A permit pursuant to Section 34a of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act entitles the holder to operate a security guarding business.

Who wants to guard commercially life or property of strangers (guarding trade), is obligated in accordance with § 34a exp. 1 p. 1 of the trade regulation to catch up a permission of the responsible authority.

The term "guarding" as defined in Section 34a of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act refers to activities aimed at protecting the life or property of third parties from interference by third parties. Guarding requires the active attention of a person (guard), e.g. through supervision or checks.

The guarding trade has a broad spectrum of fields of activity. It ranges from conventional building surveillance to event services, the execution of money and value transports, personal protection and the guarding of industrial plants.

The mere surveillance (e.g. by means of security equipment of a technical nature), an observation or investigation activity (e.g. detective agencies) or a mere provision of space (e.g. a safe deposit box) do not constitute guarding requiring a permit.