What advice should I consider when hiring a security company?

Always ask how, not just what. Security companies live and die on specificity.

It can be hard to decide which security provider is right for you because they all make similar claims — professional training, background checks, quality equipment — but the real difference is in how these are actually implemented. What's considered truly "professional" or "quality" can be highly subjective.

Unscrupulous services often use weasel words to mislead clients into believing what they offer is better than it actually is. Digging deeper into the specifics helps ensure you'll get what you've been promised.

Empty Words

Go to any security company's website and you're likely to see the same statements; "security you can trust," "highly trained professionals," and so on. The vast majority of these claims will fall apart the moment you ask "how".

Most clients aren’t familiar with industry standards or best practices — and many companies count on that. Unfortunately, many of them take advantage of this and portray their offerings as being better than they actually are.

Here are a few examples:

The Claim: "Professional patrol vehicles"

• Civil Security Service: A fully upfitted Ford Police Interceptor, purpose-built for security patrols and stocked with emergency response equipment.
• Other Companies: A faded compact car with peeling decals and cheap strobe lights, often not clearly identifiable as a security patrol.
• Why It Matters: When it comes to effective patrol, the presence a security vehicle provides is critical. A poor quality fleet car creates the impression of weakness, and in some cases, may not even be noticed, both of which defeats the purpose of having a security patrol in the first place.

The Claim: "Our officers are screened and vetted"

• Civil Security Service: A full review of criminal, employment, educational and training records with manual verification, plus a full 12-panel drug screening, pre-employment psychological evaluation, and more.
• Other Companies: At best, an automated service that does a cursory search for criminal convictions with no follow-up verification. At worst, nothing at all. In the case of the latter, these companies usually try to make it sound as if basic licensure is difficult to obtain.
• Why It Matters: No matter the site, security roles are a position of trust. Nevada makes it extremely easy to obtain a security license, which is partly why low quality personnel are so common. Any company that truly wants to provide responsible, competent services cannot rely on state licensing alone; it's simply not enough.

The Claim: "We have services and pricing for any need"

• Civil Security Service: We specialize primarily in premium mobile patrols, with a selection of special services available on a case-by-case basis.
• Other Companies: It seems they'll do absolutely anything — events, consultations, investigations, executive protection, standing guards, armed and unarmed, fire watch, guest services, etc.
• Why It Matters: The security industry is a game of probability, and most companies are willing to take on any work that comes their way, with the understanding that as long as nothing happens, it's easy money for them. Of course, when things go wrong, it's the client that suffers and pays the price. In virtually all cases, companies that offer every service imaginable do none of them well.

Know the Difference Before It Matters

Vague promises make for cheap contracts — and expensive mistakes.

The right provider will always show you how they uphold their standards, not just say they have them. If a company can’t explain how they do what they claim — or dodges the question — that’s your answer. Be wary of companies that try to convince you that the things they don't have are things you don't need.