Outsourcing guarding has become necessary for businesses to mitigate crime, loss, and compliance risks. Provided, of course, that you have done your due diligence. That’s the word from ATG Digital’s Ariel Flax, who cautions against “fly-by-night” operations riding the wave of the industry’s prolific expansion.
Ariel: “There are around 11500 security services providers registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) today compared to 10 200 in 2020. An increase of almost 13% in two years.
“For every registered company, there are countless unregistered ones contending in a highly competitive market,” explains Ariel. He continues, “Unfortunately, most companies only realise they’ve appointed a subpar provider after an incident—that’s a risk a business can’t afford to take.”
When selecting a new guarding company, Ariel offers the following guidelines.
License
Ensure that those tendering for your business are registered with PSIRA and hold an official license to operate under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001.
You can verify a security company’s standing via the PSIRA app for Android and iOS.
Reputation
Conducting research online is a helpful way to compare companies and shortlist the ones that best meet your needs. Ariel recommends looking for the following:
- Online reviews
- Case studies
- Media mentions
Training
“Training should be at the forefront of a security company’s business model,” says Ariel. He explains that regular training ensures that security guards will be aware of the latest security risks and understand how to make strategic risk avoidance and protection decisions.
Management
Effective guarding companies will have evident involvement of their management team. Ariel advises, “When researching various security guarding companies available, it’s also good to ask about their mandate toward follow-up and investigations of criminal activity.”
Technology
“Technology is a driving force in the industry. Look for a company that has invested in tech solutions that support the efficacy of their guards and bolster security. License plate recognition, license scanners, and digitised visitor management are just a few options that can significantly reduce risk.” Ariel concludes.
For all Access Control related information, contact ATG Digital by calling 010 500 8611, WhatsApp 072 055 1187, email sales@atthegate.biz or go to www.atgdigital.biz