What are the differences between proprietary and contractual security services?

Distinct differences exist between proprietary and contractual security services. However it remains the responsibility of the organization to decide on which one to implement in their respective businesses. In order to do this one clearly needs to understand the differences between the two as well as the advantages and disadvantages involved in the implementation of each respective one. In the case of proprietary security guard services, a company would hire its own security guards as well as all the necessary equipment needed to protect the business. It would also employ a chief security officer to oversee and manage the security functions of the organization. The security operations are entirely managed by the organization. Contractual security guard operations refer to the instances where an organization outsources security to a business that specializes in the field of security. The security company would then be responsible for all the security related issues that may be experienced. The cost of contractual guards is less than those employed directly by the company because the company does not have to invest in training and insurance. Savings can also be made on costs like vacation time and the purchasing of security equipment. Its thus clear that cost is a major difference between proprietary and contractual security services. In the case of an emergency where one require more security guards its more convenient to make use of contractual security than proprietary security services. This is because once

the threat passes, the extra help will be an unnecessary. Contractual security services can just reassign their staff to another location but the in-house guards needs to be kept or face some action from labor unions. The use of contractual security guards also eradicates the lingering threat of labor unions because that is the responsibility of their parent company. Its also believed that contractual security guards are more impartial and generally have higher expertise because they are employed by another company which specializes in security and loss prevention. However in-house security guards might be of a better quality because they were subjected to a tougher hiring process and receive better benefits. I am also of the opinion that having another party with which critical information is shared can create some difficulties and potential problems. There is also a difference with regards to management of proprietary and contractual security services. In the case of in-house security guards one can control their actions and performance more effectively because they are part of the larger business. They can also be trained to fit the needs of the specific organization. However, these tasks are all time consuming and expensive but contractual security services can solve these problems by taking the responsibility of scheduling and training. This being said, having another channel of communication to the guards might complicate and confuse orders and instructions. A business needs to evaluate their needs thoroughly before they make a decision between the two options. Each of the different types has its own unique characteristics and one need to find the one that will benefit your organization the best. This being said, the hybrid approach seems to be the most popular option for the future.