Security Guard Services
Security guard services protect people and property from crime at commercial buildings, industrial facilities, retail establishments, schools, airports, and other public venues. Stationary security guards monitor alarms and CCTV systems, while mobile guards may patrol on foot or in motorized vehicles.
Security guards often work after the regular business day has ended. They provide a reliable line of communication for clients and keep an eye on their premises overnight.
Security Assessment
Security assessments are a periodic exercise that test your organization’s security preparedness. They can help identify vulnerabilities and take steps to lower the risk of future attacks. They are also helpful for keeping your systems and policies up to date.
A security assessment can be done internally, but many businesses opt to hire third-party experts to conduct them. This is particularly useful if a preliminary internal checkup reveals serious gaps in your security posture, or if you aren’t sure which of your own employees need additional training.
The security of your business depends on a number of factors, including the type of business and its location. For example, a bank located in an urban area will naturally require more protection than one located in a rural area. Similarly, an office building that is located in an industrial zone will need less protection than one located in a high-security zone.
Moreover, a company’s security needs are constantly changing. As a result, it is important to assess your current security posture regularly so that you can implement solutions that will meet your unique needs.
This will ensure that your security infrastructure is protected from potential threats and hackers. It will also help you detect breaches more quickly so that you can contain them faster and limit the damage they cause.
To conduct a security assessment, you will need to determine which assets are most important for your organization and how they are used. This will allow you to prioritize which assets you need to assess first and what areas need a more comprehensive approach.
In addition, you will need to create a risk matrix to map out the various risks and vulnerabilities that exist in your organization. You will then need to develop an approach or methodology to assess the risks and vulnerabilities of your critical assets, determine how to mitigate those risks, and enforce security controls for each risk.
Once you have completed the assessment, you will need to write a security assessment report that will include the results of your analysis. This document will provide the authorizing official with a complete overview of your security system’s vulnerability and an analysis of the controls selected and implemented to address it.
Video Surveillance
Video surveillance can be a key element of securing your business. It can help prevent and deter theft, vandalism, and other forms of property damage while also providing footage that can be viewed later to determine what occurred.
Security guard services provide a variety of video surveillance options for their clients, including remote security monitoring and CCTV installation. However, choosing the right system can be tricky, so it is important to understand your needs before selecting a service.
The first step is to decide whether you want a live or recorded video solution. Typically, live systems will be more effective than their recorded counterparts.
A live video system allows agents to watch the entire premises in real time, whereas a recorded camera will only record footage after a crime occurs. This is critical because it gives agents an opportunity to respond in real time and stop a criminal before they can get away with their crimes.
Another benefit of live video surveillance is that it can be viewed remotely by management. This means that managers can see what is happening on their property at any given moment, which can be helpful in training employees and identifying potential problems.
If you have a large site (such as a warehouse or truck yard), you may find that it is difficult for security guards to be on every corner at once. Fortunately, live monitoring systems can be strategically installed so that agents can view the entire property at all times.
In addition to being able to see the whole site, the cameras can also be used to track down suspicious individuals and report them to authorities. This helps prevent crime and minimizes the likelihood of false alarms.
One of the most valuable benefits of a live monitored security system is that it is much less expensive than hiring onsite security guards. Compared to guard costs, the costs of a camera and monitoring system can be up to 60 percent less.
A dependable, efficient security solution that can provide round-the-clock protection from threats is crucial for businesses. In fact, a well-designed system can cut costs by up to 70% while also ensuring that your assets are protected against intruders and vandals.
Emergency Response
If there is an emergency on the jobsite, security guards are supposed to act accordingly and protect people and property. Their primary responsibilities include identifying the danger and responding appropriately, based on what they know about the situation and how they’re trained.
The security industry is constantly evolving and developing new techniques for detecting and responding to threats, such as fires, explosions and crime scenes. To remain on top of the most recent developments, companies that provide security services must offer training for their employees in emergency response.
These courses can help guards identify different risk factors and learn how to respond in an emergency, such as a bomb threat, weapon emergency or suspicious package. They can also learn how to contain and activate a building, which is important for protecting personnel and property while the situation unfolds.
While a security guard’s primary duties are to respond to alarms and call police, they can also be responsible for crowd control and evacuations, depending on the type of emergency. For example, a fire might require that the guard activate the alarms, call the fire department and help evacuate people.
In addition, guards should also be familiar with the building’s emergency plan and its procedures for evacuating people and securing the scene. A well-designed plan will help people move through a building with ease, while preventing panic from occurring.
Some of the best emergency response strategies involve coordination and communication between tenants and local emergency services. This can make the job of a security guard easier, since they won’t be trying to figure out which tenant is responsible for which area and who will call police.
Additionally, a well-developed emergency plan will also help keep guards calm and focused during an emergency situation, since they are often expected to be on the scene for extended periods of time. The planning process should include classroom and situational training and physical drills involving security, janitorial, engineering and fire wardens.
A good emergency plan will be coordinated between a company’s security and janitorial departments, and it will also require regular meetings with local law enforcement to ensure all parties are on the same page. It’s also important to keep a close eye on the building’s safety and security cameras, which can be used to spot any changes in the environment or signs of potential threats.
Reporting
Security guards provide protection for a variety of buildings and locations. Some of the more common places they work include shopping malls, religious institutions, schools, transportation facilities, gated communities, parking lots, and art galleries. In addition to patrolling and protecting, they also report on incidents that occur at the properties they protect.
When a guard has to report an incident, it is important to document the details. This can help management and other guards get a better picture of the situation. It can also be used as evidence for legal proceedings if needed.
Using a standard incident report template is a good way to make sure all of your team members are writing down the same information. It also makes it easy for managers to check reports from different buildings.
Another great way to ensure that your team is reporting properly is by using security guard company software. These apps are designed to automate the process of reporting and save time by eliminating the need for handwritten shift reports.
The right app can provide a comprehensive security summary report that is easy to read and understand. It can also be customized to meet the needs of your business and allow you to create custom reports with different approval levels and email notifications.
In addition to making the process easier, these apps can help you track trends and make proactive decisions based on data. This means you can address accountability issues and notably improve the way your guards perform their job.
When it comes to writing incident reports, a lot of research and preparation goes into the process. You should also interview the guard and other witnesses to gather as much evidence as possible before you write up the report.
It’s also a good idea to include photos and written statements from witnesses as evidence in the event that the incident is later used in court. This will help the court understand what happened and who was involved.
The best security guard services are those that take their reporting seriously and make it a part of their overall operations. This will ensure that their team is working efficiently and can respond quickly to any problems.