What Does a Security Company Do? Types of Security Services in BC
What Does a Security Company Do? Types of Security Services in BC
Written by Paul Thandi, Operations Manager, On Guard Security Ltd. — 10+ years in BC security · Updated September 2026
A security company protects people, property and assets by placing trained, licensed security staff where they're needed: at a front desk, on patrol, at an event or at the door of a store. If you manage a building, run a business or plan events in British Columbia, you'll eventually have to decide which security services you need and who should provide them. This guide explains what a security company actually does, the main types of security services available in BC, how licensing works for both companies and guards, and how to match the right service to your property.
Key takeaways
A security company provides trained, licensed people who deter, detect and report threats to property and people. Guards observe, report and call emergency services; they do not have police powers.
The main types of security services are static (on-site) guards, mobile patrol, concierge security, event security, fire watch, loss prevention, alarm response and construction site security.
In BC, the company must hold a security business licence and every guard must hold a security worker licence under the Security Services Act.
The right service depends on your risk, your hours and whether you need someone on site all the time or checks at intervals.
You can check any guard's or company's licence yourself with the province's free online verification tool.
A security company assesses a client's risks, then supplies and manages the licensed people who reduce them. The work breaks down into four jobs:
Deter. A visible, uniformed guard or a marked patrol vehicle makes a property a harder target for theft, vandalism and trespass.
Detect. Guards notice what cameras and alarms miss: an unlocked door, a propped fire exit, a leak in the parkade, someone who shouldn't be there.
Respond and report. Guards act within their authority, call police, fire or ambulance when needed, and write up what happened.
Serve. Many security roles are also about customer service: greeting visitors, managing access, helping residents and guests.
Behind the guard on site, the company handles the parts clients don't see: hiring, licensing, training, scheduling, supervision, backup when someone calls in sick, insurance and reporting. That management layer is a large part of what you're paying a security company for.
Key insight: A security company's real product is reliability. Anyone can put a person in a uniform; the value is a licensed, briefed guard on every shift, backed by supervision and a written record of what happened.
Security services are the paid activities a licensed security business provides to protect a client's people, property and operations. BC law gives a practical definition. Under the Security Services Act, a "security guard service" includes providing or supervising a guard patrol or watch of property, guarding an individual, performing services to prevent the loss of property, and providing door security at liquor-licensed establishments.
The Act also covers other security businesses that aren't guard companies: armoured car services, locksmiths, private investigators, security alarm services, security consultants and body armour vendors. So "security services" can mean anything from a guard in a lobby to an alarm installer. This guide focuses on guard-based services, the kind property managers, strata councils and businesses hire most often.
Most guard-based services in the Lower Mainland fall into eight types. Many properties use a combination.
1. Static (on-site) security guards
A guard stationed at one property for a set shift: at a gate, lobby, loading dock or site office. They control access, patrol on foot, watch for problems and report incidents. Static guards suit sites that need a constant presence, such as offices, warehouses and industrial facilities.
2. Mobile patrol
A guard in a marked vehicle visits several properties on a route, checking each one at set or randomised times through the night. It's a cost-effective choice when a full-time guard isn't justified. Our GPS-tracked mobile patrol logs every visit so you can see exactly when your property was checked.
3. Concierge security
A front-desk guard in a condo, apartment or office tower who combines customer service with access control: greeting residents and visitors, handling deliveries, monitoring cameras and responding to building issues. Learn more on our condominium concierge security page.
4. Event security
Guards for weddings, corporate events, festivals and private functions who manage entry, check tickets or guest lists, watch crowds and help with emergencies.
5. Fire watch
Temporary patrols that replace a fire alarm or sprinkler system while it's out of service, or that monitor hot work. The guard follows the patrol interval set by the fire department or the building's fire safety plan and keeps a timed log.
6. Retail loss prevention
Uniformed guards or plain-clothes loss prevention officers who deter and detect theft in stores, malls and plazas. BC's security guard licence type specifically includes loss-prevention services. Our retail loss prevention service covers both approaches.
7. Alarm response
When a monitored alarm goes off after hours, a guard attends, checks the property, secures it if needed and reports back, so a keyholder doesn't have to drive out at 3 a.m.
8. Construction site security
Static guards, patrols or both to protect materials, tools and equipment on sites that are hard to lock up, often combined with fire watch during hot work.
This table shows the services we most often recommend by property type. It's a starting point, not a rule. Your hours, layout and history of incidents matter more.
