Security guards protect businesses against various threats including terrorism, theft, vandalism, trespassing, security breaches, and others through continuous monitoring to identify suspicious activities and initiate rapid response.
We collaborate with your local law enforcement to ensure the safety of your employees, patrons, and assets. Though the presence of guards is often overlooked by visitors who may only interact with them to ask for assistance, they play a significant role in enhancing the overall safety of your business.
Among the top issues that security guards can help you solve include:
- Risk identification
- Increasing profits
- Securing your assets
- Improving customer service
- Enhancing emergency response
- Avoiding theft, break-ins, and vandalism
- Improving access control
- Mitigating risks and damages
Scout Security understands the specific issues that different industries are facing. We have certified security guards and mobile patrol officers with previous military and law enforcement backgrounds who can help you solve any security concern. Call us now for comprehensive security solutions in the Colorado Springs and Denver Metro areas!
The Role of Security Guards in Enhancing Your Business’s Safety
Security guards possess unparalleled professionalism, vigilance, accountability, problem-solving skills, and good judgment that allow them to take the initiative in effectively dealing with various security threats.
They can handle different kinds of emergencies and issues involving people from diverse backgrounds such as complaints and conflicts through effective communication. They can also work in all types of environments even if it involves long shifts in different weather conditions and terrains.
This ensures the prevention of crimes and early apprehension of offenders to mitigate risks and costly damages to your business.
Key Duties and Responsibilities of Security Guards
- Monitoring surveillance cameras
- Identifying and addressing suspicious activities and security threats early
- Reporting unusual incidents or behaviors to supervisors and, if necessary, law enforcement to mitigate risks and maintain safety
- Maintaining a visible presence to deter criminal activities and reassure your clients, employees, and guests
- Performing regular patrols and security checks to ensure the integrity of your premises and the safety of all individuals on site
- Managing access at entry points to prevent unauthorized entry, especially to restricted areas
- Opening/closing doors, gates, windows, etc.
- Writing comprehensive and timely reports documenting all observed incidents, threats, and actions taken during their shifts
- Controlling crowds and directing traffic during events to maintain order and safety
- Responding promptly to emergencies and coordinating with emergency services and authorities
- Maintaining security systems and equipment to ensure they are functional and effective at all times
- Providing customer service and offering assistance to your employees and guests
- Assisting with administrative tasks and supporting your overall security operations
Read a more detailed discussion on the top security guard duties and responsibilities in the provided link.
Specific Issues in Your Business That Security Guards Can Help You Solve
The purpose of the key duties and responsibilities of security guards we’ve mentioned above is to solve not only security issues but also other problems hindering your business’s growth such as the following:
#1. Identifying Risks and Weaknesses in Your Security Plan
Security agencies often conduct comprehensive risk assessments before deploying guards to identify gaps in your security plan that pose safety and security threats. This allows you to address these threats early before they lead to bigger problems.
Common issues found in risk assessments include:
- Poor Lighting: Inadequate lighting in external parking areas, pathways, and other vulnerable areas creates a dangerous environment and could lead to liabilities.
- Inadequate Incident Tracking: Theft, losses, and other security breaches frequently go unreported without subsequent follow-ups which leaves your business vulnerable to recurring security problems.
- Poor Key Control: Lack of a systematic process for key issuance to employees and proper record-keeping of key distribution for managing lost or unreturned keys after employee resignations.
- Mishandling of Confidential Information: This includes sensitive documents left in unsecured locations, storing confidential information in cabinets that are insufficiently secured, and improperly disposed documents containing sensitive information.
- Neglected Alarm System Maintenance: Security systems are not consistently tested and maintained which may lead to failures during emergencies.
- Lack of Employee Security Training: Lack of employee training on security awareness and your company’s security protocols reduces their ability to respond effectively to security-related incidents (e.g. workplace violence).
Also Read: How Can Uniformed Security Guards Deter Crime in Your Business?
