Security Guard Services for Small Scale Businesses

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Security Guard Services for Small Scale
Businesses Does It Make Economic Sense?
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Introduction

• Nowadays, small-scale businesses face the same
  security challenges that large-scale businesses
  face. Its not just burglars that they have to
  deal with but saboteurs, terrorists, and spies
  too. From the human resource to the assets of the
  business, everything needs protection. One way to
  offer security is through hiring security guard
  services. There are so many security companies
  that you can approach to ask about business
  protection services.
• But maybe you are worried about the costs. Just
  think of what you stand to lose if your business
  is not secure. Besides, this guide will help you
  with the tips that youll need to reduce the
  security guard expenses. Perhaps you think that
  you dont need security guards since your
  business is always under surveillance. Well, this
  guide will also help you understand how the two
  security solutions can coexist to maximize the
  security of your small business.

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Table of Contents

• Why hire a security guard service?
• Types of security guards for small-scale
  businesses.
• Ways to save on security guard services.
• How to get the most out of your security guards?
• Closing thoughts.

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Why hire a security guard service?

• You probably have a surveillance system in place
  and are planning to upgrade it. Maybe its an
  alarm response system. However, you still need
  security guards. Here are the reasons why
• 1. Peace of mind
• Lets face it employees are calmer when they
  know that someone is watching their backs. They
  become more productive as they dont have to
  worry about their safety. Besides, having a
  trained security person around is more assuring
  than having a CCTV since it can malfunction. The
  security guard services train their employees and
  a majority of them are licensed to carry weapons.
  This gives your worker peace of mind at all
  times.

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• 2. Customer service
• Security services usually train their security
  guards on the best customer handling skills. The
  guards can spend a few minutes at the customer
  desk to offer customer service when your
  receptionist is not present or when you have a
  major event and your receptionist is overwhelmed.
  The guards can direct the guests on where to go
  depending on the event. They also offer direction
  to the guests whenever they want to pack their
  cars.
• 3. Crime prevention
• Having security guards within the business
  premise may help a great deal in deterring
  crimes. The guards can also foresee a source of
  danger and neutralize it before it becomes a
  danger to the business or to the employees. They
  can to alert their security company when external
  intervention is needed.

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• 4. Crime response
• Security guard services normally train their
  guards on ways to professionally handle a crime.
  So, they dont just prevent it but fight it too.
  They know when to take down a criminal and when
  to consider police reinforcement. Basically, they
  are trained to act responsibly in the event that
  your business or employees are under attack.
• 5. Monitoring services
• Not every security guard is employed to offer
  patrol services or stand at the gate. Some are
  stationed in the surveillance room to monitor the
  operations of the business remotely, more so in a
  busy setting. They can monitor suspicious habits
  like shoplifting that the officers on the ground
  cant perceive. When hiring several security
  guards in your business, each of them is
  allocated a specific location to monitor. In case
  something goes wrong, the security service is
  answerable.

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• Generally, you should hire security guards if the
  answer to any of these questions is yes
• Is your parking lot barely safe for the employees
  and their cars?
• Is your business prone to retail theft?
• Is your business located in a high-crime
  neighbourhood?
• Are you afraid of liability concerns?
• Do you have safety concerns within the business?
• Does your business deal with alcohol?
• Do you have building traffic challenges?
• Does your business need emergency help?
• Do your employees need regular training on
  personal safety?
• Are your current security features inadequate?

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Types of security guards for small-scale
businesses

• Security guards nowadays provide a range of
  services. It all depends on the needs of your
  small business. Here are the common types of
  security guards that you should consider
• 1. Corporate guards
• These security officers are trained to offer
  security services in a corporate setting. They
  have the expertise to handle front-of-the-office
  challenges. They are trained in customer service
  and employee handling. So, you can expect them to
  help you with the day-to-day running of your
  corporate functions.

