According to one recent study, a massive 1.5 million commercial burglaries took place during 2015 alone. Almost 30% of those targeted retail businesses in particular and combined cost companies in the United States an enormous $800 million.
Statistics like those may very well be contributing to your desire to hire the best-armed security company – because sometimes, a security system alone just isn’t enough to keep everything you’ve already worked so hard to build protected.

But at the same time, it’s critically important for you to acknowledge that not all armed security partners are created equally. They will all have their unique approach to the services they offer, and sometimes that just won’t align with what you need or expect.

That’s okay, however, because the process of finding the best-armed security company for your organization is a lot more straightforward than you might think. It simply requires you to watch out for a few key characteristics and keep a few things in mind.

Finding an Armed Security Company: An Emphasis on Training

The best-armed security companies are as good as their officers are. That is why the most important thing to look for in an armed security company is the level of training they provide to their officers.
No security company should just be pulling people in off the street – this is particularly true if they’re going to be armed. Instead, all guards should receive online and classroom that meets or exceeds all state requirements. That training should be going on throughout the year to ensure that guards are always up-to-date regarding things like the best practices of conflict resolution and de-escalation.
It’s also important to remember that even though you’re investing in armed security guards, the actual use of physical force should always be a last resort. This is especially true if your location is open to members of the public regularly.

Environment-Specific Experience

The best-armed security companies should also provide access to guards who have experience protecting the specific types of environments they’ll be working with while on your business. The safety concerns that come with industrial locations like warehouses or manufacturing facilities are very different from those you would have to account for in a retail environment or office building. The same is true of larger environments like event spaces. Each type of location has its unique risks that need to be accounted for, and your armed security company partner should be able to do precisely that.

mobile patrol security officer

Armed security company should be able to provide officers trained in things like security alarm response, for example. Depending on where your business is located, something as simple as an alarm going off may not be enough for local authorities to send a police officer. Instead, they’ll need someone on-site to verify the activity that triggered the alarm in the first place.

The Critical Nature of Fast Response Times

The guards that your security company provides should go to the area and immediately verify what event is taking place in the safest way possible. They should be able to confirm or deny that any type of break-in has occurred. They should be able to maintain control over the situation until the proper authorities arrive.
The best-armed security companies are always ready to respond to your needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. There shouldn’t be any vulnerabilities in your protection just because guards are only available at specific times of the day.

Visibility Into the Security Process

Another one of the major qualities you’ll want to look for in an armed security company is the level of visibility they provide you in terms of what they’re doing. Many reputable providers these days will offer GPS patrol tracking, for example, to help make sure that your armed security guards are checking the sites you’ve asked them to regularly.

This type of GPS technology works by allowing security guards to highlight specific areas of interest on a map. Patrols will then be instructed to check these precise areas as often as possible, in addition to the work they’re doing on their more significant route. This in and of itself is a great way to monitor particular assets or areas of concern without losing visibility into the rest of your environment.

A Versatility of Services

Any armed security company you work with should be able to provide more than just foot patrol services. Mobile security patrol services are essential, as they go a long way towards keeping criminals away and keeping your business as safe as possible at all times.
Mobile security patrols are precisely what they sound like – a chance for an armed guard to travel the perimeter of your location in a marked car with flashing lights on top. Any areas that are not accessible by car will still be observed on foot. Still, the presence of the significant vehicle is a meaningful way to deter potential criminals who may be in the area. It also adds a level of legitimacy to your security and even lets you enforce property rules like loitering, parking issues, and more.

The Importance of Licenses

Finally, any armed security company that you work with needs to show you that they have the licenses necessary to protect your environment moving forward adequately. Every armed security company aiming to be the best will have all of their security guards fully licensed to carry guns in the first place. But they also need to have all appropriate credentials and be appropriately licensed in the specific jurisdiction they’ll be working.
Some states have a centralized licensing authority that regulates how security guard companies can work with private businesses, for example – with Colorado, Michigan, and Wyoming being top examples. Others have little-to-no regulation. If you live in an area without widespread licensing, you’ll want to fall back on an armed security guard company’s training regimen for the reasons outlined above.
In the end, you need to understand that there truly is no “one size fits all” approach to picking out an armed security company. As stated, most companies will have their unique approach to and philosophy behind what they do. Therefore, you can’t start with a security company and hope that they’ll be able to meet your needs. Instead, begin by making an effort to understand what your unique requirements are. At that point, you can work your way towards an armed security company that checks as many of those boxes as they can.
If you’d like to learn more about how the best-armed security companies like ours can help your business meet your needs, click here. Or, if you’d just like to discuss your situation with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t hesitate to give us a call- contact DMAC Security today.