A Security Guard vs Security Officer share similar priorities – protecting information, people, and premises. However, their role may vary. They are trained in different ways as well. Even big companies often get confused and use these words incorrectly.
The scope of responsibility list of a security officer is comparatively longer than that of security guards. However, you will need both if you have an organization.
Today, we will discuss the roles of a Security Guard vs Security Officer. We will delve into details and understand the differences and more.
What Makes The Roles Different?
A security officer is a watch person with a broader range of responsibilities and the capacity to exercise independent judgment. On the other hand, a security guard is a person assigned to a specific station or patrol area and has minimal autonomous judgment.
A Security Guard vs Security Officer often serves in a managerial capacity and is in charge of an overall security operation. They will delegate jobs and tasks to security guards.
They are expected to have a broader range of expertise and to understand the extent of work required. They are in charge of the security operations at a facility.
There are distinctions between a security officer and a security guard, including who reports to whom and what they do daily.
The following are the primary distinctions between a security officer and a security guard:
- A security officer manages the security personnel and is in control of them.
- A security guard must adhere to the security strategy established by the security officer.
- A security officer is accountable for the entire operation.
- A security guard is exclusively accountable for their designated position or place.
Top Roles of A Security Guard vs Security Officer
1. Stay Visible
One of a security guard’s responsibilities is to make himself or herself noticeable to discourage crimes. If a security guard is on duty, most thieves, shoplifters, muggers, and other criminals will think twice.
Being visible is one of the ways a security guard prevents theft, property destruction, assault, and other heinous activities.
2. To Be Watchful
A security guard keeps an eye out for anything unusual that may cause harm. As a result, the guard must have acute vision, hearing, and smelling abilities.
He should be able to notice unusual sounds, such as someone discreetly attempting to unlock a door. He should be able to detect when someone is attempting to divert his attention away from his responsibilities.
The person should be observant. As a result of these obligations, someone who is either short-sighted or long-sighted will not make an effective security guard.
3. Quick Response
A security guard notices an emergency and acts quickly to control it. To prevent being caught off guard, a security guard must always be on the lookout.
The way a security guard responds to a crisis depends on the danger. A security guard must be able to respond appropriately to a variety of hazardous scenarios.
4. Observing and Reporting
Even when a potentially deadly scenario has been averted, a security guard should not rest just yet. He should continue to observe until he is certain that there are no more issues.
Following a crisis, a security guard should notify his supervisor, the police, or the necessary authorities (such as the fire department in the case of a fire). In this way, further actions might be taken to prevent a recurrence in the future.
5. Monitoring
A security guard may be compelled to follow specific regulations and standards established by his company. Individuals may request that guests be searched before being let in, or that only visitors with an appointment be permitted in.
Similarly, corporations may demand employees to display their ID cards before being allowed access to the workplace. A security guard must examine and guarantee that all regulations are followed in such circumstances.
6. Maintain Order
Large gatherings, such as parties and political or religious meetings, frequently have security personnel present. This step is to protect people and property, to avoid chaos and the collapse of law and order.
7. Provide Safety Warnings
One of the security guard’s roles is to advise his employers on how to avoid security-threatening circumstances.
The person should also describe the potential implications of disregarding these guidelines to persuade his employers to follow his guidance.
Furthermore, a security guard should do all possible to guarantee that all safety procedures are followed.
Check this page to contact Bangladesh’s one of the best security service providers.
Top Roles of A Security Guard vs Security Officer
1. Bringing cyber security and business goals together
A security officer’s role is to ensure that the objectives of your organization’s cyber security program align with the goals that your organization intends to achieve.
One important purpose of this post is to ensure that security personnel and key stakeholders communicate clearly.
Certain cyber security ideas and vocabulary, for example, must be presented in an easy-to-understand way for non-technical users.
It is also critical that security officers advise firms on the security measures that must be implemented when new initiatives are launched.
2. Monitoring Incident Response Activities
Another important function a security officer performs in an organization is overseeing how successfully internal teams address a cyber security problem when it is recognized.
A security officer is expected to step in and oversee incident response if necessary, such as in a severe security breach.
The security officer is in charge of crisis management. They should provide clarity to crucial internal and external stakeholders during a security event.
To successfully communicate information about incident response to upper-level management, security officers must monitor every single information security issue that happens, no matter how little.
3. Encourage a robust information security culture
Another important responsibility of a security officer is to develop a strong information security culture.
To achieve wide security cultural change across the organization, the security officer should serve as a thought leader, constantly conveying their strategy and vision.
This may be accomplished efficiently by personalizing messages to different segments of the organization and remaining relevant to the target audience.
4. Managing vendor relationships
The vendors and service providers with whom you operate pose a substantial danger to your organization’s information security.
To reduce these information security threats, a security officer may assist in ensuring that consistent vendor management policies are in place.
They, for example, might advise and help workers in identifying supply chain cyber hazards and understanding the information security implications of getting into vendor agreements.
5. Disaster Recovery
Another important job of a security officer is to implement current business continuity and disaster recovery strategies.
Security events can have a wide range of consequences for an organization’s well-being; for example, ransomware outbreaks might result in downtime while the firm recovers.
In the wake of a security event, a security officer can be critical in ensuring business continuity.
6. Cyber security awareness and training
Finally, the security officers are accountable for raising a general organizational understanding of the necessity of information security.
Because cyber dangers are continuously developing, with criminals employing new and ingenious methods to deceive workers, the security officer must ensure that everyone inside an organization is up to date on the current cyber threats and advisors.
A security officer’s other important responsibility is to establish and manage the execution of a comprehensive cyber security awareness and training program.
Training Requirement for Both Parties | Security Guard vs Security Officer
A security officer and a security guard both need adequate training for the designated duties they take on.
Although a security officer will need more training because of the additional range of responsibilities, a security guard also has to go through quite a lot of training sessions before they are assumed ready for their duties.
This training will enable them to professionally carry out the security plan.
It makes no difference how good your security management plan is if you fail to train guards or recruit inexperienced personnel.
Depending on the sort of risk you wish to manage, you can request particular or supplementary training.
Additional security guard and security officer training might include:
- Emergency Risk Management
- Anti-Theft
- Anti-Terrorism Management
- Military Service
Who Should You Hire: A Security Guard or a Security Officer?
Since the roles of both of these positions have some dissimilarities, it depends on your need whether you should hire a security guard or a security officer.
If your company needs extra years of experience and expertise, then you should hire a security officer.
On the other hand, if your company/organization requires minimal protection, you can always choose to hire a security guard.
When determining which security professionals to hire, make sure the potential candidate’s training fits your requirements.
Conclusion | Security Guard vs Security Officer
Both parties play a significant role dedicated to definite events. Depending on the need of the circumstances and the arising situations, one should understand whether the company needs a security guard or an officer.
However, both these roles have to go through a set of training to prove capable of their duties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Security Guard’s Major Responsibility?
A security guard is typically in charge of safeguarding people, property, and assets from different threats such as theft, vandalism, and unlawful entry.
What Is The Difference Between A Security Officer And A Security Guard?
Although the phrases “security guard” and “security officer” are sometimes used interchangeably, others believe that a security officer may have a larger range of responsibilities, including more proactive activities in addition to simple monitoring
Can Security Agents Or Guards Conduct Arrests?
The authority to make arrests might vary depending on jurisdiction and training. Security staff may have limited arrest authority in some circumstances, while in others, they may function as witnesses until law enforcement comes.