Top Questions to Ask When Hiring a Security Company

August 16, 2019

For most business owners, as well as some residents, there comes a time when professional security becomes a necessity. Unfortunately, the process of enlisting security can be confusing for those new to the concept. As such, a lot of prospective customers often wonder if they have the right information on how to hire private security, if they have any at all.

Below are our tips for addressing these concerns, as well as series of questions to ask a security company before you make them responsible for the safety of your property.

 

Reasons Why You Might Need a Security Guard

For everything from homes and shopping malls to stadiums and night clubs, there are various reasons why people decide to hire security to watch over a given stretch of property. Any safety concern is a good reason to hire security, and no reason is too small. Some of the most common reasons include the following:

• Something bad has happened at your home, business, or school
• You have a big event coming up that needs to be secured and safe
• There is an employee you are concerned about and want to remove from your place of business
• You need to move valuable documents, artifacts, jewelry, or money from one place to another
• You have another concern for the safety of your team, family, assets or business – no matter what it is

 

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Things to Consider When You Hire a Security Guard

As you think about hiring a security company, you’ll need to assess the extent of your security needs and the amount of money that you’ll be able to allocate for such concerns. Essentially, the following three questions should be addressed before you contract a security service or hire a personal security guard:

• How many people do you need to secure?
• What is the situation or your reason for concern?
• What is your budget?

 

THE CAPACITY OF YOUR SECURITY NEEDS

The scope of your security needs can be determined by the number of people and number of personal belongings concerned, as well as the size of the property that needs to be secured. If you need to secure a large building or shopping mall, you’ll likely need to have security personnel on the property around the clock. If you’re planning a large public event with an expected turnout in the thousands, you’ll need a team of security guards, if only for a day.

On private property, full–time security might also be necessary. On a large, multimillion-dollar estate, it could be wise to have a rotating staff of two or three security guards on the property day and night. For smaller residential properties, a security system with high–tech cameras and alarms would likely suffice, unless the problem has been severe enough to necessitate a live security guard.

 

THE REASON FOR YOUR CONCERN

This situation that has caused you to inquire about security will help determine the amount of expertise that you’ll need. If your concern has stemmed from a string of outside disturbances, such as graffiti and vandalism around the outside of your property, different expertise will be needed than if you have a high-risk employee threatening your team.

If your need for security was sparked by a specific incident, such as a break-in, angry vendor or customer, or threat from outside your business, you’ll need to hire a security company with the infrastructure and manpower to guard the entry points that could give the culprit his or her opportunity.

Make sure to have a detailed explanation of your situation ready for your first conversation with a potential security team.

 

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU’RE WILLING TO ALLOCATE TOWARD SECURITY

The scope and quality of security for your building, residence or public event will largely depend on how much you’re willing to invest in good security. When it comes to security guard companies, cheap services are not necessarily a good deal. The fact is, companies with super–low rates often provide low–quality service.

For the protection of your building, staff, customers, event attendees, or even just for your personal property and belongings, it’s best to choose a reputable company with a verified trail of satisfied customers, as opposed to a company that simply offers the lowest rates.

Having a general idea of how much you want to spend will help a security consultant put together a plan that offers the best possible security solutions within your budget.

 

Questions to Ask a Security Company

Before you hire a security company, you should know some things about how they operate and whether they meet the legal criteria of a legitimate security company. Most pressingly, the following questions should be taken into account before you choose one security service over another:

• What kind of experience does the security company have with your particular situation?
• What kinds of licenses does the company have?
• What kinds of training does your team go through?
• Are you fully insured?
• Are your guards monitored? How are they kept accountable?

 

CAN THEY OFFER THE KIND OF SECURITY YOU NEED?

Check to see if the company is experienced at offering security for a property, event or specific situation such as yours. What are some of the other customers that this company has served? Does the company specialize in large–scale outdoor events, or on–premise security for office buildings, shopping malls and private estates? Are the security guards experienced at handling major threats, or just at maintaining order?

 

IS THE COMPANY PROPERLY INSURED?

It’s crucial for a security company to have liability insurance coverage. This spares you of any legal liability or financial responsibility if accidents or injuries occur among security staff that looks over your property, including:

• Security equipment gets damaged
• A security guard suffers a fall or other accident
• A security guard is injured during a takedown

 

Beware, as there are some security companies — typically those that offer ridiculously low rates — that are unlicensed. With security companies that don’t have liability insurance coverage, you are held liable for any mishaps or wrongdoings that occur at the hands of the security that you’ve hired. Preferably, the company’s agent should list you as an additional certified party, and this agreement should be emailed and snail-mailed to you for proof.

