Certis Cisco Security Pte Ltd: Singapore Company Overview

Certis evolved from a 1958 police sub-unit into a Temasek-owned regional security giant—yet confusion about its government status, Cisco ties, and leadership persists. This overview separates verified facts from lingering uncertainty using official records and corporate filings.

Headquarters: Singapore ·
Former Name: Certis CISCO Security Pte Ltd ·
Services: Security and integrated services ·
Renamed: Certis in 2018 ·
Oldest Auxiliary Police Force: Yes

The following table summarizes Certis’s core identifying attributes.

Is Certis Cisco a Singapore company?

Certis operates as a Singapore-registered private limited company, confirmed by its “Pte Ltd” designation — the standard suffix for private companies incorporated under Singapore’s Companies Act. The headquarters sit in Singapore, and the company’s roots trace back to the Guard and Escort Unit of the Singapore Police Force, formed in 1958.

Location details

Certis Group’s official website lists its primary operations centered in Singapore, with regional offices in Australia following acquisitions there starting in 2016. The company’s main registration and principal place of business remain in Singapore, where it holds its Auxiliary Police Force designation.

Company registration

The “Pte Ltd” suffix signals Singapore incorporation, not a government entity or statutory board. CISCO originally operated as a statutory board from 1972 until corporatisation on 1 July 2005, when Cisco Security Pte Ltd was formed as a fully owned Temasek Holdings subsidiary. This corporatisation transformed Certis from a government-linked entity into a private company under Singapore law.

Who owns Certis security?

Temasek Holdings owns Certis as a fully owned subsidiary since the 2005 corporatisation. This places Certis within Singapore’s state-owned investment ecosystem, but the company operates as a private commercial entity — not a government ministry or statutory board.

Ownership structure

The ownership chain runs through Temasek’s portfolio companies. Before corporatisation, CISCO operated as a statutory board under Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs. The transition to Temasek ownership in 2005 privatized operations while maintaining government investment linkage through Temasek’s sovereign wealth structure.

Parent entities

Temasek Holdings, established in 1974, manages Singapore’s government investments across multiple sectors. Certis sits within Temasek’s broader portfolio alongside other service and infrastructure companies. The relationship is investment ownership — Certis operates independently in day-to-day management, with its own board and executive team.

Who is the CEO of Certis Cisco security Pte Ltd?

Ng Tian Beng serves as President and Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 7 April 2025, succeeding Paul Chong who led Certis since its founding in 2004. The appointment was officially announced through PRNewswire – Official announcement and confirmed on the Certis Board of Directors page.

Current leadership

Ng Tian Beng joined the Certis Board on 7 April 2025, simultaneously assuming the Group CEO role. Allen Lew serves as Chairman, having joined the Board in November 2023 and being appointed Chairman on 23 November 2023, according to the Certis Board of Directors page. Paul Chong, the founding CEO who transformed Certis from a statutory board to a privatized entity, transitions to Advisor to the Chairman until retirement in March 2026.

Related executives

Lim Chin Hu joined the Board on 1 April 2022. Third-party databases list Ronald Poon as Chief Executive Officer (Singapore) at Certis, though this may represent a regional operational role rather than group-level leadership. The leadership structure appears to have both group-level (Ng Tian Beng as Group CEO) and country-level (Singapore CEO) positions.

Is Certis part of Cisco?

Certis shares its historical abbreviation “CISCO” with Cisco Systems, the American technology company, but the two organizations are entirely separate entities with no relationship. The “CISCO” in Certis CISCO stood for “Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation” — the statutory board established in Singapore in 1972.

Name history

The name evolution clarifies the distinction: the Singapore entity was known as CISCO from 1972, became Cisco Security Pte Ltd after corporatisation in 2005, then Certis CISCO Security Pte Ltd from 13 September 2007. The company shortened to Certis in 2018. At no point was there any ownership, licensing, or partnership relationship with Cisco Systems Inc., the San Jose-based networking equipment manufacturer.

Corporate separation

CISCO retained its abbreviation post-corporatisation because the name carried significant market reputation in Singapore’s security industry — dropping it would have caused confusion among existing clients and partners. The decision was practical branding, not any connection to the American technology company. Today, “Certis” operates without any tech-company association.

