What Are Security Guard Services and How Can They Help Your Business?

What Are Security Guard Services and How Can They Help Your Business?

Standard commercial security guard services include agent response, guard patrol, and standing guard, all of which keep your business, employees, and customers safe. Security guards verify emergencies, prevent vandalism and theft, and monitor the security inside and outside your company. They add an extra level of physical security on top of the protection provided by burglar alarms and fire alarms.

Response agents and guards also provide value beyond security. Their presence can increase company productivity. This is because guards can enforce policy, allowing your staff to focus on their jobs rather than common security issues such as loitering and vandalism. 

Bay Alarm offers agent response services—but how do you know which service is best for your business? Read on to learn more.

Agent response: on-site security personnel, but only when you need them.

Agent response is an “on-demand” type of security service. Agents respond when an alarm activates. They then assess the situation and contact law enforcement if it’s an emergency. 

Agent response may seem like an unnecessary service, especially if you expect the police to show up when an alarm goes off. However, many police departments do not respond to unverified alarms because false alarms are common, and they stress law enforcement agencies’ limited resources. It’s not that they do not want to help—police need to ensure they dedicate resources where they are most needed.

Agent response fills that gap because their only job is to respond to alarm activations. Once on scene, response agents will verify the problem and contact the police or fire department if needed. If the situation does not require first responders, response agents can help deactivate the false alarm and ensure the building is secure inside and out. 

Guard patrol: for those times of day when you need an extra set of eyes.

Guard patrol agents maintain the security of your business on a set schedule. Organizations commonly employ guard patrol agents:

  • Before or at opening: A guard patrol agent can keep an eye on your business before you open for work. 
  • At or after closing: A guard patrol agent can make sure your employees safely make it to their cars and double-check all entry and exit points. 
  • Periodically during the day: Guards can patrol daily or nightly on a set schedule, depending on your needs. 

Standing guard: continuous on-site security, where and when you need it.

Standing guard security officers protect your staff, visitors, and the public. Standing guards can be on-site before, during, and after work hours to prevent crime with their physical presence. But they also add value beyond security. 

When it comes to preventing crime, a standing guard’s duties include:

  • Enforcing company policies
  • Responding to emergencies
  • Protecting property from vandalism 
  • Controlling who has access to the building
  • Performing security checks
  • Removing loiterers and the homeless from the property
  • Submitting incident reports 

Security guards can also assist in areas that go beyond physical security. Part of their job is to have solid communication skills, so they can help with greeting customers, directing visitors where they need to go, answering phones, and taking messages. Many standing guards have even helped with crowd and traffic control at COVID vaccination centers. 

Because every company has unique needs, a standing guard offers a lot of flexibility. For example, a retail store may employ a standing guard daily, whereas a public event center may only hire standing guards to work at events. It comes down to your specific needs, as standing guards specialize in many areas of security. 

Agent response and guard patrol services offer an extra level of security that you can’t get with a standalone security system. If you want to increase the security of your business, contact us! We can help you devise a security agent plan that meets your needs. 

Start a conversation with a Bay Alarm security expert.

1 (800) 610-1000