Overview

Growing awareness of safety and security solutions, increased outsourcing of public security functions, and technology convergence and integration represent some of the biggest current changes in the safety and security industry. Security systems, products, and services are increasingly becoming an integral part of day-to-day life, and the importance of industry is growing. Today’s safety and security industry is rapidly expanding beyond its traditional boundaries. Despite Finland’s low overall crime rate, its safety and security market has grown continuously for the last 10 to 15 years and is expected to continue doing so. Crime involving the use of drones has emerged as a new phenomenon. The incidence of cybercrime has increased. In particular, the number of cases of online fraud, identity theft, and sexual abuse of children continues to grow. Traffic safety, safety endangerment, petty theft, and theft are the most common crimes committed in Finland. Police are constantly developing capabilities to investigate cybercrime. Finland’s April 2023 accession to NATO has also increased the demand for new security solutions linked to Finnish-Russian border controls.  

General interest in private security products and services, public funding cutbacks in law enforcement resources, and outsourcing of safety and security-related services by private and public entities have increased market demand. A license is required for many private security sector activities. The National Police Board grants trade permits for dealing in firearms as well as permits for commercial export, import, transfer, and transit. The safety and security sector is very scattered with more than 400 companies in the market, mostly small to medium-sized companies. The largest security companies, which represent a minority in the market, nevertheless employ close to 80 percent of the industry’s personnel and generate most of the sector’s turnover. There have also been mergers among some of the largest corporate actors in the safety and security sector.

Information security products and services, guard services, and structural security products are the largest sub-sectors, but new emerging business areas include security of logistics, home security, environmental and infrastructural security solutions, and drones used in guard services and fire detection/prevention. The largest industries contracting security services are the manufacturing industry, real estate and construction, and trade. U.S.-made safety and security products have a good reputation and are considered to be of high quality. On the downside, some products, especially In the fire safety sector, are also seen as expensive and not compatible with EU standards.

Leading Sub-Sectors

• Information security products and services

• Cloud-based access management

• Integrated security technologies

• Biometric/3D identifiers

• Home/office security

• Wireless smart locks

• Drones

Opportunities

There are no trade barriers for safety and security equipment. Customs duties vary between 2-5 percent. Products that are imported or exported within the EU must have CE marking and, in some cases, must meet EU product standards. CE means a certification that indicates a product meets European Union (EU) health, safety, and environmental protection requirements. Customers are expecting more comprehensive security solutions from security guard services. There are a few safety and security-related shows in Finland. The biggest, FinnSec Expo, is organized bi-annually, with the next scheduled for October 8-9, 2025. The Euro-Safety Expo, which occurs biannually, will take place in Tampere, September 2025.

Resources

The National Police Board
The Ministry of the Interior
Finnsecurity

Information
Interested parties may contact Commercial Specialist Tiina Ketelä-Juvonen, tiina.ketela@trade.gov.