Does On-Site Security Give a False Sense of Security?

On-site security may be an investment worth its cost if you want to protect your building and the people inside of it. By placing physical security throughout your property, you can stop thieves and burglars on the spot. But is on-site security as reliable as you think?

Here’s why you should reconsider your business security systems and try something new.

What Can On-Site Security Do for a Business?

The main benefit of on-site security is an increased presence of manpower. Companies like retail establishments, industrial companies, and financial facilities can utilize armed security guards for the most protection.

Burglars are less likely to attempt a break-in or conduct thief if there’s a higher chance they’ll get caught. If they do decide to take on the risk of confrontation, you would usually expect your security to handle it. 

However, your security company is limited in certain ways that can make them less dependable than promised. 

Legal Permissions

The legal permissions of security personnel differ from place to place and can limit what they are capable of doing; as well as, the level of liability that is put in place with a responding officer.

For example, security guards in Florida can use handcuffs, but only if it’s completely necessary. However, they can only detain someone until the police arrive. You cannot expect your guard to arrest people legally except in certain situations, and your company is then put at risk if it was a false arrest. 

Like the police, security guards are not permitted to use force first. They may only use force if the guard’s life or another person’s life is in danger. 

Training

The type of training on-site security guards receive also depends on whether or not they’re armed.  In order to be an unarmed guard, you must take a training course and complete a certain number of hours of education per year. How often they are trained once employed is up to the company and state regulations. 

Armed security guard training is more intensive and has a lower pass rate. They also cost more to hire compared to other common security guards. 

Equipment

If you opt for armed security guards, then you can expect them to carry a gun, and a taser, among other pieces of equipment. Of course, the gun and taser are strictly for worst-case scenarios. 

Outside of armed guards, you shouldn’t expect much from hired security. At most, they may carry a security baton and OC spray.

Manpower

When people think of on-site security, they tend to imagine a man at every door, monitoring the situation from every angle. The reality is that you’ll most likely only have a few walking around your site. 

For example, it’s recommended that you have one guard for every 75-100 guests at an event. When alcohol is involved, the number of guards should double. 

If something were to occur, you’d only have so many people available to deal with it. In those cases, you’ll want some kind of business security system to contact the local authorities for help. 

How On-Site Security Can Fail

On-site security isn’t a catch-all safety measure. There are many ways it can fail you if you rely on manpower alone. 

For one, security guard protection is passive. They react to crime which may not happen anytime soon. As such, they can easily get distracted on the job. 

Similarly, alarm monitoring with 24/7 video surveillance only alerts owners when a problem has occurred. By the time the police arrive, the criminals could very well have escaped. 

Security guards are also not the best at gathering evidence. Unless one of them has a photographic memory, they’re no better than an eyewitness account. Meanwhile, a video security system can capture a criminal’s every step. 

Benefits of a Business Security System

In combination with a physical presence, business security camera systems can provide the best protection for your building. They bring many benefits that you won’t get with hiring only security guards. 

Video Monitoring

Video security cameras are much higher quality these days than they were in the past. You can clearly identify criminal activity and the perpetrators. Any recorded video you have can help the police track them down. 

You most likely need for a security company that will monitor these cameras live and real-time for you and keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior giving the illusion as if they are physically ont he property. 

Enhanced Reaction

Automatic alarm systems and traditional cameras don’t do anything to prevent a crime. On-site guards can only step in – if recognize or detect the crime at all – after a crime has been committed. 

Real-time video monitoring supported off-site guarding allows your security company to identify any suspicious individuals lurking around or on your property. They can identify certain behaviors and reach out to the authorities ahead or on-site guards of any criminal activity. With any luck, they can prevent the situation completely. 

Supported by Local Authorities

Many business security systems work hand in hand with local law enforcement to provide a quick response time. They can call in the authorities to check out a situation as it is developing, or they can provide video footage to help identify a criminal. 

Increase Your Company’s Own Security Measures

Utilizing on-site and off-site security measures should be only part of how your company protects itself. 

In order to protect your human and physical assets, choose a location that’s in a safe neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with local law enforcement so you can comfortably work with them. 

Do extensive background checks on your employees to make sure you avoid criminal activity from the inside. Limit your employee access to the essentials. Give copies of keys only to the people who absolutely need them.

Business owners can also make their physical space unattractive to thieves by installing plenty of lights and using secure locks. Avoid blocking doorways or windows with landscaping or other obstacles. 

Get 24/7 Monitoring

On-site security provides many benefits, but it’s often not enough to give your property the best protection available. A combination of on-site manned guarding and off-site guarding solution provides both proactivity and reactivity. 

Swissguard provides off-site guards who pull surveillance from a remote location. Our people monitor the location live 24 hours a day and switch shifts every 45 minutes to provide a fresh pair of eyes. Swissguard can alert the Police in real time of an event, but our guards also look for any suspicious activity beforehand. Swissguard is a preventative measure versus reactionary.

Contact us to learn more about our services and to take advantage of our various offers.