The role of private security in a hybrid working world

COVID-19 has undoubtedly impacted all industries, leaving its mark for years to come. Multiple lockdowns forced businesses across multiple sectors to reassess the way they worked, with many adapting to working from home due to the various stay-at-home orders.

Data from a 2021 ONS survey revealed that 25.7 percent of the UK workforce, or 8.4 million people, worked from home during the pandemic, more than doubling the 2019 figure of 12.4 percent. A further nine million people were placed on furlough, meaning they were absent from offices, required to stay at home.

Alarm response services

While a national lockdown and the introduction of furlough meant a general drop in crime, as more people were at home, it unfortunately left workplaces more open and potentially vulnerable to attacks than ever before, as they were left empty and abandoned.

The benefits of having on-site security came to the fore during this turbulent time

Here, Commercial Director at CDX Security, Christian Roddy, explores the evolving role of private security in relation to this shift to hybrid working and how the industry has come into its own during this time. The benefits of having on-site security came to the fore during this turbulent time, and three main service areas became increasingly instrumental as many offices, retail spaces, and hospitality venues closed their doors: private security, and keyholding and alarm response services.

Remote working model

From taking a look at Google search trend data, the search volume for ‘security officers’ reached an all-year high in the week of 20th March 2020 when the UK entered its first lockdown. More people than ever were searching for security officers to guard their premises as we transitioned to a temporary remote working model.

With the PM having recently revoked the latest work from home order, many businesses will be ready to return to office working. However, there’s no doubt that many companies will be embracing a hybrid model, with two in five companies saying they are willing to embrace hybrid working by 2023. Hybrid working leaves many UK businesses needing similar types of support to reinforce this increased flexibility. While offices will be busy some days, they could be empty the next – leaving them unprotected and potentially vulnerable to crime.

Private security firms

Private security firms quickly became a necessity for many UK businesses, with many offices, warehouses

Property security became a number one priority throughout lockdown as many buildings were left unprotected and unmonitored. Private security firms quickly became a necessity for many UK businesses, with many offices, warehouses, factories, restaurants, bars, and more closing their doors to both staff and the general public – potentially with valuable equipment and stock being left in the premises.

The security industry was able to offer the reassurance that these companies needed that their premises and any valuable contents were kept safe during this time. While it’s unlikely we’ll see a full lockdown again, the introduction of hybrid working in the corporate world means businesses, particularly those occupying office spaces, will continue to need support from private security firms.

Hybrid working world

Having on-site, private security can be an efficient way to safeguard against security threats and is a visible way of warding off potential criminals. Whether it be trespassing, an intruder, or a burglary, security guards can quickly solve the task and this additional layer of protection will be essential to businesses as we move into a hybrid working world.

Having on-site, private security can be an efficient way to safeguard against security threats

The pandemic also saw an influx of keyholding services requests as site managers found themselves away from premises due to government restrictions. Keyholding involves the employment of a 24-hour mobile response team that acts as a point of contact to an alarm monitoring company.

In the event of a break-in, emergency, or any suspicious activity, keyholders are on hand to handle the situation and gain safe entry to the building. An internal keyholder is not always available out of hours, so private security can step in when needed most.

Trained security personnel

Alarm response has also become more prevalent in the wake of the pandemic, with independent, third parties being employed to respond to potential intruders or disturbances.

Alarm response has also become more prevalent in the wake of the pandemic

Trained security personnel can be on hand for any potential issues, providing invaluable peace of mind for business owners and employees alike. The seismic cultural shift we’ve seen in the workplace over the past two years has completely transformed the way we work, meaning business owners are more flexible with how they expect their staff and businesses as a whole to operate.

Mitigating potential threats

Security services are always operating in the background, keeping employees, visitors, and the general public safe and mitigating potential threats. Remote and hybrid work has shone a light on the importance of having this additional layer of protection, providing a reassuring security presence on-site during quiet periods as well as over the weekend and during the holidays.

Businesses should not underestimate the importance of investing in dedicated security services. Not only does 24-hour private security eliminate risk to anyone on site, it also means you can rely on trained security professionals to take care of things on your behalf, quickly and safely.