Armed vs Unarmed Security

Running a business in today’s risky world means that security isn’t optional anymore- it’s a business essential. The smartest company owners or facility managers understand their workplace’s need for the best security options and security guard services. Tailored security solutions lead to:

• Smoother successful business operations.
• Reduced risk of disruptions from theft, vandalism, or workplace incidents- resulting in more uptime.
• Protections in place from threats and the unexpected.
• Lowered long-term costs because of fewer insurance claims, reduced liability, less reactive cleanup costs.
• Secure customers, employees, products, premises, and data.
• Security protection that is customized to reflect your company’s brand.

So what are the main factors to consider when choosing security guard options? First, is your business better suited for hiring private security (armed vs. unarmed) security guards working for a security company? Or should your business actually establish its own in-house (proprietary) guards working directly for the company? (Proprietary guards are often used by large companies that want to heavily control/customize their brands- e.g. some hospitals, banks, company headquarters, cruise ships, or hotels).

Most companies opt to use private security companies for their businesses, primarily because of the reduced administrative burden. A private security company does all their own hiring, background checks, personnel training, shift assignments, insurance, and payroll, and is flexible to adjust or expand services as needed. This gives companies the choice of a “turnkey” private security company product, with all the trained guards, coverage, flexibility, and legal/liability protection they need for their security.

9 Key Questions For Choosing The Right Security Guard Services

1. Is your workplace in a low-risk setting?

Office building (with no public access)

Small business in gated business park

Medical/dental office with daylight hours only

Boutique store in a low crime neighborhood

Library

Low-traffic warehouse

Gated community or apartment complex

2. Is your workplace in a medium-risk setting?

Retail store in a higher traffic or urban area

Hotel

School or university

Open apartment complex

Daytime or small-scale event

3. Is your workplace in a high-risk setting?

Bank High-end retail, electronics, or jewelry store

Bar or nightclub

Cannabis dispensary or pharmacy

Check cashing store, payday loan shop, or other cash-centric businesses

Hospital (especially high stress areas such as the ER)

Airport or transportation hub

Politically sensitive or protest-prone business Remote site with valuable assets (like a data center, mining operation, utility company, or construction zone)

4. What types of crime do you need to prevent?

For instance, crimes in a low-risk setting would tend to be theft, trespassing, and after-hours break-ins. Medium risk settings would involve additional crimes like shoplifting, vandalism, unauthorized access, dispute resolution, and emergency situations or evacuations. Security guards for businesses in high risk settings might deal with robbery, employee theft, fraud, targeted attacks, crowd control, fights, intoxicated patrons, attempts at stealing cash or controlled substances. In addition, terrorism, crowd control problems, smash-and-grabs, vandalism, demonstrations, and emergency evacuation or lockdowns are also possibilities in high risk settings. So company business owners or facility managers have to obtain trained guards that can deal with any issues- ranging from shop-lifting, armed robbery, or unauthorized access, to product/equipment theft, crowd control needs, or emergency lockdowns. Try to clarify exactly who your security guards will be deterring:

• Thieves?
• Trespassers?
• Drug dealers?
• Shoplifters?
• Gate crashers?
• Drunken rowdies?
• Vandals?
• Terrorists?
• Hackers?
• Cybercriminals?

5. Is your business in an area that is under-served by police or emergency services?

Your business may be a 24/7 convenience store, outlying distribution center, fast food place, used car lot, or construction site with valuable tools/copper. But from past experience, you know that your area is underserved by emergency services. Any emergency calls have resulted in very long response times by the police- sometimes they never showed up. You know that taking self-reliant actions to meet your company’s own security needs is your primary choice.

6. What are your budget restrictions?

Note that national average hourly costs for unarmed guards can range from $15-35/hour/guard, and for armed guards costs range from $35-$100/hour/guard- based on skills, training, and experience. Other cost adjustments are for major cities and different regions, for overnight shifts, or for high-risk sites like banks or dispensaries. Additional costs will vary if they are for long or short-term contracts, mobile patrol services, event security, armored transport, or VIP bodyguard services.

