Managing director Andreas Ciborius
An interview with Andreas Ciborius and Thilo Leuthner, managing directors of CIBORIUS Security & Service Solutions GmbH
The world is changing, and with it the challenges. That applies to the security industry too. Robots used for site surveillance have long been standard – at least at CIBORIUS Security & Service Solutions GmbH in Berlin. AI also plays a major part for this forward-looking company.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr Ciborius, you founded the company that bears your name, and it has built a reputation for quality and innovation with demanding services across the German security industry. How did that come about?
Andreas Ciborius: I founded the company in 2006, and it has developed steadily ever since. Over time we set up new companies that work not only in manned security but also on the technical side and in training and further education. We have our own academy, and therefore staff we trained ourselves, and we have developed our own solutions, fitted them and installed and configured them in full. That lets us offer clients maintenance, support and solutions from a single source, as a complete provider.
Managing director Thilo Leuthner
Thilo Leuthner: The refugee crisis of 2015 brought a particular dynamic into the company. Demand for security staff at a range of facilities rose enormously at that time. The enquiries came from individual regional administrative authorities in Hesse, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and they were not only about guarding refugee accommodation but also about integrating everyday programmes. Language courses or childcare, for instance, needed teaching staff. We built on that and looked left and right to find companies in the open market we could work with.
Andreas Ciborius: Before 2015 we had contracts on a smaller scale: property protection, banks, trade fairs. After 2015 we invested, built up staff and grew steadily – always with the aim of offering clients high-quality, modern solutions and of using forward-looking products and processes.
Mobile patrol duty at CIBORIUS together with the Go1 robot model – this is what patrol duty looks like today.
Wirtschaftsforum: Today, embassies, government ministries and global players in the automotive industry also call on these demanding services. Is there something CIBORIUS does differently from others?
Andreas Ciborius: It matters to us to be there for the client at all times. At management level we are always available for questions and problems, and that sets us apart in this market. Through the application we developed ourselves, with a great many different functions – real-time recording, a digital duty log, staff training and briefing, complaints and so on – we cover many important processes. That means we can respond to problems or disruptions immediately, with software support.
Wirtschaftsforum: What exactly does the portfolio look like?
Thilo Leuthner: The aim was always to deliver quality, but also to support clients with a broad range of services. Today we do everything from security services through events, plant security, close protection, consultancy and training – everything except armed cash transport. Services at airports are also planned.
Wirtschaftsforum: One issue that concerns most companies is the shortage of skilled staff. How does CIBORIUS deal with that?
Andreas Ciborius: In Germany there are 12,000 unfilled positions in our industry. We know from experience how difficult it is to find people who meet our quality standards, who identify with the company and feel connected to it. Of 50 trainees, perhaps 15 to 20 remain at the end; the rest drop out. That is why we set up our own academy and developed internal processes to pre-select candidates. We also work continuously on the staff retention process we already have in place.
Trainee day at CIBORIUS – the company places great value on thorough training that goes beyond the usual standards.
GT.AI – the subsidiary for security technology, with its own WatchDOME® video surveillance tower.
First aid and fire safety, part of the portfolio of the company’s own DASM training academy.
Wirtschaftsforum: Against that background, is digitalisation becoming more important?
Andreas Ciborius: Yes. We work with our own app, in which everything is connected, and with surveillance robots. With them you can secure a great deal more than a single site. A robot never falls ill and never takes holiday. We were already working on this in 2018, with our own research and development department and IT specialists, because we see the future here. A robot can be kicked over, but it is being filmed in real time and a central point contacts the police directly. With a thermal imaging camera, a robot can find hidden people sooner than a person can. Overall, the interplay of people and technology will keep growing in importance. We already offer digital solutions that save time and allow a fast response. No other competitor does it in this form. In 2021, Security Robotics was spun off as an independent company and continues to accompany us as a partner on this path. Robotics and AI are an enormous market.
Wirtschaftsforum: Where should CIBORIUS go from here?
Andreas Ciborius: We want to develop our divisions further, consolidate our presence in Germany and take the step into other European countries.