Property type
Typical services
Why
Condo or apartment building
Concierge security, mobile patrol overnight
Residents want a staffed front desk; parkades and bike rooms need after-hours checks
Office or corporate building
Static guard or concierge, alarm response
Access control during business hours; response to after-hours alarms
Retail store, mall or plaza
Loss prevention, static guard, mobile patrol for parking lots
Theft deterrence inside; visible presence outside
Warehouse or industrial site
Static guard at gate, mobile patrol, alarm response
Large perimeters, high-value stock, overnight risk
Construction site
Static guard, mobile patrol, fire watch
Open sites, valuable equipment, hot work
Hotel
Static guard, concierge-style lobby security
24-hour guest traffic and guest safety
Wedding, party or corporate event
Event security
Entry control, crowd management and emergency support for a set time
Building with an impaired fire alarm or sprinkler
Fire watch
Required temporary protection until the system is restored
BC licenses both the business and the individual. Section 11 of the Security Services Act says a person must not carry on a security business without a valid security business licence (or an exemption), and section 2 says an individual must not do security work without a valid security worker licence for that kind of work.
The Security Services Regulation sets out the licence types. A "security guard" licence covers guard services, including loss prevention, and monitoring or responding to alarms. Other work, such as installing alarms, CCTV or electronic locks, needs different licence types. That's why a guard company and an alarm company are usually separate businesses.
For clients, the practical step is to check. The province runs a free security licence status verification tool where you can look up a licence before you sign a contract or let a guard on site.
Key insight: The same security guard licence covers static, patrol, concierge, event and loss prevention work. What separates a good guard from an average one is site-specific training and supervision, which comes from the company, not the licence.
It helps to set expectations early. Security guards are not police officers and have no police powers. They can't search people at will or hold someone except in the narrow circumstances the law allows. Their strength is prevention: being present, noticing problems early, calling the right emergency service and documenting everything.
BC rules also keep guards clearly distinct from police. Guards must not wear uniforms that resemble police uniforms, and security vehicles can't carry sirens or police-style light bars. A good security company will tell you plainly what its guards can and can't do on your property.
There's no official ranking of the "best" security company. The right provider is the one that fits your site and does the basics reliably. Before you hire, ask:
Is the business licensed, and are the guards licensed? Check both with the provincial tool.
Are you insured and WorkSafeBC compliant? Ask for proof, not just a yes.
How are guards trained for my site? Look for site orientation and supervised shifts before a guard works alone.
Who supervises, and can I reach someone 24/7?
What reports will I get, and how often? Ask for a sample daily activity report and incident report.
What happens when a guard calls in sick? Your site should never be left uncovered.
On Guard Security Ltd. has provided security services across the Lower Mainland for more than 10 years from our base in Surrey. Every guard we place is licensed and JIBC-trained, and new officers complete a week of one-on-one training with a senior officer before working independently. We're WorkSafeBC compliant, fully insured and available 24/7, covering Surrey, Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Langley, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley.
A security company assesses a client's risks and supplies trained, licensed guards to deter, detect and report threats to people and property. It also handles hiring, licensing, training, scheduling, supervision, backup staffing, insurance and reporting, so the client gets reliable coverage on every shift.
What are security services?
Security services are the paid activities a licensed security business provides to protect people, property and operations. In BC, a security guard service includes guarding or patrolling property, guarding an individual, preventing the loss of property, and door security at liquor-licensed establishments.
What are the types of security services?
The main guard-based types are static on-site guards, mobile patrol, concierge security, event security, fire watch, retail loss prevention, alarm response and construction site security. Other security businesses provide alarm installation, locksmithing, private investigation and security consulting.
Which company is best for security?
There's no official ranking. The best company for you is one that is licensed, insured and WorkSafeBC compliant, trains guards for your specific site, offers 24/7 supervision, provides clear written reports and has a plan to cover every shift. Check licences with the province's free verification tool before you hire.
What are the top security companies in Vancouver?
Vancouver has national firms and local Lower Mainland companies, and no independent body ranks them. Compare shortlisted companies on licensing, insurance, local supervision, training, reporting and how quickly they can staff your site. On Guard Security Ltd. is based in Surrey and serves Vancouver and the wider Lower Mainland.
What security services are available in Vancouver?
Businesses and buildings in Vancouver can hire static guards, mobile patrol, concierge security, event security, fire watch, retail loss prevention, alarm response and construction site security. On Guard Security Ltd. provides all of these across Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, Langley, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley.
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