Is Certis a government?

Certis is not a government entity, though it maintains close historical ties to Singapore’s government through its Auxiliary Police Force designation. The company operates as a private commercial security provider owned by Temasek Holdings, a government-owned investment company. This places Certis in a unique position: a commercially run private security firm with special law enforcement authority in certain contexts.

Government ties

Certis holds one of five commercial Auxiliary Police Force licenses in Singapore, authorizing armed security operations under specific regulatory conditions. This designation grants Certis officers limited police powers for certain security duties, similar to other certified auxiliary police forces in Singapore. However, Certis itself is a private company — its officers are not civil servants or police officers.

Private status

The transformation from statutory board (1972–2005) to Temasek-owned private company (2005–present) removed Certis from direct government administration. The company files commercially, competes for contracts, and operates under Companies Act incorporation rules. Its government linkage comes through ownership, not operational control — Temasek as investor does not direct Certis’s day-to-day security service delivery.

What is the history of Certis Group?

Certis traces its origins to the Guard and Escort Unit of the Singapore Police Force, established in 1958. The unit separated from the SPF in 1972 to form the Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation (CISCO) as a statutory board, following a 1971 police employment scheme review led by Professor Lee Soo Ann.

The 2005 corporatisation marked the pivotal shift from statutory board with government mandate to Temasek-owned commercial entity. Before 2005, CISCO operated as a government monopoly; after, it entered competitive markets and international expansion.

The following timeline tracks Certis’s key milestones from 1958 to 2025.

Under Paul Chong’s leadership from 2004, Certis transformed from a statutory board into a privatized entity and grew more than fivefold. The company diversified beyond traditional guarding into facilities management, concierge services, and command-and-control systems. International expansion began in 2016 with the BRI Security acquisition, followed by SNP Security in 2018 — establishing Certis as the third-largest security player in Australia.

What Services Does Certis Provide?

Certis offers integrated security services spanning physical guarding, auxiliary police operations, facilities management, and technology-enabled command systems. The company’s service portfolio reflects its evolution from traditional guarding into comprehensive security solutions.

• Security planning and risk assessment for corporate and government clients
• Armed auxiliary police services (authorized under Singapore’s Auxiliary Police framework)
• Physical security guarding across commercial, industrial, and residential properties
• Facilities management integrating security with building operations
• Command-and-control systems for integrated security monitoring
• Concierge services combining customer service with security presence

Certis operates as one of five armed commercial auxiliary police forces in Singapore, authorized to provide armed security services under specific regulatory conditions. This capability distinguishes Certis from standard private security firms and serves clients requiring armed response capabilities.

Leadership and Governance

The Certis board brings together executives with backgrounds spanning public service, finance, and corporate management. Allen Lew, appointed Chairman on 23 November 2023, joined the Board in November 2023. His background includes senior positions that complement Certis’s transition from traditional security into technology-enabled services.

“Certis is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Ng Tian Beng as President and Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO), effective 7 April 2025.”

— Certis announcement via PRNewswire – Official announcement

“He transformed Certis from a statutory board to a privatised entity, facilitating its growth to become an integrated multi-disciplinary security provider with a global presence.”

— Singapore Business Review – CEO profile on Paul Chong’s legacy

Paul Chong’s tenure from 2004 to 2025 marked the company’s most transformative period. A University of Cambridge graduate with honours in Economics and Operations Research, Chong led Certis from statutory board status through corporatisation and international expansion. He earned Executive of the Year in Business Services at the SBR Management Excellence Awards and grew the company more than fivefold during his leadership.

International Expansion

Certis entered the Australian market in 2016 through the acquisition of BRI Security, establishing an initial presence that positioned the company as a major regional player. The 2018 acquisition of SNP Security — founded in 1890 by John Henry Roche, a former NSW police officer — solidified Certis’s market position. Following these acquisitions, Certis became Australia’s third-largest security provider.

The Australian operations reflect Certis’s broader strategy of combining traditional security services with integrated facilities management. SNP Security’s long history in the Australian market brought established client relationships and operational infrastructure that Certis has integrated into its regional platform.

Related reading: Singapore business banking · Singapore Telecom

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