On-Site vs. Off-Site Security Guard Services: What Are the Differences?

There’s a reason why there are over one million security guard jobs found in the United States. Millions of businesses and organizations rely on these guards to protect their goods and properties.

However, despite their prevalence, many individuals are unaware of the different types of security guard services that are available for them. There are two main types of guards you can hire: on-site and off-site.

But, what are the differences between these two options? And which one offers the best security guard services? If you want to learn the answer to these questions, and more, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’ll try to show you everything you need to know about on-site and off-site security guards. Let’s get started!

The Difference Between On-Site vs Off-Site Security Guard Services

The difference between these two concepts is all in the name. On-site refers to the physical presence of a security guard at the location they’re protecting. They could be armed or unarmed.

They could be patrolling or monitoring a CCTV from a dispatch-style room on the premises. Regardless, the distinguishing factor is that they’re physically at the location trying to protect it.

Off-site refers to security guards that watch the property from a remote location. This type of security solution uses multiple cameras allowing the guard to capture the issue on the property  before it occurs.

The second they notice anything suspicious, they immediately contact the authorities before anything happens. Many people think on-site security guard services provide better security measures than off-site.

However, this is the opposite of the truth. As we’ll see, there are a lot of disadvantages that come with using on-site security guard services.

Disadvantages of On-Site Security Guard Services

Both on-site and off-site security guards work to protect businesses and organizations from the estimated 6,925,677 property crimes that occur each year. However, what many people do not know is that a lot of these crimes happened because of neglect from the on-site guards.

This is due to several disadvantages that come with on-site guards. What are they? First, there’s the human error factor. Many on-site guards have the tendency to fall asleep while on the job, especially at night or the guard becomes distracted by their phone, etc.

Usually, this is because they’re holding down two jobs at once and come to work exhausted. With on-site guards, there are also a lot of difficulties when covering large areas.

This makes them less than ideal for big properties. Next, they often lack specialized security experience. This can vary from company to company. But, for the most part, on-site guards don’t have the communication abilities that are needed for this role.

To top it all off, they’re also more expensive than off-site security solutions. This is due to the rising labor costs that are needed to keep them. So, you’re paying more for an ineffective solution. Why not go with a smarter security solution?

Here is a recap of the disadvantages of on-site security guard services:

Low paid personnel
Lack of proper training and experience
Unpredictable reaction in case of threat
Liability risk
Many times involved in in-house crimes
Behavioral issues
High rotation and unreliability
Blind spots at the property

Advantages of Off-Site Security Guard Services

Choosing off-site security guard services comes with a lot of benefits. First off, you’re often able to catch criminals more easily. Since they don’t see a physical presence they aren’t aware that they’re being watched.

It’s also safer. Even experienced on-site guards put their lives on the line when they confront a trespasser. Off-site solutions protect against crime without having to risk unnecessary life and limb.

You’re also able to cover more ground with fewer eyes as long as you are diligent with your camera placements. Finally, there’s the cost. Off-site security companies are a lot more affordable than on-site ones.

Here is a recap of the advantages of off-site security guard services: 

No blind spots
Always high level of attention
No liability issues
No involvement in in-house issues

What to Look For in an Off-Site Security Guard Service

Hopefully, at this point, we’ve convinced you that off-site security services can be better for your needs than an on-site service or even can be a good complement to an on-site service. However, it’s important to remember that not all off-site security guard services are created equally.

So, to make sure that you find a dependable one in this section we’ll cover what you should look for in an off-site provider. That way, you separate the professionals from the amateurs.

Actual 24/7 Monitoring

Sadly, many CCTV monitoring services claim to have 24/7 monitoring. However, this often isn’t true. What often happens is they do have someone by a computer 24/7 and waiting to react to a triggered alarm.

There are huge amounts of false alarms which may be triggered by the following:

• Rain drops
• Green nature, storm, and wind
• Neighboring traffic
• Spider web
• Animals

But, they only look at your CCTV system if an alarm or a motion sensor is tripped. The problem with this approach is it’s reactive. By the time the security guard calls the police the criminal is already on the premises.

They might have even bypassed the alarm system somehow. This is why you should look for a proactive solution that is watching at all times, even during the day. Make sure that you ask each off-site company what their 24/7 monitoring entails.

Actual Security Experience

You don’t want just anybody watching your property’s alarm system. A novice can miss crucial details that could cost you in the long run. So make sure you find an off-site solution that has a lot of experience, and provides you with a 24/7 live guarding solution.

For example, the security guards at Swissguard require at least five years of law enforcement experience before they can guard.

Fast Response Time

The quicker the security guard can report the incident, the more likely the authorities are to apprehend the criminal. As such, look for an off-site solution that has a fast response time.

Any company that can’t report a threat within ten minutes of the incident or if they can’t do it at all isn’t worth their salt.

Need Off-Site Security? Contact Swissguard

We hope this article helped you learn the difference between on-site and off-site security guard services. If you want to save some time searching for the perfect off-site security guards, go with Swissguard.

Our security guards don’t mess around when it comes to 24/7 CCTV monitoring. We have multiple guards monitoring your property at once who are eager to detect suspicious activity around. What’s more, the guards change shifts every forty-five minutes.

This helps ensure that there are always fresh eyes while monitoring. You also get the benefit so a proactive security approach when you entrust your property to us.

And, the security guards we offer you cost less than $10 per hour. So, if you’re ready to save money on your security needs while increasing the level of security, contact Swissguard today.