Situational awareness is one of the most effective – and often underestimated – protective measures in everyday life and at work. Those who remain attentive will recognize unusual situations early on: an open side door, a "passing visitor" at the turnstile or an unknown device in the meeting room. It is precisely these small moments that often determine whether suspicious activity is detected early - or a security incident occurs.

Learn more about what situational awareness really means, typical patterns that occur in cases of unauthorized access, and which clear rules and routines companies can establish to strengthen physical security reliably - without unnecessarily disrupting day-to-day work

Situational awareness describes the ability to consciously perceive one’s own environment, to recognize dangers and to react appropriately to them. This is a crucial factor for physical safety in both the private and professional environment.

Examples include:

• When crossing a road, we automatically check the traffic conditions.
• When traveling, we often research potential risks in advance.

This early warning system helps to prevent potential dangers in everyday life as well as in the working environment.

1. Perception: observe your surroundings carefully (people, doors, ID cards, unusual situations).
2. Understand: interpret the signals correctly and recognise warning signs (e.g. “Does this belong here?”).
3. Predict: assess how the situation could develop (“What happens if I do nothing?”).
4. Decide: choose an appropriate action strategy (intercept, keep your distance, inform security).
5. Action: implement your decision consistently (notification, monitoring, documentation).

If a situation doesn’t feel "right," take that gut feeling seriously – it’s better to create distance and stay alert early than to react too late. A few simple habits can help turn intuition into concrete action, for example:

• On the move in the city: find out about risky events and avoid unsafe places. Don't let your smartphone distract you.
• On public transport: stay alert, leave no bags open, keep an eye on your luggage and change position if necessary (e.g. closer to other people or in the field of vision of staff).
• In the evening / at events: set meeting points beforehand, plan your way home, consume alcohol responsibly, don’t let yourself become distracted (e.g. when typing/making a telephone call).
• At work: pay attention to your workplace surroundings. Don’t leave unknown people unattended in sensitive areas, question unusual behaviour, and protect confidential information from unauthorised access.
• In potentially risky situations: distance yourself early, do not discuss or provoke, opt to avoid and seek help (e.g. passers-by, personnel, emergency services in the case of acute danger).

Unauthorised access to company premises is more than just a security risk: it can enable theft, espionage, sabotage, or the targeted preparation of cyberattacks (e.g. by gaining access to workstations, printers, or server rooms). As criminals use increasingly creative methods, technical controls (such as turnstiles or visitor badges) and strong situational awareness are essential. Every employee can help reduce risk in day-to-day work: stay alert, ask politely when something seems off, and report suspicious observations consistently.

With clear rules, effective access control, a vigilant environment, and consistent behaviour, you create the foundation for reliable building security:

• Consistent access control: do not allow access to strangers without ID or authorization.
• Challenge suspicious persons: stay aware of who is moving around the building and politely ask for their name and the purpose of visit (e.g. “Can I help you?”).
• Escort visitors: ensure external visitors are not left unattended in sensitive areas.
• Stay alert: report suspicious observations to appropriate authorities immediately. As a rule of thumb it’s better to ask one time too many than one time too few.

Situational awareness is an essential part of your personal and professional safety. If you spot potential risks early, you can act in time and prevent incidents before they happen.

In the workplace, this is especially important for protecting against unauthorised access. Technology and access controls help, but what really matters is consistent employee behaviour in everyday situations: checking badges, not permitting tailgating, escorting visitors, and reporting anything unusual. This way, you protect not only yourself, but also your colleagues, information, and the organisation as a whole.