5 Best AI Security Systems in the Canary Islands for 2025
The Canary Islands are enjoying a sustained surge in visitors and air traffic, which is great for business but also raises day-to-day security demands for hotels, airports, shopping areas, ports, and short-term rentals. In April 2025 alone, the islands’ airports handled more than 4.58 million passengers, up 9% year over year, according to Aena figures reported locally.
At the same time, Spain’s airport network hit record passenger volumes in 2024, reinforcing how tourism and mobility continue to grow. Public conversations around “overtourism” have intensified in the archipelago too, which adds pressure on public spaces and operations to stay safe, orderly, and respectful of residents.
Against that backdrop, businesses here are asking a practical question: which modern, AI-enabled security platforms are the safest bets for 2025, and which ones fit Canarian needs such as multilingual teams, dispersed sites across islands, strong privacy compliance, and the ability to work with existing cameras?
Below are five strong options. We put Coram first because of its AI-native, camera-agnostic approach and the way it unifies video, access control, and emergency response in one dashboard. We then cover four international platforms that are widely used in hospitality, transport, retail, and logistics, with notes on why they can work well in the Canaries.
1) Coram
Coram is a modern, cloud-based physical security platform that integrates AI video surveillance, access control, and emergency management in a single console. It turns existing IP cameras and sensors into “AI Safety Agents,” so you can modernise without ripping out hardware.
Why it fits the Canaries:
- Works with what you already have. The camera-agnostic design is ideal for hotels, malls, and coworking spaces that have mixed fleets of IP cameras across islands.
- AI that is useful for real-world sites. Automatic alerts for weapon detection, trespassing, and restricted-area intrusion help reduce response times for security teams stretched across large resorts or spread-out logistics yards.
- Operational wins for hospitality and retail. Facial recognition and license plate reading (LPR) support high-risk areas like back-of-house, loading bays, and car parks. Slip-and-fall detection helps duty-of-care reporting, useful in busy beachfront venues.
- Emergency management that coordinates people. From custom lockdown scenarios and panic buttons to real-time team chat, Coram keeps managers and guards on the same page during incidents.
- Natural-language video search. Pull up “last night between 23:00 and 01:00, person with red jacket near pool gate” in seconds.
Who should consider it:
Hotels and aparthotels in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, visitor attractions in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, shopping centres, school campuses, logistics sites near ports and airports, and property managers overseeing multiple holiday rentals.
GDPR and privacy considerations:
Coram’s open design makes it easier to adopt local retention and masking rules, and to keep using existing signage and consent workflows. For Spain, the AEPD maintains clear guidance on video surveillance practices, which any deployment should follow, including signage, purpose limitation, and proportionality.
2) Genetec Security Centre
Genetec Security Centre is a unified platform that brings together video surveillance, access control, ALPR, communications, and incident management under one pane of glass.
Why it fits the Canaries:
- Airports, ports, and large hospitality groups benefit from Genetec’s mature incident workflows and ability to tie ALPR with vehicle access and car-park operations.
- Strong device support helps when sites on different islands have different camera brands after years of incremental upgrades.
Good to know: Genetec ships both on-prem and cloud-managed options, which helps IT teams align storage and retention with local privacy policies.
3) Milestone Systems
Milestone is known for the XProtect VMS, a widely deployed video platform, and Kite, a cloud VSaaS option. Milestone emphasises an open ecosystem with partners for AI analytics like BriefCam and others.
Why it fits the Canaries:
- Hotels and retail parks can standardise on Milestone and then add AI analytics as needed, from people counting to behaviour detection.
- Kite offers a simpler cloud route for multi-site operators that prefer to avoid local servers, and it includes built-in AI/ML analytics so you can apply intelligence across cameras and locations.
- Milestone also highlights integrations with Axis hardware, including Camera-to-Cloud options that reduce on-site complexity.
4) Axis Communications
Axis offers robust cameras and the AXIS Camera Station suite with AXIS Object Analytics and other AI tools that run on the camera, turning video into actionable dashboards and alerts.
Why it fits the Canaries:
- Resorts and retail promenades gain from on-edge analytics for queue monitoring, dwell time, or perimeter detection without needing large servers.
- Axis’s reputation for reliability and weather-resistant models suits coastal placements across the islands.
Note for IT teams: Axis systems integrate with third-party VMS platforms like Milestone if you prefer a mixed stack.
5) Avigilon Alta
Avigilon Alta is a cloud security suite that unifies video and access control, brings AI analytics to existing cameras via Alta Cloud Connector, and links every access event to real-time video context.
