Verband Schweizerischer Sicherheitsdienstleistungs-Unternehmen

What Verband Schweizerischer Sicherheitsdienstleistungs-Unternehmen does

VSSU (Verband Schweizerischer Sicherheitsdienstleistungs-Unternehmen) is the national umbrella association and network organization for private security service companies in Switzerland, founded in 1996 by Certas AG, Mat Securitas Express AG, Protectas AG, Securitas AG, and Wache AG. Headquartered at Freiburgstrasse 251 in Bern, the association represents nearly 100 member companies covering over 80% of employees in the Swiss private security services industry, and serves as the authoritative national voice in dealings with federal authorities, cantonal police, trade unions, and the public. Its core "products" are five streams of statutorily delegated examinations: four eidgenössische Berufsprüfungen (Berufsprüfung Bewachung/Objektschutz, Personenschutz, Zentralendienste, and Anlässe) leading to the eidgenössischer Fachausweis, and the theoretical and practical Waffentragbewilligungsprüfung conducted on behalf of 18 cantonal police corps since 1999.

The association operates no proprietary software product or SaaS platform. Supporting infrastructure consists of an online webshop for Lehrmittel and Fachpublikationen, the VSSU Campus e-learning/e-tutor platform, and a closed member portal (Closed User Group). Adjacent to its examination business, VSSU jointly develops and maintains the Gesamtarbeitsvertrag (GAV) — the collective labor agreement for the private security sector — with the Unia and Syna trade unions, with the Federal Council periodically issuing decrees extending the agreement to be generally binding across the sector.

VSSU's revenue is not publicly disclosed; it is generated through membership fees, examination fees (Tariffario published as downloadable documents), webshop sales, and event-related income. The organization runs with a lean staff led by Director Pascal Cattilaz, with Fabio Kurth as head of exam organization (since 1 January 2025) and Käthi Binggeli managing the Prüfungsbüro. It maintains strategic partnerships with the International Security Ligue, CoESS (Confederation of European Security Services), SES (security technology association), SNV (Swiss standardization), and Swiss trade unions Unia and Syna, and participates in industry events co-organized with Forum Sicherheit Schweiz (FSS) and SAVE AG.

Name

Verband Schweizerischer Sicherheitsdienstleistungs-Unternehmen

Legal name

Verband Schweizerischer Sicherheitsdienstleistungs-Unternehmen

Website

https://vssu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VSSU is the Bern-based national trade association for Swiss private security service companies, representing nearly 100 members covering over 80% of industry employees. It administers four federal professional examinations and weapon-carry permit exams, and jointly manages the sector-wide collective labor agreement with Swiss trade unions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

Investigation and Security Services (5616), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Protection (Close Protection) Training & Certification (BPAKAOAC)

Keywords

• Security industry association
• Professional certification exams
• Collective labor agreement
• Federal security diploma
• Private security services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VSSU is a national industry association that administers four federally recognized professional examinations (Berufsprufungen) leading to the Swiss Federal Diploma (eidgenossischer Fachausweis) for security specialists in surveillance, close protection, central monitoring, and event security. It also organizes theoretical and practical weapon-carrying permit examinations on behalf of 18 cantonal police corps, manages the collective labor agreement for the private security sector, and provides member services including training resources and industry advocacy.

