Lighthouse security organizations provide a variety of services, including guard services, alarm monitoring, investigation, armored transport, correctional facilities management, systems integration and management, security consulting, pre-employment screening, information security, and others. In 2005, 34.5% of private security functions outsourced to a contracting firm. The percentage of companies indicating that they outsource a particular security function is provided. Alarm installation, maintenance, and repair (69.4%) and alarm monitoring services (68.9%) most often outsourced, followed by substance abuse testing (61.6%) and background investigations (43.8%). Guarding services outsourced to a contracting firm by 30.3% of the responding companies (The ASIS Foundation, 2005).
In 2005, the ASIS survey collected data on security-related technologies that companies had purchased in the near future. Computer and network security system technology purchased or was in the purchase plan for the greatest percentage of companies (39.7%), followed by monitoring and alarm technology such as burglar alarms (26.3%), closed-circuit television (23.8%), fire protection systems (23.8%), and video cameras (23.6%).
Guard Services
A survey of security companies reported that guarding 35% unarmed and 11% armed guards represents nearly half of the services. According to the National Association of Security Companies (Security Solutions, 2006), between 11,000 and 15,000 private security companies employ more than 1 million guards in the United States. Although some guards armed, in 1985 Cunningham and colleagues noted that the number of armed guards following a downward trend (p. 55).
Guards are used in a variety of sectors to protect people and property (e.g., critical infrastructure, commercial, institutional, and residential) and have increasingly been used to support law enforcement and emergency personnel as well as to protect military bases throughout the world (Security Solutions, 2006). In fact, employing guards to protect executives is becoming more popular among companies in the United States, as top executives are viewed as valuable assets (Lerer, 2007). Some companies, such as Oracle and Ford Motor, spend more than $1 million annually to provide security services for top executives. Executive protection typically involves screening visitors at gatehouses, guarding the perimeter of executives‘ personal homes, providing 24-hour protection, and accompanying them on out-of-town trips (Lerer, 2007).
Alarm Monitoring
Alarm services, commonly used in retail and manufacturing markets, involve the use of sensors to detect intrusion. So it will transmit a signal at the premises or a remote location. Central stations, which operate 24 hours a day, can monitor a variety of alarms and then alert the appropriate parties, including the police, fire, and emergency medical services (p. 60). In 2006, alarm installations were fairly evenly split among residential customers (33%), commercial customers (37%), and large industrial customers (30%) (the 2006 installation business report from Security Sales & Integration,
26[13], as cited by Electronic Security Association, n.d.).
Security Guard Investigation
In 2008, around 45,500 private detectives and investigators employed in the United States by private detective agencies. The state and local government, department stores, financial institutions, insurance agencies, and employment security services. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008). Private investigators are hired to collect information through observation and interviews to solve noncriminal cases, including missing persons, medical malpractice. Additionally,
private corporations may hire private investigators for criminal cases such as credit card fraud, internal theft, insurance fraud.
Security Guard Consulting
Security consultants work in diverse fields, including engineering, security management, crisis management, and computer security (Cunningham et al., 1990). The services consulting firms offer may include designing security systems and developing specifications for technological and physical security measures. So, conducting security training, administering polygraph and psychological stress evaluations, and providing expert advice on loss prevention.
Industrial Security Guards Services Skills You’ll Need to Be Successful
Before you decide to hire a guard, be sure each candidate possesses these important security guard skills. For even more qualities a successful security guard should have, read more here.
You can’t put a price on the security of your business. Hiring a security guard is the smart thing to do, while security systems have a role to play; they can’t protect humans in emergencies.
If you’re looking for a commercial security company to protect your business then look no further than Lighthouse Security Service. The company is a licensed/insured private security agency that provides protection to many companies, hotels, and so on. Our security services are having in-depth training to handle various scenarios that can come up on the job.
Make your business protected by contacting Lighthouse Security today and get assistance with any of your business’s security needs.
