Close protection
Risk analysis, a protection plan and a discreet escort for business owners, families and public figures, in everyday life and when travelling.
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Close protection
in Cologne
We protect executives, families, artists and international guests. Discreet, personally planned and at your side, from pick-up to departure.
- Owner-led, based in Frechen
- Cologne and NRW
- Across Germany and abroad
What we cover
What do you need protection for?
A business meeting, a performance, a trip: every situation calls for a different kind of protection. Choose what suits you.
- Discreet
- Reachable
24/7 - Internationally
experienced
Private & business
close protectionDiscreet protection for business owners, executives and private individuals, at appointments and on business trips.
Artists
& VIPsDiscreet protection for performances, appointments and travel.
Family
Protection for parents and children in everyday life, at home and when travelling. Calmly planned, discreetly carried out.
Abroad
Protection while travelling and on international assignments.
Events
& trade fairsClose protection for artists and guests of honour, plus security staff and security concepts for events, trade fairs and carnival.
Security staff & close protection
Security staff
secure the premises.
We secure the person.
Security staff look after buildings, entrances and grounds. Close protection is built around one person: their routes, their appointments and the moments when they are vulnerable. The two complement each other, but they are not the same.
More about our servicesSecurity staff
- Entrances
- Buildings
- Grounds
Close protection
- Routes
- Appointments
- Vehicle
- Travel
Where both are needed, at events for example, DERLO coordinates both as a single provider or works alongside your existing security service.
How an assignment worksOur process
From pick-up
to departure.
From your first enquiry to the final debrief: Marc Derlich plans every assignment himself and tailors the preparation to its specific requirements.
Request protection
Enquire
Discuss the occasion, location and protection needs.
Coordinate
Clarify routes, timings and responsibilities.
Pick up
Pick-up and transfer with a security driver, if booked.
Arrive
Coordinated arrival at the destination.
Accompany
Discreet presence throughout the assignment.
Debrief
Wrap-up, feedback and any further coordination.
Owner-led
Marc Derlich, Frechen near Cologne
Security driver
Close protection and security driver from a single provider
In-house training
Close protection, close combat, de-escalation
Germany and abroad
Protection on trips and for delegations
Driver & vehicle
Close protection does not end at the car door.
DERLO combines security drivers, chauffeur service and escort protection into one coordinated process, from pick-up to arrival.
- 01Route
- 02Pick-up
- 03Transfer
- 04Arrival
Services from a single provider
What we take care of, individually or as a package.
Escort protection
Targeted protection for individual appointments, journeys and occasions, with a security driver on request.
Learn moreInternational travel protection
Protection on business trips and for delegations, with a security driver on request.
Learn moreSecurity consulting
Risk analysis and route planning before anything happens. In person and confidential.
Learn moreEvent security
Close protection for artists and guests of honour, plus security staff and security concepts for events, trade fairs and carnival.
Learn more
VIP chauffeur service
Security drivers for pick-up, appointments and departure. Defensive driving, routes checked in advance.
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Profile
Owner-led. A name and a face.
Security is a matter of trust. At DERLO, it has a name and a face.
DERLO Consulting & Protection is run personally by Marc Derlich. He is a certified security and protection specialist (Fachkraft für Schutz und Sicherheit, trained 2017 to 2020). In the same period he completed many of his close protection courses in Germany and abroad, and he has been working in close protection since 2020. He plans every assignment himself and is personally present on most of them. When needed, he works with experienced colleagues from his network, including former members of police and military special units. DERLO holds a licence for security services under section 34a of the German Trade Regulation Act (§ 34a GewO).
- Owner
- Marc Derlich
- Based in
- Frechen near Cologne
- Qualification
- Certified security and protection specialist
- Experience
- Close protection since 2020, in Germany and abroad
Training & courses
We teach what we do in the field.
Practical close protection training, self-defence and operational training, drawn from real-world experience.
- Close protection training
- Close combat & operational techniques
- Self-defence
- De-escalation & security training
Area of operation
Active internationally. At home in the Rhineland.
We are based in Frechen near Cologne. From here we plan close protection in the Rhineland, across Germany and on trips abroad.
Cologne and the Rhein-Erft district
Our base in Frechen lies just west of Cologne. The city centre, the trade fair grounds and Cologne Bonn Airport are within easy reach.
Close protection in CologneDüsseldorf and Bonn
Trade-fair days, delegations and appointments, a short drive from Frechen.
Executive protection in DüsseldorfInternational
Protection on business and private trips abroad, and for international guests in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
How much does close protection cost?
Close protection is billed at a day rate. If it is only needed for a few hours, we charge a minimum of six hours. The cost depends on the duration, the number of close protection officers, the vehicle and the situation on the ground. After a short conversation, you receive a fixed quote. More on close protection in Cologne.
Close protection or escort protection: which do I need?
Close protection is comprehensive protection over a longer period, with a risk analysis and a protection plan. Escort protection accompanies you to specific appointments, journeys or occasions, often with a security driver. Close protection is billed at a day rate; escort protection is booked for at least four hours. In the initial consultation, we work out which option suits you. More on escort protection in Cologne.
Can you help at short notice?
Call us. We are reachable around the clock and will tell you on the phone whether a short-notice assignment is possible. If it is not urgent, please use the enquiry form.
Do you also provide protection abroad?
Yes. We accompany you on business and private trips and protect international guests in Germany. We plan arrival, accommodation, routes and points of contact before departure. More on international travel protection.
How discreet is an assignment?
We keep a low profile, post nothing and share no names. On request, we sign a non-disclosure agreement. More on artist and VIP protection.
How does DERLO organise larger assignments?
Marc Derlich runs DERLO, plans every assignment himself and is personally present on most of them. When an assignment needs additional staff, he draws on an extensive network of close protection officers and matches the team to the level of protection required. More about Marc Derlich.
Do you offer a VIP chauffeur service?
Yes. The VIP chauffeur service combines a security driver with a protective escort: pick-up, transfer and arrival from a single provider, with close protection added on request. More on the VIP chauffeur service.
Do you also cover events?
Yes. For events, trade fairs and the carnival season, we provide close protection for artists and guests of honour, security staff and, on request, a security concept. Find out more about event security.
Request protection
Four short steps. Or simply call us.