Policies and protection: Mark Gilbert talks insurance in PSi magazine

Our Managing Director, Mark Gilbert, features in the October 2026 issue of PSi magazine, sitting down with the team to talk about insurance for security installers. It is a wide-ranging conversation covering the cover installers need, the mistakes we see most often, and what you can do to make sure your policy will actually respond when you need it to.

Read the full interview in PSi October 2026 (page 22)

There is no one-size-fits-all policy

Mark explains that most security businesses need a combination of covers working together. Employers’ Liability (a legal requirement if you have staff), Public and Products Liability and Professional Advice cover form the core. For alarm and security work, efficacy cover is essential too, as it protects you if a system you installed fails to do what it was designed to do. Tools of Trade, Legal Expenses and Motor cover for your vans then round out the picture.

Price is not the same as protection

The most common mistake Mark sees is buying on price rather than on cover requirements. Choosing the cheapest policy without checking it matches the risks your business faces can leave you exposed, and that exposure often only comes to light at claim stage. Buying online without advice adds to the problem, because nobody has checked the policy is right for you and the onus falls on you to have understood what you were buying.

Why a specialist makes a difference

A dedicated security installer insurance provider understands the specific exposures you face, from efficacy and inspectorate requirements to the realities of emergency call-out work. Policies are built around how the sector actually operates, rather than adapted from a generic trades template, and claims are handled by people who know the work.

It also means businesses with a difficult claims history or large sums insured are not left without options. Alongside our standard and specialist markets, Alarminsure has access to a London Market solution for exactly these cases, so there is very little in the security sector we cannot find cover for.

Mark also confirms that we reward installers who hold third-party certification. Working to a consistently high, inspected standard reduces risk, and we reflect that with premium discounts for accredited businesses.

Check your cover before you need it

Mark’s closing advice is simple. Read your policy documents carefully, and if anything is unclear, ask your broker to explain it and confirm it fits the way your business works. In the interview he shares a short list of questions every installer should be asking about their cover, including what happens if a system you fitted fails, and how NSI or SSAIB accreditation affects your premium.

The full interview is well worth five minutes of your time. Read it in PSi magazine here.

If it has prompted you to take a closer look at your own insurance, our team would be glad to talk it through. Get in touch with Alarminsure for a review of your current cover or a quotation built around your business.

To get a quote or speak to the team about what’s included in your cover, call 08000 710 999 or email info@alarminsure.com.