Product overview

VSSU (Verband Schweizerischer Sicherheitsdienstleistungs-Unternehmen) is a national industry association and network organization for Swiss private security service companies, not a traditional product company. Its core offering is the administration and delivery of four federally recognized professional examinations (Berufsprüfungen) leading to the Swiss Federal Diploma (eidgenössischer Fachausweis): Bewachung (surveillance/building security), Personenschutz (close protection), Zentralendienste (central monitoring station operations), and Anlässe (event security). In addition, it organizes the theoretical and practical weapon-carrying permit examination (Waffentragbewilligungsprüfung) on behalf of 18 cantonal police corps. VSSU operates a web shop for educational materials, an e-learning platform (VSSU Campus), a closed member portal, and manages a collective labor agreement (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag). The association does not offer a software product or SaaS platform. Its services are primarily examination administration, advocacy, training resources, and industry coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eidgenossische Berufsprufung Bewachung (Objektschutz) Federal professional examination (Berufsprufung) for security specialists in surveillance and building security, leading to the federally recognized expert diploma (eidgenossischer Fachausweis). Conducted by VSSU as the national examining body for security professionals.
• Eidgenossische Berufsprufung Personenschutz Federal professional examination for close-protection specialists (Personenschutz) who protect individuals working alone or in small teams, leading to the federal diploma.
• Eidgenossische Berufsprufung Zentralendienste Federal professional examination for central monitoring station operators (Zentralendienste), covering alarm and transmission system operation and coordination of security measures.
• Eidgenossische Berufsprufung Anlasse Federal professional examination for event security specialists (Anlasse), covering crowd management and safety at concerts, open-air events, and sports gatherings.
• Waffentragbewilligungspfufung (theoretisch und praktisch) Theoretical and practical weapon-carrying permit examination (Waffentragbewilligungspfufung) organized by VSSU on behalf of 18 cantonal police corps since 1999, covering firearm handling and legal requirements.
• VSSU Webshop - Lehrmittel und Fachpublikationen Online store offering educational materials and textbooks for the professional examinations, covering legal subjects and social competencies (Fachrichtung Recht und Sozialkompetenzen).
• VSSU Campus - E-Learning Platform Online learning and e-tutor platform for VSSU members to access training resources and examination preparation materials.
• Gesamtarbeitsvertrag (GAV) - Collective Labor Agreement Collective labor agreement (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag) developed and maintained by VSSU in collaboration with Unia and Syna trade unions, setting employment standards for the private security sector in Switzerland.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• International Security LiguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation of security associations that VSSU participates in for international benchmarking, standards development, and global security industry coordination. VSSU supports and distributes International Security Ligue reports such as the Global Security Barometer.
• CoESS (Confederation of European Security Services)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean umbrella organization for private security services. VSSU follows CoESS activities especially in technological innovations and publishes CoESS white papers and AI charter documents.
• SES (Schweizerische Vereinigung der Sicherheitssystem-Anbieteren / Association Suisse des Constructeurs de Systèmes de Sécurité)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss association representing security technology and systems manufacturers. VSSU maintains close contacts with SES to accompany technological progress and ensure industry coordination between service providers and technology suppliers.
• SNV (Schweizerische Normen-Vereinigung / Swiss Association for Standardization)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSwiss standardization body organizing informational events on regulations affecting the security industry, such as the Cyber Resilience Act.
• Forum Sicherheit Schweiz (FSS)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss security forum organizing regular Security Talk events. VSSU serves as event partner for FSS Security Talks covering topics like hybrid warfare, critical infrastructure protection, and security policy.
• SAVE AGsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizer of security industry events including the annual SICHERHEITS-Kongress. VSSU participates and partners on events such as AI in Security conferences.
• Unia and Syna (trade unions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss trade unions with whom VSSU jointly develops and maintains the collective labor agreement (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag) for the private security industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CoESS (Confederation of European Security Services: European umbrella federation of national private security associations, of which VSSU is a member. Directly comparable as a federation of security service employer associations engaged in standards, collective bargaining frameworks, and EU-level lobbying.
• Securitas (Switzerland): Major Swiss private security operator and one of VSSU's five founding members. Comparable as the leading private security employer in Switzerland whose workforce is largely covered by VSSU-administered certifications and the GAV.
• International Security Ligue: Global federation of national private security employer associations. Comparable as a federation of federations producing benchmark reports (Global Security Barometer) and coordinating international security industry positions.
• UNSAPS (Union Nationale des Entreprises de Sécurité et de Services): French national federation of private security and services companies. Comparable as a national employer association running training, certification (CQP, Titre pro), and collective labor agreements for the French private security industry.
• BDSW (Bundesverband der Sicherheitswirtschaft): German private security industry employer association. Highly comparable as a national Verband administering training, certification, and collective labor standards for the German private security sector.
• BSIA (British Security Industry Association): UK trade association for the professional security industry. Comparable as a national membership body setting standards, providing training, certification, and lobbying on behalf of private security service providers.

Broad incumbents

• SUISA / Société Suisse des Entrepreneurs (SSE): Swiss employers' federation for the construction and related services sector. Comparable as a Swiss national employer association operating collective labor agreements and professional training infrastructure for a regulated industry.
• ASIS International: Global membership association for security management professionals. Comparable as a certification and standards body (CPP, PSP, PCI credentials) serving security practitioners and managers worldwide.
• SNV (Schweizerische Normen-Vereinigung): Swiss Association for Standardization. Comparable in its standardization, certification, and regulatory event function within Switzerland; VSSU partners with SNV on regulatory briefings such as the Cyber Resilience Act.

Regional players

• SES (Schweizerische Vereinigung der Sicherheitssystem-Anbieteren): Swiss association for security technology and systems providers. Direct domestic peer with overlapping mission in industry representation; VSSU maintains a documented partnership with SES for technology coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@VSSU_AESS_AISS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vssu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Verband Schweizerischer Sicherheitsdienstleistungs-Unternehmen