#2. Increasing Profits and Property Value
The presence of security guards can serve as a marketing tool and contribute to your business’s profitability and property valuation by deterring crimes and minimizing property damage.
This strengthens your reputation, builds customer loyalty, and ensures your business’s growth.
For instance, guards can help increase the value of gated communities and commercial areas by creating a safer environment to draw in more residents and increase business transactions. They also create a sense of safety, especially in retail settings, to encourage higher foot traffic and customer spending.
#3. Enforcing Company Policies Effectively
Are you having problems with enforcing company policies, especially in disciplining your employees, to reduce potential problems that might affect your business’s productivity and reputation?
You guessed it right! Security guards can also help with tasks associated with this problem such as:
- Ensuring That Your Company Policies Are Followed
In terms of policy enforcement, security guards can help with tasks such as checking ID badges and making sure that they are worn correctly. Thus, maintaining security and professional standards as well as preventing unauthorized entry.
- Ensuring Staff Punctuality
Security guards can monitor attendance and prevent employees from manipulating their time with their superb observational skills that your employees won’t be able to escape from. Guards can help maintain accurate logs in your attendance books and ensure that each employee records exact time-ins and outs.
- Improving Employee Attitude
Guards can also help improve professionalism in your workplace. Their authority can minimize negative behaviors, internal theft, and conflicts among your staff to encourage a more cooperative work environment.
Also Read: 10 Benefits of Hiring a Security Guard to Protect Your Business
#4. Improving Logistics Security
Private guards can even escort shipments and assist in complex logistics operations to enhance the timely and secure delivery of your goods. This prevents potential losses due to theft or diversions and ensures the integrity and reliability of your delivery system.
Thus, ensuring that all goods reach your clients as promised to help maintain customer trust and solid business relationships.
#5. Securing Your Physical and Digital Assets By Preventing Unaccounted Visitors
Securing your physical and digital assets requires stringent measures to prevent unauthorized entry and protect sensitive information.
Private security firms, like Scout Security, offer effective solutions that include implementing robust access controls, monitoring unusual activities, and ensuring comprehensive visitor management to maintain high-security levels.
Key problems that security guards can help you solve related to the mentioned issue include the following:
- Unauthorized Access: Outsiders can bypass your security protocols such as biometric systems and keypad codes to access restricted areas which poses risks of theft and compromised sensitive data.
- Employee Negligence: Common employee mistakes include unsecured offices, desks, workstations, and personal items like laptops and purses which facilitate easy theft.
- Inadequate Entrance Security: Faulty or improperly closed doors at key entry points including main entrances and restricted areas can increase your risk of intrusion.
- Poor Dock Oversight: Delivery personnel might access unauthorized zones if there are unmonitored open doors at docks with unsecured valuable goods.
- Lax Visitor Controls: Unaccounted visitors could bypass your standard security checks and enter through back doors without signing in which compromises your security protocols.
- Tailgating Risks: Unauthorized individuals can enter restricted areas by following authorized personnel and exploiting busy entry points where only the first person needs to present credentials.
- Data and Asset Theft: Physical breaches allow for easier access to your IT systems which could lead to data and identity theft as well as the unauthorized viewing or stealing of physical documents and other valuable assets.
Also Read: How to Increase Business Security With a 24-Hour Guard
#6. Improving Customer Service
This is another task that security guards are guaranteed to help you with – improving customer service to boost your reputation and bring more sales.
Guards can be positioned at your entry points like front desks or gates to serve as the first impression of your business. They can welcome your visitors and offer friendly greetings to positively influence visitor perception.
Moreover, security guards also function as guides in large premises (e.g. malls) and help in directing your visitors and new staff. They can:
- Help your customers find their cars in large parking lots
- Guide visitors to the right locations within your facility
In some instances, security guards can further enhance customer satisfaction by assisting with small tasks such as:
- Bagging items
- Helping with heavy purchases
- Conducting price checks
- Helping customers locate products and sections
- Assisting elderly or disabled customers (e.g. filling out paperwork)
Also Read: The Role of Security Guards in Retail & Commercial Properties
#7. Enhancing Emergency Response
Another important role of security guards is rapid response to various alarms and emergencies from criminal activities to natural disasters and medical situations.
