Is it Time to Fire Your Security Guard Vendor?

July 12, 2021

Inconsistent schedules, missing guards, poor communication – sound familiar? Here are a few signs that it may be time to replace your security vendor.

Professional security services shouldn’t leave you wondering where your guard is at 3am, worrying about the safety of your facilities, or having to micromanage security personnel.

The purpose of a security service, after all, is security, and that is a concept that should apply to your peace of mind as well. If you’re unsure if your needs are covered, if your facilities are safe, and if you’ve got professionally managed security staff on the job and vigilant, you don’t have the right security partner.

And when you are putting up with less than you should be getting from a security vendor you’ve put your business, or facility, in a position that can go wrong in a big way – without a lot of warning. Here’s what better security looks like.

The Wrong vs. The Right Security Partner

If you’re not 100% satisfied with your current security vendor, trust your instincts. It may be time to make the switch to one that will provide consistent, reliable services – tailored to the needs of your business.

At Allegiance, we work closely with our clients to develop and implement diligent and customized security services. It starts with hiring the right people, with the right background, personality and capability for the scope of work. Allegiance’s Corporate Security Manager, Bryan Willis, has over three decades of experience in the law enforcement, and says “presence” is at the core of an effective security program.

“As a security vendor, your number one responsibility is presence,” said Willis. “Security is all about avoiding the 1 incident in 1,000. You must have the discipline to maintain consistency.”

The right vendor should have the depth and experience to meet a variety of security needs, including unarmed and armed security officers, parking enforcement, undercover operatives, patrol services, fire watch, loss prevention, exit screening, and more.

The Security Vendor Checklist

If you’re unsure of whether your security vendor is making the grade, here is a list of questions to ask:

☑ Are posts staffed when they are supposed to be?

☑ Are employees vigilant and proactive?

☑ Does your vendor maintain up-to-date certification records?

☑ Do you sleep well at night?

☑ Are interactions and daily checks documented?

☑ Are guards in public-facing posts capable of professional public interactions / have the right personality for dealing with the public?

☑ Does your vendor meet with onsite managers regularly?

☑ Are communications frequent and proactive?

☑ Are guards rotated on a regular basis from posts that require long stretches of standing or vigilance, or monitoring security cameras?

☑ Does your security vendor understand your business? Did the engagement begin with a lot of good questions and a thorough site analysis?

If you answer “No” to any of the questions above, it’s a sign that your current vendor may not be up to the job. Keep your expectations high as you evaluate current or potential vendors. The right partner will offer customized services and a well-trained core of employees.

Rigorous Hiring Practices, Site Specific Training & 24/7 Security Services

At Allegiance Industries, we tailor our security services to the needs of your business. While there are best practices, security service is not a one-size-fits-all proposition and what works for one type of business is not necessarily going to work for another. Our services are designed to meet your needs.

We hire experienced officers – many of whom have law enforcement backgrounds – along with a local security manager to oversee day-to-day operations, and we assign postings based on the needs of the position and the specific qualifications of our hires.

Careful hiring practices are key to being able to deliver reliable security services, in addition to proper training, certification and ongoing supervision. Personality and temperament are as important as law enforcement experience in a role that can require frequent interaction with employees, visitors and customers, Willis says. “If you don’t have people skills and customer service-based skills, then you’re not going be a good guard.”

Communication & Getting Started

Regular communication with the client is also required to ensure that expectations are clear and issues are resolved quickly. That’s a core part of what we do at Allegiance, no matter what service we’re providing. Here’s just some of what our security teams can provide: