Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Security Firm

So you know it’s time to hire a security firm to protect your property at jobsite, but how do you begin. All websites advertise advanced cameras, service and fair pricing, but how do you really dig deep and find the best security system and the best security firm.

Everyone’s major consideration when contracting with any partners is cost. So many organizations argue that the total cost of a vendor is a deciding factor, but there should be more you consider when hiring another business.

While you may always be able to find someone to do the job for less, the true deciding factor should be return on investment, not the investment amount. And more businesses are responding to that rhetoric. Last year, a study by Spencer Brenneman LLC found that 87% of business-to-business companies had increased their spending on vendors in the previous five years, with 82% seeing those investments pay off.

There are a number of ways to do a cost-benefit analysis of a security firm. The first step is to do your due diligence and learn more about the business and its reputation.

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Security Firm

When you partner with a security firm, you are trusting a third party with the safety of your property, your employees and your reputation. When judging a security firm you want to dig deep to figure out how well they will perform those duties. When trying to determine this, here’s what you should be asking.

1. What is Your Track Record?

The best way to judge a security firm is to see how successful it has been at similar sites. For example, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1 in 10 property crimes occurred in parking lots or garages. If you are looking to secure your parking lot at your business, you’ll want to see case studies of reduced crime at parking lots, examples of how cameras can be used to protect garages and examples of the best solutions for this specific problem. Similarly, as a construction firm, you wouldn’t work with a company that has never secured a jobsite. 

More than case studies or other marketing materials, you will want to ask for referrals in your industry in order to best see a security firm’s track record of securing similar sites. A company that is hesitant to offer referrals or reviews, that should be a red flag for you to consider.

2. What Technology Are You Using?

As technology continues to improve, so should your security systems. A successful security firm will be up-to-date on industry trends and trends in technology manufacturing so they are using the correct camera for the job. Better technology helps all aspects of your security system work better, from immediate response time to prevention and deterrence. 

Using outdated tech can not only put your business at risk, but it can also cost your business money. Incorrect cameras or camera placement can increase the need for boots-on-the-ground. If you choose to use advanced cameras, analytics and virtual guards, there are considerable cost savings compared to using security officers. 

3. Where is Monitoring Based?

When partnering with a security firm with remote monitoring, you’ll want to know where operations are based. There are a number of benefits to working with U.S.-based monitoring centers. Operators at US Based Monitoring Centers can more easily communicate with law enforcement, business stakeholders, and the justice system. 

4. What Services Are Included?

For the cost of doing business with a security firm, you’ll want to know what’s included. Does the cost include 24/7 monitoring? Software upgrades? Maintenance and hardware support? The more robust a firm’s offerings, the more return on investment you’ll receive.

Site Assessments

One additional item you’ll want to secure from your security provider is a site assessment. Security is not one size fits all. There is no singular solution that will work for all jobsites or buildings. Just like your business is unique, so are your security needs. A qualified security provider should offer you a site walkthrough and assessment to best understand the most effective way to protect your property. 

Customer Service

While much of security is based on technology, a human touch is still an important factor to consider when hiring a vendor. If issues do arise, you want to know how responsive a company will be, how they handle issues and how quickly problems are resolved.

5. What Certifications Do You Hold?

A qualified security firm should be backed with industry and state certifications. Some gold standards to look for are:

• UL Central Station Service Certification: UL certified monitoring centers must adhere to strict requirements and demonstrate compliance on an annual basis.
• The Monitoring Association’s Five Diamond Certification: This certification means that monitoring centers are committed to random inspections and quality criteria, customer service, ongoing training and education, raising industry standards, and reducing false dispatches.