digital integration offers robust physical defence and smart operational insight.

It meets the high bar set by traditional risk assessments while also fulfilling expectations around usability, remote management and compliance.

The presence of intelligent physical security can be reassuring in environments where trust is critical.

Moreover, the fusion of physical and smart capabilities aligns with broader shifts in how security is viewed.

No longer seen solely as a cost centre or risk function, security is increasingly recognised as an enabler of business continuity, operational efficiency and regulatory confidence.

Intelligent safes support these goals, offering organisations a toolset that is both protective and proactive.

What this means for safe storage

As the boundary between physical and smart infrastructure continues to narrow, the design and function of secure storage must adapt.

For intelligent buildings, connected systems and data-driven operations, safe storage plays a central role in delivering the resilience, compliance and operational continuity that smart environments demand.

For manufacturers, this means developing products with digital integration in mind, incorporating connectivity, data visibility and software compatibility from the outset.

For IT and security professionals, it involves reassessing how physical assets are managed, shifting towards models that prioritise remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and seamless integration with broader enterprise systems.

And for designers, planners and architects, intelligent storage is part of the essential fabric of a building’s security infrastructure.