Security guards can help with the following during emergencies:
- Implementing evacuation procedures and crowd control
- Providing first aid/CPR
- Operating safety equipment
- Contacting and cooperating with emergency services and the police
- Clearing the path for emergency responders and/or law enforcement
- Assisting affected individuals
- Pursue and legally detain suspects until the police arrive
- Providing crucial details about the incident for investigation purposes
- Safeguarding your assets
- Offering post-emergency support
- Detailed documentation and reporting
You can read a more detailed discussion on the role of security guards in emergency response here.
#8. Avoiding Shoplifting and Safeguarding Your Inventory
Security guards can be used to mitigate shoplifting and inventory loss, particularly in retail environments and warehouses. Their active surveillance helps maintain stock integrity and discourages theft attempts.
They can help implement specific strategies such as prohibiting backpacks in stores and checking receipts at exits to further secure your products. Thus, reducing unaccounted stock issues.
In addition, hiring professional and insured security guards means transferring the accountability of stolen items from your business to the security guards. They not only enhance inventory safety but also protect your financial interests.
Also Read: How Security Guards Prevent Shoplifting in Retail Stores
#9. Dealing With Break-Ins and Robberies
Robberies are among the common yet unforeseen threats to businesses that security guards are highly trained to handle.
They are your best defense against potential financial and asset losses through their:
- Visible deterrence effect
- Constant vigilance in identifying early signs of threat
- Swift response to alarms which significantly minimizes the risk and impact of crimes including robberies
Also Read: Break-Ins: What to Do When Your Business Has Been Broken Into
#10. Checking for Unauthorized Possession of Firearms
Security guards can also mitigate the risks associated with unauthorized firearm possession in your businesses.
For instance, they can use metal detectors to screen individuals and vehicles entering your property for unauthorized weapons. Their continuous monitoring reduces violent incidents and helps prevent potential liabilities caused by firearms.
#11. Avoiding False Accusations in the Event of Crimes
Guards can help avoid false accusations when crimes occur on your premises through continuous monitoring that enables them to gather accurate evidence and provide reliable accounts of incidents.
Since they can oversee every activity (either through constant patrols or CCTV surveillance), they can help correctly identify suspects in investigations to ensure that the right individuals are held accountable.
Thus, preventing the misfortune of innocent people from being wrongly accused based on inadequate or misleading evidence.
Also Read:
- How Security Guards Handle Conflicts & De-escalate Violent Situations
- How Security Guards Prevent Workplace Violence
- 9 Ways Security Guards Can Prevent Vandalism
- Why Private Security and Law Enforcement Collaboration is Crucial
FAQs
Security guards address a wide array of problems including but not limited to theft, break-ins, inventory loss, vandalism, unauthorized access, and possession of dangerous weapons. They do this through constant vigilance, monitoring surveillance systems, and performing regular patrols that deter criminal activities before they occur.
Security guards are important in maintaining the safety and security of businesses from retail stores to apartment complexes and industrial facilities. They not only protect your physical and digital assets but also help enforce company policies effectively. Their visible presence reassures your clients, employees, and guests to boost productivity and sales.
The most critical function of a security guard is to proactively prevent crimes through the early identification of threats and ensure rapid response to any emergencies to mitigate risks. They are trained to handle a variety of situations including crimes, natural disasters, and medical emergencies.
Conclusion
Aside from crime deterrence and responding to security incidents, private security firms offer flexible solutions tailored to the specific needs of any business. Our duty of ensuring the safety and security of your premises involves a wide range of tasks that can significantly help in the success of your business.
Scout Security’s dedicated security guards, mobile patrollers, and CCTV operators in the Colorado Springs and Denver Metro areas are fully certified and insured. They receive continuous training to ensure that you receive unparalleled services. Reach out to us now and let us create a comprehensive security plan for your business!
