Security Companies in Vancouver: How to Compare Them and Choose
Security Companies in Vancouver: How to Compare Them and Choose
Written by Paul Thandi, Operations Manager, On Guard Security Ltd. — 10+ years in BC security · Updated September 2026
Search for security companies in Vancouver and you'll find a long list of national firms, regional operators and small local outfits, all promising professional, reliable guards. From the outside they look alike. The differences show up later: in who answers the phone overnight, whether the same guards stay on your site, and what the reports look like when something goes wrong. This guide shows property managers, strata councils and business owners how to compare security companies in Vancouver on the things that matter: licensing, service mix, supervision, reporting, contract terms and red flags.
Key takeaways
In BC, the security company needs a security business licence and every guard needs a security worker licence. You can check both with the province's free online tool.
Guards must complete a 40-hour training requirement before they can be licensed, so the licence is a minimum standard, not a mark of quality.
Compare providers on supervision, site training, reporting and backup coverage, not just on the hourly rate.
Local and national firms can both do good work. Ask the same questions of each and judge the answers.
No independent body ranks security companies in Vancouver. Be wary of anyone claiming to be officially "number one".
The simplest way to compare security companies in Vancouver is to score every shortlisted provider on the same five things: whether they're properly licensed and insured, whether they offer the service your property needs, how they supervise and train guards, what reporting you'll receive, and what the contract commits both sides to. Price comes after those, because a cheap quote that fails on any of them is expensive in practice.
Vancouver properties vary widely. A downtown office tower, a strata building with a busy parkade, a retail street and an active construction site each need something different. A good provider starts by asking about your site, your hours and your problems before it talks about price. If the first conversation is only about the hourly rate, that tells you how the rest of the relationship will go.
Licensing is the first filter, and it's easy to check. Under BC's Security Services Act:
A business must not carry on a security business without a valid security business licence.
An individual must not do security work without a valid security worker licence for that kind of work.
A licensed business must not employ or engage anyone for security work unless that person holds a worker licence.
A guard must carry their licence while working and produce it on request.
You can confirm both the company's and a guard's licence with the province's security licence status verification tool. Do it before you sign, and again if new guards appear on your site.
Insurance is the second check. The Security Services Regulation requires a licensed security business to carry general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000. That's the legal floor. Many property managers and landlords ask for more, so ask for a certificate of insurance and check the limits against your own requirements. Ask for WorkSafeBC clearance too, so you're not exposed if a guard is injured on your property.
Key insight: A licence proves a guard has met the provincial minimum. It doesn't tell you how well they've been trained for your building. That part is the company's job, and it's what you're really comparing.
Vancouver is served by large national companies, regional Lower Mainland firms and small independent operators. Each type has strengths. The table below compares the general models, not any specific company. Use it to decide which questions to push hardest on.
What to compare
National or multi-province firm
Local Lower Mainland firm
Question to ask either
Coverage area
Useful if you manage properties in several provinces
Focused on BC sites and local travel routes
Where are your supervisors based, and how do they reach my site?
Decision-making
Often layered: account managers, regional offices, head office
Often shorter chain to operations and ownership
Who can approve a change to my post orders, and how fast?
Contracts
Standardised terms are common
Often more room to tailor scope and terms
Can the scope change as my needs change?
Guard consistency
Varies by branch
Varies by company
Will the same guards stay on my site, and how are replacements briefed?
Specialised services
May offer a wide catalogue
May focus on core guard services
Which of these services do your own employees deliver?
Neither model is automatically better. What matters is how the specific provider answers the right-hand column.
Before you compare quotes, decide what kind of coverage you need. The common options are:
Concierge security for residential towers and offices that want a staffed front desk handling access, visitors and deliveries. See our condo and building concierge service.
Mobile patrol for properties that need checks through the night but not a full-time guard. Our GPS mobile patrol records every visit.
Static guards for sites that need a constant presence, such as warehouses, offices and gated entrances.
Construction site security for open sites with tools, materials and equipment. Learn more about our construction site guards.
Fire watch when a fire alarm or sprinkler system is out of service or hot work is under way.
Event security, loss prevention and alarm response for specific needs.
Many properties use a mix, for example a daytime concierge plus overnight patrol visits. A company that offers only one service may push you toward it whether it fits or not. For how each option is priced, see our security guard pricing guide.
This is where security companies in Vancouver really differ. Every licensed guard has met the same provincial training requirement. According to JIBC, there's a 40-hour training requirement to obtain a licence, covering professionalism and ethics, legal studies, report writing and personal safety. What happens after that depends on the company. Ask:
How is a guard trained for my site? Look for a site orientation, written post orders and supervised shifts before a guard works alone.
