How to Choose a Security Services Provider If They All Have the Same Accreditations

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30 September 2021 | Updated 01 October 2021

What accreditations should you look for in a security provider, and what should you do if they all have the same?

Liberty Glennon is the Commercial Executive at Expeditious Services and has worked for the business since 2020. Liberty’s experience includes a 2:1 degree in Business Economics. Liberty brings this unique set of skills to her role at Expeditious, where she is responsible for onboarding clients and sites, preparing proposals, dealing with commercial agreements, keyholding renewals, and liaising with clients as they transition from the Sales team to the Operational team.

Picture: a photograph of Liberty Glennon

What Accreditations Should a Security Company Have?

Accreditations are an absolute necessity for any credible security services provider to attain. But where previously they have been more like badges of honour, today, some are so widely gained that they’ve almost become indifferent. Within many security companies working to achieve and maintain the same accreditations, it can be daunting as a client to distinguish the services apart and trust who to give your custom to.

• SIA ACS audit score – Always ask to see certificates, and check they are on the register.
• British Standards and ISOs. These set the expectations of the level of service you are likely to receive.
• Security licenses are held by the individual employees, but the security service provider needs to proactively track and manage these amongst their team – ask to see how they track these to ensure they’re in-date, valid and appropriate to their role.

How to Choose Between Security Providers?

If you’re finding it difficult to choose a security provider based on their accreditations alone, these are some other suggestions for how to choose the perfect one for your business or client:

• Check accreditations are in-date and valid (you’d be surprised how many claimed, aren’t)
• Check what is most relevant to the services you are requesting
• Case studies
• Testimonials
• Speak with their clients or previous clients – does what they say seem reflective of the service they claim to deliver
• Speak with their team – it’s not just a service they’re providing – you have to have a strong working relationship with your security providers and trust them to protect your assets.
• Check if their values are in alignment with your own. I’ve found having common interests, values and missions really strengthen a working partnership.
• Ask about their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. It could be you have similar interests and locations to be able to collaborate and make a bigger impact together. We’ve recently been planning some beach and river clean-ups with one of our clients.

If you’re considering changing to a new security provider, checking accreditations is important, but so is checking the behind-the-scenes of a business. You’ll be working with them for months or years to come, and being in alignment supports a stronger, more valuable working relationship

Picture: a photograph of a security control room, with various screens

Article written by Libby Glennon | Published 30 September 2021

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