Many types of locations require some degree of security services. Even if you have significant experience deploying security, it's a good idea to think about the right size for the detail at your place. Take a look at four ways to determine how big the security team should be.

Porosity

A based idea in the security world is porosity. Is the location leaky? If you have a building with only a handful of controlled access points, you might be able to station a security guard at each and maintain a small detail of guards. Conversely, someone protecting an open space with significant public access in multiple locations may need quite a bit more security.

Look at the location with an eye to how a person might get in. Are there hallways that route around security zones? If so, you may need to station more people to watch those areas.

Consider low-probability but high-risk scenarios, too. Could a group of people collect and present a hazard? Does the location funnel them into a tight and controllable space? If security guards ended up overwhelmed in one spot, could they regroup elsewhere and still provide protection? While adding staff won't magically make a location better, it can provide more support at these critical moments.

Peak Traffic

Where more people go through an area, there's an inherently greater risk. You must plan your security service needs around peak traffic. Do so even if the peak is brief. Maintain more people than necessary for the peak, and keep them around until you know for sure things will die down again. Have some flexibility to keep an extra security guard around if the peak doesn't let off quickly so you're not understaffed due to scheduling.

A good rule of thumb is to have one security guard for every 50 people who will be present at any given time. Employees count toward this figure, too. Never assume people on-site can't pose security problems.

Monitor the current performance of your security team, too. If it seems like they're operating at or beyond capacity, bring in more people. It's better to have one too many guards than one too few.

Site Value

Some locations need security more than others. There aren't many organizations protecting parking lots with intense security. However, banks, jewelry dealers, cash businesses, and other high-value operations may be targets.

Area

The secured area is also an issue. You might not have to deal with tones of people, but covering a lot of real estate can be hard for a single security guard. If you have a vast warehouse, for example, it doesn't have to be porous to pose a security challenge.

Contact a local security guard service to learn more.

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