Why it fits the Canaries:
- Good match for multisite operators that want cloud management across islands.
- Strong access control capabilities, mobile credentials, and rich integrations can streamline back-of-house and staff areas in hotels, malls, and offices.
How to choose for a Canarian deployment
1) Start with risk and footfall patterns
Use your own data first: peak check-in hours, weekend nightlife near premises, cruise-day spikes, and seasonal festivals. With the islands’ passenger volumes and tourism cycles rising, aligning camera coverage and alert policies to the real peaks is essential.
2) Favour platforms that work with existing cameras
Mixed fleets are normal here. An open, camera-agnostic approach avoids expensive rip-and-replace projects and lets you modernise in phases. Coram is designed around this idea, and Genetec, Milestone, Axis, and Avigilon also support broad compatibility through standards and connectors.
3) Respect GDPR from the start
Spain’s AEPD provides practical guidance on video surveillance, including signage and permissible retention. Many operations in Spain adopt short default retention periods and only extend when necessary for investigations. Work with counsel and your DPO to set retention, masking, and audit trails that match purpose and proportionality.
4) Tie video to access control and incident response
Incidents rarely live in one system. Platforms that unify video + doors + alarms + panic buttons help you act faster and document better. This is especially helpful for seaside properties with open perimeters or for venues near busy transport hubs.
5) Plan for multi-site, multi-island operations
Cloud management reduces travel between islands, makes firmware updates routine, and keeps alerting consistent across Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. Milestone Kite and Avigilon Alta are strong cloud options; Coram’s unified cloud dashboard is built for central oversight.
Local use cases that benefit right now
Hotels and resorts
- Pool and terrace perimeters, late-night access, and car-park entries are common hotspots.
- AI detection for after-hours trespass and tailgating helps night staff.
- Slip-and-fall detection can support claims handling for busy pool decks.
Holiday rentals and property managers
- LPR recognition for shared garages, privacy-safe occupancy insights for common areas, and mobile access for maintenance contractors.
- Make sure any interior devices respect privacy and tenancy rules with clear signage and purpose limits per AEPD guidance.
Airports, ports, and logistics
- The islands’ passenger and cargo flows require tight coordination among multiple agencies and operators. AI-assisted search and unified incident logs help speed investigations across terminals, loading bays, and access doors.
Retail promenades and nightlife zones
- People-counting, occupancy heatmaps, and behaviour analytics help deploy staff where they are most needed during evening peaks.
Municipal spaces and events
- Temporary deployments for festivals or sports can run on cloud VMS with mobile units, then scale down after the event. Ensure camera placement and signage meet municipal privacy standards.
FAQs
Is AI video surveillance legal in Spain and the Canary Islands?
Yes, when implemented in line with GDPR and Spain’s data protection rules. The AEPD sets conditions on purpose, proportionality, signage, and retention. Most businesses set short default retention and extend only for investigations, and cameras cannot capture areas like private homes or staff rest areas. Always consult your DPO or legal counsel.
Do I need to replace all my cameras to get AI features?
Often no. Coram and Avigilon Alta can bring AI analytics to many existing IP cameras, and Milestone and Axis support a wide range of hardware and on-edge analytics. This lowers upfront cost and speeds rollout.
Which system is best for hotels or resorts?
For hotels balancing guest experience with incident response, Coram stands out for its unified dashboard and emergency tools. Genetec is strong for large, complex estates. Axis is a good choice if you want reliable cameras with on-edge analytics. Avigilon Alta and Milestone Kite are compelling if you want cloud management across multiple islands.
Can these systems help with crowd management in busy seasons?
Yes. People counting, occupancy insights, and behaviour analytics can guide staffing and queue control in lobbies, malls, and venues. Platforms from Axis, Milestone, and Coram offer these capabilities either natively or through partners.
What about data hosting in the EU?
Some cloud vendors let you process and store data in EU data centres, which is useful for GDPR alignment. For example, Verkada offers an EU-hosted option. Your integrator can map hosting to your compliance plan.
Conclusion
Security in the Canary Islands is evolving alongside record air traffic and ongoing tourism intensity. Operators are moving from simple camera networks to AI-enabled, unified systems that turn video and access data into fast, useful action.
Whichever direction you choose, anchor your plan in AEPD guidance and local operating patterns, then pilot on one property or site before expanding across islands. That approach keeps guests, staff, and residents safer while respecting privacy and the spirit of the Canaries.
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