Is Hiring Security Guards Worth It for Your Business?

Would hiring security guards be a worthwhile investment for your business? There are pros and cons to having security guards on staff. Depending on your business, budget, and values, employing security guards may be helpful — or you might get better results with another security strategy.

In 2023, the FBI reported a total of 6.1 millionA cases of property crime. These crimes lead to over $280 billion in stolen money, goods, and equipment.

So what does that mean for business owners? Property crimes are prevalent and costly. If you own a commercial property, you need to protect it. 

Maybe you’ve thought about hiring security guards. But keep in mind, they may not be the best security solution for every business.

For some businesses, security guards can be a key part of a solid security plan. For others, hiring security personnel might not fit their needs or budget. Some would get better results from another security solution like monitored surveillance cameras.

Before you make such a significant investment, it’s wise to weigh the pros and cons.

The pros and cons of hiring security guards for your businessTitle

Having a security officer on staff could be a worthwhile investment. Or it could turn into an unnecessary expense if it doesn’t fit into your business needs. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, so let’s explore the pros and cons.

Pros of hiring security guardsTitle

✓ Stronger crime preventionTitle

Not only can security services help stop crimes in progress — their presence can also help deter crimes before they happen.

It comes as no surprise that the presence of security guards has a positive impact on reducing crime. Increasing the number of guards on train platforms in England, for example, saw a 16%A reduction in victim-reported crimes.

Suspicious individuals don’t want to be seen or caught, and the presence of a security guard increases the chance of both. A uniformed guard (or security camera with professional monitoringA) is a tangible deterrent to stop criminals before they even attempt the crime.

✓ Peace of mindTitle

You’ve invested time, energy, and money into a business. Now you want to do everything possible to protect it. And if you have employees, you want them to feel safe and appreciated.

This is especially true if you deal in high-end inventory (like cash, jewelry, cannabisA, or electronics), or if you’re in an area with a high crime rate.

Your customers will appreciate it, too. Hiring security guards for your business tells them you care about their safety and want them to have a pleasant experience.

✓ Faster first responseTitle

Of course, nothing in life is foolproof. You may still experience things like crime, unruly customers or staff, or medical emergencies. But when things go wrong, having a security guard around can help keep the situation under control.

Most security guards go through additional training — medical, crowd, de-escalation techniques, and so on — so they can better provide whatever kind of support is needed. And because they’re already on-site, they can respond faster than anyone else.

✓ Better customer experienceTitle

Usually found in the lobby or near the entrance, security guards are often the first people customers or guests meet. They can greet visitors, check them in, hand out security badges, give directions, and answer basic questions about your business. They might even help staff and customers get to their cars if they’re leaving late at night. Essentially, a security guard can serve as a gatekeeper, greeter, information source, and first line of defense all in one!

✓ Safer enforcementTitle

Your regular employees are not security guards. They don’t have the same training as professional guards and may not feel comfortable enforcing purchase limits, mask requirements, and other policies.

When a guest starts to cause trouble, it’s helpful for your staff to have someone to back them up. Plus, problematic people may be less likely to get belligerent with a security guard than they are with other employees.

RELATED POST: Surveillance vs. Apartment Security Guard for Multifamily PropertiesA

Cons of hiring security guardsTitle

That said, security guards aren’t for everyone. There are a few reasons to think twice before hiring security guards.

✓ The price tag might be unsustainable.Title

Hiring security guards can be expensive. Depending on whether you outsource to a security provider or hire them yourself, the cost can quickly become unaffordable. A third-party security guard service watching your building 24/7 might give you the best protection, but it’s also going to be the most expensive option. One highly trained security guard could cost upwards of $100A per hour.

When hiring guards independently, you might end up with individuals who lack training or qualifications. While it may seem like a cost-effective option, it’s important to remember that the savings can be misleading. Beyond weekly wages, consider the additional costs of employee benefits, recruitment, and training. Hiring can be a significant investment, and security guards are no different.

✓ Potential for human errorTitle

Security guards aren’t infallible. They are subject to exhaustion, illness, boredom, mistakes, and distraction. No matter how much we train or prepare, there are moments when people might be tired, distracted, or just miss something — like someone slipping in through an open window.

And if they do make a mistake, it can have severe consequences for your business. A lapse in attention or judgement could lead to theft, damage, or a breach that might have otherwise been preventable. This vulnerability is something to consider, especially if relying solely on human security. Combining technology, like surveillance cameras and alarm systems, with security personnel can help mitigate these risks.

✓ Limited coverage areaTitle

Even with a team of full time security guards, they can only cover so much ground at any given time. This means areas that are out of their line of sight might still be susceptible to unauthorized access or incidents.

Depending on the size of your premises, you may need to hire multiple guards to ensure full coverage, which can further drive up costs. So it’s important to check out the space needs and consider supplementing with tech solutions to boost surveillance and security.

✓ Risk of liabilityTitle

What happens if your guard must physically subdue someone? Even if the action seems justified, it could still expose your business to legal complications. Any use of force carries the risk of injury to both your guard and the individual involved.

In the best-case scenario, you might face a worker’s compensation claim. There’s also the possibility that your guard could unintentionally use excessive force or mistakenly target an innocent person. It’s important to avoid any situations that could lead to legal issues or potential claims against your business.

So does that mean you shouldn’t hire any guards at all? Only you can answer that. But it does mean you should look at the choice from every angle.

RELATED POST: Does My Business Need Security Cameras?A

So, do you need security guards? Take this quiz to find out.Title

Answer with a simple YES or NO for each of the following questions:

1. Is your business located in a high-crime area?
2. Do you frequently have large sums of cash on site?
3. Do you sell or store high-end items (like cars, electronics, jewelry, designer fashion) or frequently stolen items (like cannabis, cigarettes, prescription drugs, and liquor)?
4. Do you frequently host or welcome VIPs?
5. Do you store financial, medical, or other confidential information that could be used for identity theft or blackmail?
6. Have your neighbors recently been the victims of a crime?
7. Do you have valuable artwork or other collectibles?
8. Does your business see a lot of foot traffic during the day?
9. Has your business previously been targeted?
10. Do you have a substantial security budget?

If you answered YES to 3 or more of these, you should explore your options for professional security services.

Another option to hiring security guards: Live surveillanceTitle

The smarter approach is to use Deep Sentinel. Why?

Our video surveillance cameras melds AI-enabled tech with human expertise. This enables live human guards to watch your cameras in real time.

Here’s how it works: Our proprietary AI identifies potential threats in seconds, without fail. Then live surveillance guards intervene when they verify a threat and instantly engage with the suspect via 2-way audio. If needed, law enforcement is notified when necessary in 30 seconds or less.

At Deep Sentinel, the AI never takes a day off, falls asleep at the desk, or makes a costly human error. LiveSentinel guards go through rigorous ongoing training that includes core methods, implicit and explicit bias exploration, suspect and weapon description, dispatch communication, and suspicious behavior identification. 

And Deep Sentinel’s business security camerasA are the only cameras that include live security guards at an affordable price. It’s the best of both worlds: the best security money can buy at a price point everyone can afford.

So, is hiring security guards worth it? Perhaps, if you’re clever about it. Let Deep Sentinel get you there with a surveillance security guardA watching your property and stepping in when it counts.