International Security Association - ISA, Switzerland

What International Security Association - ISA, Switzerland does

International Security Association (ISA) is a Swiss non-profit scientific association founded in 1972 in Rietheim, Aargau, Switzerland, operating under Swiss regulatory oversight. Its stated mission is to upgrade private security, homeland security, national security, and law enforcement worldwide through research, development, education, and assistance. ISA delivers value primarily through a tiered individual membership program (basic annual fees starting at approximately 30 EUR, with higher rates for senior ranks such as Generals of Police or Army), vetted via application, document verification, and police background checks. Members gain access to multi-level seminars and conferences, research programs, and discounted further-education courses delivered through the ISO-SEC platform under an official partnership.

Beyond membership, ISA runs a portfolio of programmes including the 2ND CHANCE INSTITUTE (a 2020-launched rehabilitation initiative for ex-convicts, in collaboration with ISO-SEC and university partners), the CCVU international movement against cybercrime, the ISA Researcher volunteer research programme, and a Hope Ambassador recognition effort. Operations are run on a lean base of approximately 5 paid personnel, with the substantive workforce composed of unpaid volunteers and interns (predominantly from Chinese universities). Income is generated almost entirely from membership fees and any surplus is, by policy, reinvested into free seminars and member activities rather than distributed.

Name

International Security Association - ISA, Switzerland

Legal name

International Security Association - ISA

Website

https://isa.us.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Swiss non-profit scientific association founded in 1972 that researches, develops, educates, and assists to upgrade private security, law enforcement, and national security professionals worldwide through tiered membership, seminars, and research programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Security Research & Professional Development

NAICS

Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services (56161), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Identity & Access Security Services (IAM, PAM, Zero Trust) (BPAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Security research association
• Security professional membership
• Law enforcement training
• Private security development
• Crime prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rietheim

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ISA generates income through tiered membership fees. The basic amount is 30 EUR, with additional differences based on member status (e.g., basic member vs. General of Police or Army). Every possible profit is reinvested into free of charge seminars and other activities.
2. Member Contributions: Active members contribute by communicating problems faced in their countries and providing suggestions, which helps support the association's research mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISA is a Swiss non-profit scientific association that conducts global security and safety research and development aimed at upgrading the private security industry, homeland security, national security, and law enforcement. It sells tiered membership starting at 30 EUR per year, granting access to more than five levels of knowledge on each security topic through seminars, conferences, and partner-delivered courses, including discounted ISO-SEC courses. It also runs social impact programs such as the 2ND CHANCE INSTITUTE (ex-convict rehabilitation) and the CCVU movement against cybercrime.

Product overview

International Security Association - ISA is a Swiss non-profit scientific association founded in 1972, focused on global security research and development. It is not an education provider or SaaS platform — its offering is a portfolio of membership, research, and social programs. The core activity is R&D to upgrade the private security industry, supported by ISA Membership (tiered access to seminars and resources), and delivered through partner platforms including ISO-SEC (ISO KLG) for courses. Key programs include the 2ND CHANCE INSTITUTE (rehabilitation of ex-convicts, launched 2020), the CCVU cybercrime movement, the ISA Researcher Program (volunteer research contributions), and multilingual seminars/conferences. Income is reinvested into member services, with Swiss authority oversight.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 2ND CHANCE INSTITUTE: A programme initiated in 2020 in collaboration with ISO-SEC, with mission to reduce crime by rehabilitating ex convicts, reduce homelessness and joblessness.
• CCVU

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides more than 5 levels of knowledge on each topic covered

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISO-SEC (International Security Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ISA has an official agreement with ISO-SEC for low-cost seminars in specific countries (Portugal, Greece, Switzerland). ISO-SEC is ISA's official education platform where courses with ISA logo are delivered. Together they initiated the '2ND CHANCE INSTITUTE' program for crime reduction through ex-convict rehabilitation.
• GCA (Partner Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCA works indirectly with ISA in the '2ND CHANCE INSTITUTE' program, which aims to reduce crime by rehabilitating ex-convicts, reducing homelessness and joblessness. This is a self-efficient governmental program applicable in every country.
• WBA (World Bodyguard Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWBA is one of ISA's wings. ISA members can access seminars from WBA at discounted prices as part of the membership benefits.
• CCVU (Cyber Crime Victims United)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCVU is an international movement against cybercrime that ISA supports and promotes. It is 100% free and forever. Peter Maguwu serves as National Manager for both ISA and CCVU in Zimbabwe.
• Various UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISA collaborates with multiple universities for its internship program, primarily working with interns from China in a Swiss-Chinese collaboration for the 2ND CHANCE INSTITUTE program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS): IAHSS is a North American-focused membership association offering certification and training specifically for healthcare security and safety officers. Comparable to ISA in mission structure (specialty membership body with certification and training) though narrower in vertical and geography.

Direct peers

• International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO): IFPO provides training, certification, and educational materials specifically for protection officers and the private security industry — directly overlapping ISA's primary member segment and focus on upgrading frontline security officer capabilities.
• International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC): IAPSC is an international association for independent security consultants, with vetted membership and educational programming. Comparable to ISA in its selective membership model, security-research focus, and aim to professionalize the security industry globally.
• World Association of Detectives (WAD): WAD is a global association of investigative and security professionals with vetted membership and code of ethics — closely mirroring ISA's membership-vetting approach (resume, background checks) and its goal of connecting private security across borders.
• The Security Institute (SyI): SyI is a UK-based professional membership body for security practitioners offering chartered status, continuing education, and events. Comparable to ISA in mission (professionalizing the security industry through education and classification) though operating in a different geography.
• International Security Management Association (ISMA): ISMA is an international forum for senior security executives from major corporations, focused on benchmarking and best-practice sharing. Comparable to ISA's research-driven, membership-gated knowledge exchange model for security professionals.

Broad incumbents

• ISACA: ISACA is a global professional association for IT governance, cybersecurity, and risk professionals with certifications (CISM, CISA). Comparable to ISA in offering tiered membership, certifications, and global knowledge dissemination, though focused on digital/information security rather than physical security.
• ASIS International: ASIS International is the largest global membership association for security management professionals, offering certifications (CPP, PSP), standards, and educational resources. It is the dominant incumbent against which ISA's much smaller, volunteer-driven model competes for the same private-security audience.
• (ISC)²: (ISC)² is a major international non-profit cybersecurity professional body offering CISSP and other certifications. Comparable as a non-profit membership association distributing security knowledge globally, relevant to ISA's CCVU cybercrime wing.

Emerging players

• OSPA (Outstanding Security Performance Awards): OSPA organizes globally recognized awards and educational events for the security profession, with national chapters. Comparable to ISA in promoting recognition, education, and standards across the global security industry, though not a membership body itself.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF_THcxhm_gpd7UoeZ5M0aA/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/isa.us.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internationalsecurityassociation-isa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Security Association - ISA, Switzerland