Who is my supervisor? You should have a named person and a way to reach the company 24/7.
How often do supervisors visit? Site checks keep standards up and catch problems early.
What will I receive? Ask for a sample daily activity report and a sample incident report. Patrol clients should get time-stamped visit records.
How are incidents escalated? Who calls you, how quickly, and when do guards call police, fire or ambulance?
Are these your direct employees? If shifts are subcontracted, ask who supervises the subcontractor.
Key insight: Ask references how the company handled its last real incident, not how the guards behave on quiet nights. How a provider responds when something goes wrong is the best predictor of value.
The company can't or won't give you its business licence details, or its guards can't show their licences.
No certificate of insurance or WorkSafeBC clearance on request.
Guarantees such as "zero incidents" or "100% crime prevention". No honest provider can promise that.
Marketing or uniforms that look like police. BC rules require guard uniforms to display the word "SECURITY" and the employer's name, bar uniforms that resemble police uniforms, and prohibit advertising that implies a link to a police service.
No sample reports, no named supervisor and no answer about sick calls.
A quote that doesn't state hours, duties or holiday rates.
On Guard Security Ltd. is a locally owned company based in Surrey at 12565 88 Ave, serving Vancouver and the wider Lower Mainland for more than 10 years. Every guard we place is licensed and JIBC-trained, and every new officer completes a week of one-on-one training with a senior officer before working independently. We're WorkSafeBC compliant, fully insured and available 24/7. We provide unarmed guards for concierge, mobile patrol, construction, fire watch, events, retail and commercial sites, on short-term and long-term contracts.
We're happy to be compared on every point in this guide. Call 778-990-5070 or book a site walk-through and we'll recommend coverage that fits your property.
No independent body ranks security companies in Vancouver. The city is served by national firms, regional Lower Mainland companies and small independents. The best choice is a licensed, insured, WorkSafeBC-compliant provider that trains guards for your site, names a supervisor, reports clearly and can cover every shift.
What are the top five security companies?
There is no official top five. Lists online are usually advertising or based on size, not service quality. Shortlist three to five licensed providers that offer the service you need, ask each the same questions about supervision, training, reporting and backup coverage, and compare their written answers and quotes.
What are the top 5 security companies in Canada?
No independent ranking of Canadian security companies exists. Canada has large national firms and many regional companies, and the right one depends on where your properties are. For sites in BC, the company must hold a BC security business licence and use BC-licensed guards, whatever its size.
What are some reputable security companies in Surrey, BC?
A reputable Surrey security company holds a valid BC security business licence, uses licensed guards, carries insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage, and can give you references and sample reports. On Guard Security Ltd. is headquartered in Surrey and has served the Lower Mainland for more than 10 years.
How do I check if a security company in Vancouver is licensed?
Use the Province of BC's free security licence status verification tool to look up the company's security business licence and each guard's security worker licence. Guards must also carry their licence while working and show it on request.
Are security guards in Vancouver armed?
Commercial and residential security in Vancouver is typically provided by unarmed guards who rely on observation, communication and reporting. On Guard Security Ltd. provides unarmed guards only. Guards are not police and have no police powers.
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The reason I called on guard security is because they are local. They did not waste any time from the first phone call. I greatly appreciate the professionalism, service, and peace of mind offered by this security company.
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I was experiencing many incidences of shoplifting at my store and so I hired On Guard Security to provide professional guards. They did a fantastic job and now my business and merchandise are fully protected.
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I was looking for a reliable and affordable security company for my clothing store and On Guard Security Ltd have done a fantastic job! I would definitely recommend them to fellow small business owners.
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I am happy with the performance of On Guard Security Staff assigned to our facilities. The guards respond quickly to needs and questions. I would definitely recommend this security company to others.
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~CrystalStarHomesLtd.
The guards were friendly and very cooperative. Excellent services with prices you can’t turn down. I had 24 hours security patrol on all sites. I would recommend OnGuard Security to anyone who’s looking for security services . Thanks so much Rajan really appreciate your services looking forward to meet again!
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~Jovan Dhillon
Very respectful staff, staff got to my site on time. Would book again
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I would highly recommend On Guard Security. We hired them for my brothers wedding and they provided great service. The staff always showed up on time.
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~Jason Powell
We used On Guard for our building while we were transitioning to our new intercom and entry system. They were always incredibly professional to deal with and the guards showed up well ahead of time and did a great job as we went through the process, which extended longer than expected. On Guard was also great at getting somebody on site the first night we needed them on very short notice. Overall, we were extremely happy with their service.
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Very good company to work with on gaurd ” Rajan is very proffesional and so are the guards. I would definetly reccomend On Guard security”Always Treat like a Famliy
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