What happened?
At the opening of Security Essen, the VDMA Security Systems Association, VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH, and Messe Essen presented the new Security Monitor (SiMon) 2026. The representative study examines how safe people in Germany feel, which risks concern businesses, and how they are responding. A total of 4,000 citizens and 1,000 business owners, managing directors, and senior executives were surveyed. The central finding: the need for security in Germany has reached a record level, while physical break-ins are simultaneously becoming a real and growing threat to businesses.
The Details
According to the Security Monitor, 78 percent of Germans report having a strong need for security – up from 73 percent in 2024 and 77 percent in 2025. Security has thus established itself as a persistently high societal need.
The trend is particularly evident when it comes to break-ins: 13 percent of the private individuals surveyed report having experienced at least one break-in in the past two years. Among businesses, the results are even more severe – 45 percent were affected by at least one physical break-in during the same period, an increase of four percentage points compared to the previous year. 42 percent of businesses rate the risk of a physical break-in as high.
Prof. Dr. Frank Janser, Chairman of the Board of the VDMA Security Systems Association, emphasizes: "The results make it clear that when it comes to corporate security, we cannot talk exclusively about cyber risks. Physical break-ins and theft remain a significant threat. Businesses therefore need security concepts that equally address both physical and digital risks."
Another key finding concerns trust in critical infrastructure: 60 percent of private individuals rate its protection against extraordinary crises such as sabotage, war, or widespread outages as rather poor or very poor. About half of the surveyed business representatives also see room for improvement. 30 percent of businesses expect that improved state protection of critical infrastructure – for example in energy and water supply, transportation routes, or communications – would also lead to better protection for their own company.
Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Messe Essen, puts this into perspective: "The Security Monitor reveals a dangerous discrepancy: businesses are being affected by break-ins to a high degree, while at the same time there are significant doubts as to whether our critical infrastructure is adequately protected."
Context
Notably, the importance of certification in purchasing decisions is growing. For the first time, independent product certification is the most frequently cited purchase criterion among private individuals, at 38 percent – ranking ahead of recommendations and smart home features. Businesses also prioritize certification as the top factor in investment decisions: 29 percent cite it as an important criterion, followed by data protection, maintenance, and ease of integration.
Peter Schramm, Managing Director of VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH, comments: "Anyone purchasing security technology needs to be able to trust that it will function reliably in an emergency. The fact that, according to the Security Monitor, independent certification has become the most important anchor of trust across all target groups is therefore a clear signal." For the industry, this means that verified quality is increasingly becoming the decisive differentiating factor in the market.
Practical Tips
- When selecting security technology – whether security cameras, intrusion detection systems, locking systems, or additional door security devices – pay attention to independent certifications, as these represent the most important trust criterion according to the study.
- Businesses should give equal consideration to physical and digital security concepts rather than focusing exclusively on cyber risks.
- According to the survey, good lighting (57 percent), visible police presence (45 percent), video surveillance (39 percent), and security personnel or public order services (38 percent) are particularly effective for public safety perception – a combination of design, personnel presence, and technology.
- In the private sector as well, it is worthwhile to combine mechanical and electronic security solutions with motion detectors, which, according to the study, are already particularly widespread.
Outlook
The results of the Security Monitor 2026 show that both businesses and private individuals are responding to the heightened threat situation with concrete investments. Over the next twelve months, businesses plan to invest in, among other things, security cameras (29 percent), intrusion detection systems (16.3 percent), locking systems (15.5 percent), and additional door security devices (15.5 percent). In private households, almost nine out of ten respondents have already implemented at least one burglary protection measure.
At Security Essen, around 500 exhibitors are presenting solutions ranging from video surveillance and burglary protection to access control and networked, AI-powered security systems. In addition, the event's "KRITIS Spotlight" focuses specifically on how critical infrastructure can be better secured – a topic that is gaining urgency in light of the trust deficits revealed in the Security Monitor.
