When it comes to securing your property, you need the right security provider to protect your assets as well as safeguard your business interests.
It doesn’t matter what kind of property you run in Singapore – be it an office, condo, warehouse, retail outlet, construction site, or facility – a credible security partner can help protect your people, property, and business information and help streamline your business operations.
When looking to engage a security services provider, it’s important to look beyond pricing to find a security partner that meets your needs. You need to look into their experience, staffing levels, technology, and how quickly and effectively they are able to adapt to your requirements.
Recognize Your Security Risks
Prior to engaging a security services company, you first need to assess your security risks. The location and size of your property, your business hours, the volume of visitors, and the nature of your business are some factors that help inform your security risks and requirements.
Based on your business and operations, you may require access control and protection for your reception area, visitor management, and/or surveillance. A warehouse may require perimeter and vehicle checks, as well as protection from unauthorized entry. A venue may require crowd control and management.
When assessing your risks, a security services company should recommend solutions based on those risks and not offer a one-size-fits-all solution.
Assess Their Experience and Scope
Experience is important for any security services company, and experience across a wide range of industries is a good indication of the company’s ability to adapt and respond to various environments.
How long have they been in business? Have they ever been sued?
What kind of properties do they usually secure? The types of clients a security company provides services for say a lot about the company.
What kind of incidents do they usually handle? How many security incidents do they deal with? How many calls do they get?
Do they have experience with crowd control? What kind of experience do they have with event security? Have they ever had to provide after-hours monitoring?
The right security company will have practical experience and be able to provide operations based on that practical experience rather than just providing a security guard or two at your location.
Security Personnel and Training
How does the security company recruit security officers? How do they train security officers? How do they supervise and develop officers? Do they use practical assessments or exams?
Ask for supervisory observations of security officers. Officers should know how to manage access and visitors. They should be trained to deal with various types of emergencies and how to report incidents.
Ask about communication and conflict management training. Security officers are often the first point of contact for your company, and how they interact with customers and employees can affect the perception of your company.
Some providers can offer new technologies in addition to traditional manpower to increase your security and visibility. Think about video visitation in addition to security personnel. Cameras and alarm systems can be included as part of a security package. The right security company will be able to evaluate where technology can complement physical security rather than just adding unnecessary systems.
For example, CCTV can help security teams monitor larger areas, and access control systems can restrict entry to authorized personnel. When these systems are integrated with trained security officers, businesses can achieve a more effective and efficient security system.
Check Response Times and Incident Management
Security is critical during an incident. There should be clear internal procedures for first responders to understand the process for responding to and managing incidents, as well as how to communicate with the client to determine if the situation requires police or emergency services involvement.
Consider how the company handles security breaches, suspicious activity, and incidents, and how they report and brief management on these occurrences.
Good incident management also incorporates two-way communication among security officers, supervisors, and the client, as well as emergency services when necessary.
Look for a Security Partner Who Can Adapt and Change with You
Business needs are ever-changing; as a result, the security requirements of a business need to adapt and change.
Rather than choosing a provider based on the number of guards offered, consider whether the company can create a flexible and adaptive security plan for your business.
Consider All Aspects of Security Service Offerings When Comparing Companies
When comparing security companies, businesses should consider the service offerings rather than the price. Some key elements to consider include the quality of guards, supervision, technology, reporting and customer support, procedures, and flexibility of the company.
Using a less expensive security service could end up costing you more. Disrupting your business due to operational losses, losses due to theft, and unauthorized access are all risks associated with using a lower-end security service.
The goal is to find a service that offers a balance between price, service, and technology.
Ask the Right Questions Before Hiring
Before entering into an agreement, businesses should ask security providers the following questions:
- What industries do you have experience serving?
- How are security officers trained and supervised?
- What technology-based security solutions do you offer?
- How do you handle security incidents?
- How quickly can you provide additional manpower?
- How do you monitor the performance of your officers?
- What kind of reports will we receive?
- Can your solution be adapted to our site?
The answers to these questions should help you discern if a service is capable of fulfilling your requirements.
Conclusion
The best security partner is one that cares about your business. A security partner should be prepared to invest time and resources to learn your needs and have the willingness to provide flexible, technology-enabled services to address those needs.