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• 2. Virtual guards
• In some small businesses, security guards are not
  needed onsite, for example, in supermarkets. They
  can provide security monitoring services from a
  remote location. Such security persons are called
  virtual guards. They are positioned to monitor HD
  security cameras, motion sensors, and intrusion
  detectors. They are required to provide the
  monitoring services 24/7.
• 3. Warehouse security guards
• These are specially trained security officers to
  monitor your warehouse. They control access to it
  and ensure that the products stored are protected
  24/7.
• 4. Armed security guards
• These guards are licensed to carry weapons. They
  are trained to offer almost all the security
  services that the police provide. Since they are
  armed, they are best employed in high-crime
  zones. The presence of these armed men and women
  is a very effective strategy in preventing
  crimes. They are often the difference between
  saving lives and losing it in a violent
  encounter.

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• 5. Unarmed security guards
• From the name, its clear that these security
  guards do not carry any ammunition. Their job is
  to provide a physical presence in your business
  premise. Some of their top responsibilities are
• Offering patrol services
• Surveillance system monitoring
• Responding to physical security threats
• Since these security officers do not carry any
  lethal weapon, they are best employed where there
  are few security threats.

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Ways to save on security guard services

• When it comes to hiring a security company, it
  can be pretty expensive for small businesses.
  However, this doesnt mean that you shouldnt
  consider hiring the service. The easiest way to
  have a manageable budget is to reduce headcount.
  Simply put, you need to reduce the number of
  security guards that you employ. This makes sense
  economically.
• But what will happen to my business when i remain
  with a few security officers? Its normal to ask
  such a sensible question. The answer is in
  investing in security devices that will
  complement the few security guards that you have.
  Here are the most important ones
• 1. CCTV cameras A single surveillance system is
  worth 10 or more security guards. Actually, you
  need one or two security guards to monitor all
  your CCTV cameras. Its a very economical
  approach when looking to save on security guard
  expenses. The amount of manpower needed is less
  when the CCTV cameras are in place

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• 2. Electric fencing fitting an electric fence in
  your small business may help a great deal to keep
  thieves and spies away. Since they are afraid of
  getting electrocuted, theyll keep their
  distance. In fact, the few guards that you hire
  will not have so much to do externally but will
  be needed more inside the premise.
• 3. Intrusion detectors installing an intrusion
  alert system is an incredible way of cutting the
  costs of security guards while ensuring that your
  business security is not compromised. The system
  is meant to monitor your fence and to detect any
  kind of intrusion by identifying habits like
  fence climbing, fence cutting, and forced entry.
  The moment such behaviours are detected the
  security guard in charge gets a formal alert.
• 4. Electronic parking solutions instead of
  having security men in the parking lot to monitor
  how your cars are parked, you can use them
  somewhere else in the business. What you need to
  do is invest in modern electronic parking
  solutions. The systems will help the security
  guard in charge to have better control of
  everything that happens in your parking lot.
• Though installing the above security features may
  cost you money initially, the expenses afterward
  are few. Youll only need a few security guards
  to monitor the performance of the installations.
  Theyll make it easy for the security guards to
  protect your business premise.

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How to get the most out of your security guards?

• Generally, its shrewd to find value in the
  services that you are paying for. The few
  security guards that you hire need to guarantee
  you the best security service. You need to ensure
  that you get the most out of them. Here are some
  tips to use
• Supervise them regularly to ensure that they are
  working as expected.
• Verify their qualifications before hiring or when
  you notice something suspicious to ensure they
  are qualified to serve your business.
• Talk to the security service heads once in a
  while to suggest the things that need improving
  in your business.
• Maintain a strict check-in and check-out system
  to ensure your business is always protected.

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Closing thoughts

• Theres no doubt that even small-scale businesses
  require the services of a security company.
  Looking at the kind of protection services that
  security guards provide, its irrefutable that it
  makes sense hiring such experts. Even though the
  service can be expensive since its a recurrent
  expenditure, it is worth it in the long run.
  Whats more, as seen above, there are ways to
  save on the costs.
• Northern force security is a Toronto-based full
  service security provider that specializes in a
  wide range of security and safety needs. These
  include business security, home security, VIP
  protection, security guards, building security,
  concierge services, and mobile patrols among
  others. They also offer risk assessment services,
  security training programs, and a wide range of
  customized consulting services.

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The end

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