Why a Commercial Security Guard Won't Protect Your Business

You’re paying tens of thousands of dollars a year for a security guard, thinking your business is protected. But here’s the harsh truth, security guards don’t stop crime.

Criminals aren’t scared of a guy with a flashlight, half-asleep in a warm car, scrolling through his phone. They know exactly how to outsmart human security, and they do it every single day. Meanwhile, you’re stuck with a false sense of security and an outrageous bill for protection that doesn’t exist. 

Security guards have been the go-to solution for decades, but the game has changed. Thieves and vandals are faster, smarter, and more coordinated than ever before. They don’t break in hoping to get lucky - they plan. And they know security guards can be asleep at the wheel, inattentive, distracted, overwhelmed, or even - at the absolute worst - complicit.

At best, a guard might catch a crime after it happens. At worst, they sleep through it - or worse, help make it happen.

Business owners need to face the true reality. Traditional security measures are outdated, unreliable, and a massive waste of money - and we’re not talking just security guards, we also mean unverified security solutions.

The only way to truly protect your assets is to prevent criminals from ever stepping foot on your property in the first place, or if they do then verify the threat for rapid police response times.

That’s where Sonitrol comes in. Before we get to the real solution, let’s break down why commercial security guards fail - every single time.

What is a Commercial Security Guard?

A commercial security guard is a hired individual responsible for monitoring and protecting a business’s physical assets.

They are typically stationed in a warm monitoring office watching a static screen of CCTV Cameras. Give it a try, turn on a live feed of a camera on the internet and try to stay awake for hours watching nothing and see how long you can stay awake - it won’t be long. Maybe they conduct patrols, which is dangerous because they are exposed to being captured and tied up.

Security guards may be employed directly by a company or contracted through a private security firm. Their job is to deter crime, monitor suspicious activity, and intervene in emergencies.

Unlike modern verified security systems, which rely on verified alarm detection that sends live video to real-time monitoring staff, security guards are limited by human capabilities. They can’t be everywhere at once, it is tough to stay awake, they have personal biases that affect decision-making, and they lack the technological advantages of modern security solutions.

Despite their presence, security guards are often seen as a passive deterrent rather than an active line of defence. Criminals who are smart, or just determined, know exactly how to get around them or incapacitate them.

How Are Commercial Security Guards Used to Protect Businesses?

Many businesses still rely on security guards to oversee their properties and there are environments when utilizing a guard makes sense because the site cannot be locked down such as hospitals, malls, gated entry points or concierge desks at large residential or office towers.

These premises all have multiple approved entries through a 24-hour period, making guards a valuable addition to their security solution.

Guards however should not be used to protect construction sites, equipment compounds or warehouses that shut down at night. These sites are ideal for Sonavision monitored video because it is a fraction of the cost of an ineffective guard.

They’re commonly used for:

• Construction Sites: Guards monitor materials, equipment, and entry points to prevent theft or vandalism.
  
  
• Office Buildings: Many large office complexes employ guards to control access, manage visitors, and provide a sense of security to employees.
  
  
• Retail Stores: Guards patrol shopping centres and retail locations, often acting as a deterrent to shoplifting and internal theft.
  
  
• Warehouses and Distribution Centres: Businesses use guards to monitor access points and reduce the risk of inventory loss.
  
  
• Gated Communities and Residential Properties: Some security guards manage entry gates and patrol common areas to ensure residents’ safety.

While these applications sound reasonable in theory, in practice, security guards fail to provide real protection. Let’s break down why.

Do They Really Protect Your Assets?

The true reality is, that without a verified security solution in place, guards are simply not a good solution when it comes to protecting your construction sites, equipment compounds or warehouses. Here are some key reasons why:

1. Not Cost-Effective

Paying for a security guard is one of the least efficient ways to protect your business. A single guard can cost upwards of $10,000 per month - and that’s for just one person. Need more coverage? Multiply that cost. Even at those rates, guards can only be in one place at a time, leaving huge gaps in your security.

2. Limited Coverage and Vigilance

Security guards are bound by human limitations. They can’t have eyes everywhere at once, and they certainly don’t have the superhuman awareness needed to detect every threat. Many guards sit in warm cars or trailers, taking breaks, checking their phones, or even dozing off. And let’s not pretend it doesn’t happen - some even participate in the theft themselves.

3. Subjectivity and Human Error

Even the best security guards are flawed by human nature. What one guard sees as a threat, another might ignore. Some guards hesitate to take action, while others create unnecessary disturbances. The inconsistency leads to false alarms, or worse, no alarms at all while a criminal walks off with your assets.

4. Slow Response Times

Security guards don’t have the instant response capabilities that modern verified security systems provide. If a crime occurs on the other side of a property, they may not even know it’s happening until it’s too late. And even if they do, their response depends entirely on their judgement, physical ability, and willingness to engage a threat.

5. Potential for Legal Issues

When security guards mishandle a situation, business owners pay the price. Whether it’s excessive force, wrongful detainment, or a simple misunderstanding that escalates, a single mistake can lead to lawsuits and liability nightmares.

6. Technology Has Surpassed Human Capability

Audio intrusion detection technology is lightyears ahead of anything a security guard can do. Controlled access, verified alarms, and live audio intrusion detection don’t suffer from fatigue, bias, or hesitation. Criminals fear technology that works like Sonitrol… they don’t fear security guards.

7. Scalability is a Nightmare

Need to ramp up security? With guards, that means hiring more people, training them, and hoping they show up to work. With Sonitrol, scaling up protection is as easy as expanding system coverage - no hiring, no human error, no stress.

Sonitrol’s Verified Alarms Are the Only True Way to Deter and Prevent Criminals From Targeting Your Business

Just like security guards, most alarm companies don’t protect your business either. Motion sensor alarms are ignored by police due to rampant false alarms. DIY camera systems are reactive, not preventive. Criminals know they have time to steal because police don’t even bother responding to these unverified alarms.

Sonitrol changes the game. Our verified alarms ensure police response times in under 3.5 minutes, making us the fastest, most effective security solution in the industry - there’s a reason why we have helped police forces apprehend more than 187,000 criminals.

But we don’t just catch criminals, we stop them before they even try. Our combination of integrated audio intrusion detection, monitored Sonavision, and managed access control creates an impenetrable security system that actively deters crime.

• Real-Time Monitoring and Verification: Criminals don’t stand a chance when law enforcement is notified before they even break in.
  
  
• Guaranteed Police Response: Our verified alarms mean no ignored calls, no delayed action… just fast, decisive intervention.
  
  
• Crime Deterrence: Criminals avoid Sonitrol-protected businesses because they know they will be apprehended by police.
  
  
• Superior Cost-Efficiency: For less than the cost of a single security guard, you get 24/7 coverage with zero human error.

It’s time to ditch ineffective security measures. Security guards are an outdated relic of the past - Sonitrol is the present and future of security. Don’t just watch criminals steal from you, deter them before they even try.

And we’re ready to put our money where our mouth is. No other alarm business will have a Guaranteed Commitment to Service like us. If they did they would never make any money!

Reach out for a free security plan for your business today.