 

WHAT KINDS OF TRAINING DO THEIR GUARDS GO THROUGH?

The company that you hire must have staff members who are sufficiently trained to meet the demands of your security needs. If a security company were to dispatch a team of slow-moving, barely competent guards to your property or event, this would be dangerously insufficient if you were to need a team of guards to manage a security crisis. For example, a large–scale security operation would require the following:

• Security guards that can bring violent situations under control.
• Security guards that can spot and remove dangerous individuals before problems escalate.
• Security guards that are trained to operate the necessary vehicles and equipment.

 

Make sure that the company you choose intensively trains its staff — and retrains on a periodic basis — to meet the full range of your security needs. Furthermore, inquire as to whether a security company’s guards have undergone drug–screening and criminal/psychiatric background checks before you hire them to protect your property

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ARE THE GUARDS PROPERLY SUPERVISED, COORDINATED AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ROLES?

A well–managed security company will have a defined chain of command. This ensures that guards are properly supervised and that you know who to report to should problems arise with a particular guard.

To ensure that all duties are performed on time, every time, a quality security company will also utilize the latest state–of–the–art verification system, which will record the time and date at which security performed its duties at a particular location. Such technology should be installed at each key checkpoint to ensure that your gates, doors, floors and parking lots have been fully monitored during the hours at which security has been hired to perform its duties.

 

Things to Keep in Mind When You Hire Private Security

 

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS

A reputable, high–quality security company should be happy and willing to disclose its track record with all prospective clients. That way, you can learn what you need to know about a security company and make a confident choice when you sign a contract. Additionally, you should gather input regarding the merits of a given company to ensure you’re getting what you expect from them.

Your potential security company should be able to answer any pertinent questions that you ask of them. They should also be committed to the safety of you and your employees, customers, attendees, family, property and merchandise through any means necessary. Therefore, ask questions that pertain to your security needs to see what measures they will take to safeguard your business, venue or residential property.

 

CHECK AROUND YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR INDICATORS OF THEIR REPUTATION.

To ensure that you hire a company that performs its services and provides a positive experience when you entrust them with the safekeeping of your property, be sure to read reviews of the company by current and past clients. Gain the following bits of knowledge before you proceed:

• For some of the more demanding security assignments, have they been successful in averting major disasters?
• If the company has had problems in the past — rogue guards, uncoordinated teams, etc. — what steps did the company take to rectify the problem?

 

Situations That Make Security Necessary

The more preventative your security services can be, the better. Below are just a few situations in which hiring a security company would be advised.

Keep in mind that a private security detail can be hired for a home, school, event, business, individual person, or any situation that security needs arise. Never feel like your issue isn’t “worthy” of security services – your peace of mind and ability to focus on your day-to-day tasks is an important reason to hire a security company, just as much as the safety of your assets is.

 

SECURITY FOR BIG EVENTS

If an event is scheduled to take place at a large indoor or outdoor venue, it’s best to hire a security company to ensure a safe environment for everyone in attendance. Regardless of whether the site in question has been the prior subject of threats or safety concerns, there’s too much at stake when events of such magnitude are held without the presence of security personnel.

Even at small events, such as gallery exhibits and club shows, it might be necessary to hire a security guard for a day or night. While some of the risks mentioned above of large, unsecured events are less likely to occur at smaller events, instances of theft, vandalism and violence could still take place in crowds of 50 people or less.

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EX–EMPLOYEES WHO POSE SECURITY THREATS

There are times when companies have to make tough decisions regarding certain members of staff, such as when an individual goes rogue and poses threats to his or her fellow employees. If an ex-employee at your company refuses to go quietly and proceeds to harass former colleagues and cause disruptions on company property, the situation would probably best be handled by professional security officers. A security team could prevent the following antics from disgruntled ex-employees:

• Harassment of ex-colleagues and company higher-ups.
• Vandalism or arson of company property.
• Theft of company documents or belongings.
• Threats by phone or mail.

Even if the problem is isolated or temporary, it’s often a good idea to hire a security guard for a day at least, until the individual in question is taken into custody or desists at his own accord.

This is also an important area of prevention. Often, working with a security company before the employee is removed is a good way to get rid of these issues before they start.

 

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Contact Vigilant Tiger Today for More Information

For security of the highest caliber, residents, business owners and venue operators in the Colorado Springs area turn to Vigilant Tiger Security. Our officers are military–trained and ready to meet the demands of security issues across the spectrum. To learn more about how our security guards can protect your property, click here to contact us today.

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