So far this year, ransomware attacks have increased by 73% in Spain, with an average cost per incident of €1.8 million, mainly affecting medium-sized companies that lack robust security protocols. Furthermore, only 2% of Spanish companies are prepared to face cybersecurity threats in the age of artificial intelligence, which is currently exacerbating the situation.

These alarming figures clearly show that traditional physical security is no longer sufficient to combat today's threats. Despite this, many companies continue to rely on security guards and alarms as their only barrier, while neglecting their digital systems. When, in fact, a failure in access control software, for example, can undo months of physical security work.

Many other companies, for their part, continue to view security as a minor expense: for example, they buy obsolete cameras and locks, but do not invest in integration, audits, or digital training, and continue to consider hiring private security optional because “the police will come if something happens.”

I pay particular attention to reactions on forums and social media because they reflect public perception: constant complaints that crime is on the rise, that there wasn't so much insecurity before, that the police can't do everything. But as Head of Security/Director of Private Security, I can't just stick to my opinion; I have to look at the data. Every quarter, the Ministry of the Interior publishes the Crime Report, which shows with real figures which crimes are on the rise, which are declining, and in which areas. And the conclusion is clear: while society debates and complains on social media, many companies still fail to take preventive private security measures, limiting themselves to reacting once they have already been victims.

And what is clear is that prevention is more effective than reaction. Private security allows for the implementation of access controls, continuous surveillance, and contingency plans, which the state cannot guarantee for each individual company. Private security does not replace the police; it complements it, creating a safer ecosystem where prevention and reaction are coordinated.

In short, believing that security boils down to calling the police when a robbery occurs is like waiting for a fire to destroy your building before installing alarms and fire extinguishers. Private security is not an expense: it is an investment in continuity and asset protection. Too many companies rely solely on the State Security Forces and Corps.