7. Does a security company have the right insurance coverage for you?

That cheapest quote from a security company might not reveal that the cheaper provider does not have general liability or workers’ compensation insurance. If something goes wrong, your business might have to use your own insurance to cover claims, or face premium hikes too.
Also search for a security company that has enough coverage for potential losses. What if they make a mistake that leads to a $500,000 loss, but their coverage only goes up to $100,000- guess who covers the rest? And note that basic general liability (slip-and-fall) insurance simply covers damages from a guard’s actions, not inactions. You must make sure that the private security company you choose carries professional liability insurance or “failure to act” insurance as well. This insurance will cover the inaction part in any situation- such as a guard failing to follow protocol during a fire, resulting in damages or harm- you’re protected from paying for resulting damages. Paying more for a security guard company with well insured guards could save you in the long run.

8. What exact tasks do you want your security guards to perform?

Itemize the projected security tasks that you need and want done. These tasks could include a diverse range of activities- such as armored transport, surveillance operations, mobile patrolling of guards by foot, bike, or car, theft prevention, verifying ID and sign-ins at access points, after-hours warehouse security, retail theft prevention, enforcement of noise/curfew rules in a housing complex, securing construction site perimeters, and much more.

9. Are there any customer or employee comfort levels to consider when using security guards?

For example, armed guards would seem intimidating, mismatched, or out of place for a particular business, like a coffee shop, bookstore, family restaurant, daycare center. Would unarmed or undercover guards work better in those places? On the other hand, would armed guards provide the benefits of a sense of protection or professionalism in businesses such as a bank, company headquarters, high-end luxury or jewelry retailer, cannabis facility, or courthouse/government building?

Answering these 9 initial questions thoroughly will help you determine the amount and type of security guard coverage specifically necessary for your business. Ultimately this will lead you to face the key question of whether to use armed security guards or unarmed security guards.

Do You Choose Unarmed Or Armed Security?

To choose between unarmed security benefits vs. armed security benefits a summary of the main PROS and CONS between unarmed and armed guards is helpful:

	Armed Security Guards	Unarmed Security Guards
PROS	Best for high risk businesses	Best for low/medium risk businesses
	Visible deterrents, provide rapid threat response	Proactive at crime prevention- will identify/report threats and suspicious activities
	Trained in high-risk situations, forcefully protecting high value people and property	Trained in conflict de-escalation techniques, relying on surveillance, communication, crisis resolution/management
	Trained, certified, & licensed to carry and use firearms	More cost-effective Less liability due to unarmed status
	Give businesses greater assurance levels against violent threats	Customer friendly, security without intimidation

	Armed Security Guards	Unarmed Security Guards
CONS	More expensive to hire due to extra training, higher wages and insurance	Not useful for high risk situations
	May be seen as too aggressive or not a good fit for company brand	May not be able to defend themselves or others during serious criminal attacks
	Can make customers uncomfortable	Provide less deterrence factor than armed guards
	Have increased liability risks when firearms are involved in case of shooting incidents	Are only for crime de-escalation rather than active crime prevention with use of lethal force

It must be noted here that many unarmed guards are also former law enforcers and veterans, who are trained to handle dangerous situations just as armed security guards are. They may not have firearms, but they often carry non-lethal weapons like tasers or batons. Their presence is not as intimidating, which may be more in keeping with a customer-facing business too. Use of unarmed guards usually involves less legal and liability issues. A wider range of companies use unarmed guards as a more cost-effective lower risk choice than armed guards.

Do You Still Have Questions?

If you are still unsure which security solution is the correct one for your business, The City Guards has options for you. We are a professional centralized platform that specializes in everything security-related- offering the latest technology news and tools in the security industry. Our foremost specialization is AI driven security management software TCG Suite for security guard companies. We help security guard companies with their search engine optimization, and direct them in their marketing strategies.

But additionally, for businesses like yours that need security company services in their area- we at TCG have compiled top-rated security guard vendor listings for many areas. Use our easy online link to connect with leading local security vendors. Let them know what services your company needs, and they’ll REACH OUT TO YOU with their offerings and prices. Easily choose a reliable partner for your company’s security needs with The City Guard’s premium listings.

Armed vs unarmed security guards? Let our best listings of vetted security guard companies in your area help you with either! Go online now at https://thecityguards.com/ – scroll down for the black box that says

“Connect With Local Security Vendors- Discover leading security agencies in your desired area and choose a reliable partner for your security needs.”

Enter your zip code and GET STARTED.

Or if you have additional questions, fill out The City Guards CONTACT US link.
Reach out to us today at https://thecityguards.com/. We want to help you.