• Top 25 security service providers grow by 7.5 per cent
• Digital solutions and robotics are increasingly being tested in practice
• New Lünendonk list and study now available

The 25 leading security service providers in Germany achieved revenue growth of 7.5 per cent in the 2024 financial year and increased their workforce by 2.2 per cent. In order to ensure the efficiency, quality and continuity of security services even in a challenging economic environment, service providers are increasingly relying on digital technologies, robotics solutions and on-the-job training for their security personnel.

These are the initial findings of the new Lünendonk study ‘Security Services in Germany’, which is now available for download free of charge at www.luenendonk.de. The Lünendonk list of the leading security service providers in Germany is also available free of charge at www.luenendonk.de.

The ranking in detail

The 25 leading security service providers in Germany generated a combined total of €5,398.6 million in the 2024 financial year, representing around 40 per cent of the market volume. They employ a total of more than 96,500 people, accounting for a good third of the workforce in the German security industry.

As in previous years, Securitas’ German subsidiary tops the Lünendonk list. With a turnover of €1,210.0 million, the company achieved an increase of 4.1 per cent and accounts for 9 per cent of the market volume alone.

In second place is the Kötter Group, which increased its turnover by 18.6 per cent through the acquisition of the Wako Group and at the same time employed 13.6 per cent more staff. In addition to security services, the Essen-based company also provides other building services and achieved a total turnover of €722.0 million in 2024.

The Kiel-based Wach- und Sicherheitsgesellschaft, including Sicherheit Nord, ranks third with an estimated turnover of €519.0 million (+6.1%) and 11,750 employees. In fourth place is Niedersächsische Wach- und Schliessgesellschaft with its associated VSU and a turnover of €400.0 million (+5.3%).

New to the top 5 is Wisag Sicherheit & Service, which increased its turnover by 8.8 per cent to €292.8 million, displacing Pond Security Service. Pond recorded a decline of 7.5 per cent to €288.9 million and fell back to sixth place. Klüh ranks seventh, exceeding the €200 million mark for the first time with a turnover of €207.1 million (+11.2%). Piepenbrock is now also above this threshold, increasing its turnover by 12.6 per cent to €200.2 million and reaching eighth place.

W.I.S. from Cologne remains in ninth place with almost stable turnover of €156.4 million (+0.4%). New among the top ten providers is the Stölting Service Group, which increased its turnover to €142.1 million (+15.9%), partly due to a major contract in connection with the European Football Championship.

There were also shifts in the other places: ICTS Germany improved to eleventh place with an increase of 15.7 per cent to £139.1 million. Dussmann from Berlin grew more moderately by 2.4 per cent to £126.0 million and fell back to twelfth place. Apleona achieved €121.0 million (+12.5%) and rose to 13th place, closely followed by Nürnberger Wach- und Schließgesellschaft with €118.4 million, which achieved growth of 16.8% through the acquisition of the Erlanger Sicherheits- und Service-Gruppe.

Siba Security lost two places with a turnover of €115.0 million (+1.8%) and is now in 15th place. The big Group from Karlsruhe rose to 16th place with €88.2 million (+8.1%). ESD Sicherheitsdienst made a significant leap, growing by 16.8 per cent as a result of new public and military contracts and now ranks 17th. The Power Group ranks 18th (€83.0 million, +9.8 per cent), followed by the security company Eufinger with €82.0 million (+19.9 per cent).

Eufinger achieved the largest percentage growth in turnover within the top 25 due to several new contracts. City Schutz follows in 20th place with €78.2 million (+7.9%), while All Service falls back to 21st place with stable turnover of €77.0 million (+1.3%).

Ardor recorded a significant decline of 16.4 per cent to €70.3 million and ranks 22nd. ISS follows with €67.8 million (-10.9 per cent).

The list is rounded off by Secura protect in 24th place with €63.1 million (-4.8%) and newcomer WeWatch from Berlin with an estimated €61.0 million.

Security services are becoming increasingly digital

The private security industry is becoming noticeably more important in Germany. In view of diverse crises and increasing demands, it is making an increasingly important contribution to public and corporate security. At the same time, the image of the industry is changing from that of the classic ‘bouncer’ to that of a professional, technology-supported service provider. A key driver of this development is the ongoing shortage of personnel and skilled workers. Half of the companies in the top 25 already use robotics and modern digital solutions – partly in operational use and partly in pilot projects. There is particularly high interest in the use of drones.

“Innovation and digitalisation are changing the security industry: intelligent access controls, AI-supported video surveillance and the use of robotics and drones are expanding the range of services offered by modern security service providers and setting new standards for efficiency and quality. Whether these technologies become an integral part of the security architecture depends largely on how convincingly their benefits are communicated and how trust is built among clients,‘ explains Stefan Schubert, consultant at Lünendonk & Hossenfelder. ’At the same time, it is important to reconcile regulatory requirements, economic efficiency and acceptance of modern technologies.”

Reference

The Lünendonk 2025 list of ‘Leading Security Service Providers in Germany’ is now available for free download at www.luenendonk.de. The market study is available free of charge at www.luenendonk.de and is based on an analysis of 50 leading security service providers. It contains numerous market structure data, regional evaluations and assessments of current topics and trends. The study is made possible by the study partners Apleona Security Services, ICTS Germany, Kritis & Cyber Beratungsgesellschaft and Wisag Sicherheit & Service.

Voices from the market

“Digitalisation and the use of innovative technologies are not temporary trends, but a fundamental change in the security industry. To meet the challenges of the future, security companies must be prepared to integrate new technologies such as AI and robotics. This will not only lead to increased efficiency and cost reduction, but also raise the quality of security services to a new level.‘

Rainer Ehrhardt, Managing Director of Apleona Security Services GmbH

’The combination of technology and security needs is growing stronger every day. Digitalisation, stricter compliance requirements and increasing threats are fundamentally changing our customers’ expectations. Our task is to establish acceptance as a specialist and strategic partner – not as a pure service provider, but as a competent contact who recognises risks, develops solutions and takes responsibility.‘

Andreas Stauder, Managing Director of ICTS Germany

’What was considered “integrated security” in recent years is becoming the standard – simply “security”. Customers don’t want five service providers for each field, who then also have to coordinate with each other. Attackers don’t distinguish between areas of responsibility. They go for cost and “accessibility”. We are witnessing the realisation of cyberpunk: “High Tech, Low Life”.”

Dr Martin C. Wolff, Managing Director of Kritis & Cyber Beratungsgesellschaft mbH

‘The security market is undergoing change. Digital technologies and automation are transforming tasks, processes and our customers’ expectations. Our response to this is hybrid security concepts. They combine the best of both worlds: technology provides transparency and speed, while people provide experience and responsibility. This combination makes security solutions fit for the future.’

Andreas Burmeister, Managing Director of Wisag Sicherheit & Service Holding GmbH & Co. KG