Insights 2025: Data management and cybersecurity move up the agenda, while mobile performance continues to struggle

A new report from WiredScore – Insights 2025: Building for People – highlights a gap between office buildings’ internet service provision and mobile performance, with landlords facing increasing pressure to improve their full suite of digital connectivity as return to office mandates grow in prevalence.

According to the global technology certification company, while buildings are performing well in the Internet Service Provision category, scoring an average of 90% of possible credits* Mobile Performance remains notably low at just 40%. This discrepancy is especially evident in regions like the UK and North America, which score 42% and 28% respectively for mobile connectivity. In contrast, the APAC region scores an impressive 96%, setting a high benchmark.

Homes, by comparison, score significantly better for Mobile Performance – 69% – offering a potential roadmap for office landlords seeking to enhance connectivity and create more appealing, hybrid work environments. As businesses continue to adapt to new working patterns, ensuring reliable mobile connectivity in office spaces could be a key factor in enticing employees back to in-person work.

William Newton, CEO, WiredScore, said: “We have increasingly high expectations of buildings to provide ubiquitous connectivity, especially when it comes to compatibility with return-to-office mandates. While we are seeing fantastic adoption when it comes to internet service provision, mobile connectivity is falling short and is something landlords must look to remedy if offices are to win over home working.”

The report also revealed significant improvements in the data management capabilities of buildings on a global scale. Over the past three years, the global average score for WiredScore’s Data Management category has increased from 63% in 2021 to 77% in 2024, as landlords look to take increased ownership and introduce a more robust approach to data management. In terms of the size of buildings which excel in this field, it’s mid-size assets of 100,000 – 400,000 sq ft which score favourably when it comes to the correct management of their data. For smaller buildings (400,000 sq ft), it’s more of an issue, with scores averaging 66% and 59% respectively. Larger buildings in particular, which likely have a higher number of occupiers, may be struggling to cope with the fragmentation and ownership issues associated with this level of diversity.

William Newton continued: “Responsibility for the provision and optimization of data is a pivotal issue we face as an industry. While asset appropriate data management systems are clearly a good thing, they are redundant if not a shared venture between landlord and occupier.”

In addition to advancements in data, the study also found a 10% year-on-year increase in how buildings score in the Cybersecurity category. With projected investments in cybersecurity expected to exceed $400 billion over the next five years, WiredScore anticipates that landlords will continue to prioritize cybersecurity, making it an even more significant focus in the coming months.

As the commercial real estate industry adapts to new technological demands, the push for better connectivity, data management, and cybersecurity is expected to drive further innovations, not just in offices, but across the sector as a whole.