A key component of property management is the oversight of security services, which has a direct impact on a property’s operations and profitability. With security playing such a vital role in a property’s bottom line, how do you measure the effectiveness of your security program? One of the best ways to ensure your security provider performs effectively is by establishing clear performance goals. Performance goals set expectations and provide a roadmap to gauge how well the security services align with your specific needs.
Why performance goals are essential:
1. Accountability: Setting clear goals helps you track the effectiveness of security measures, ensuring your provider delivers on their promises – whether that’s reducing theft or improving response times, for example.
2. Alignment With Business Objectives: Security is about more than just guards and cameras. It’s about protecting what’s crucial to your business. Performance goals ensure that security efforts align with your broader objectives, like safeguarding sensitive data, minimizing operational disruptions, and keeping your tenants and their guests happy.
3. Resource Optimization: By outlining specific benchmarks, you can allocate manpower and technology more effectively, ensuring you’re getting the most from your security investments. For instance, the clearer your objectives are when customizing your security training program and assigning security staff, the better the result will be.
To optimize your security provider’s role, establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) tailored to your organization’s needs:
1. Incident response time measures how quickly your team reacts to breaches. Fast responses are critical to minimizing damage and impact. Patrol effectiveness lets you evaluate how thorough and frequent your security patrols are. Consistent patrols, and other forms of monitoring, deter potential threats.
2. Incident reporting accuracy includes creating detailed reports for better tracking and to help prevent future incidents. Ongoing training ensures security personnel are equipped to handle the latest challenges.
3. Incorporating advanced technologies is a powerful way to ensure that your security provider meets performance goals and act as force multipliers for your security team. Some key technologies include:
- AI-powered surveillance, which allows for real-time alerts, quicker responses, and fewer false alarms
- Access control systems, including biometric scanners and smart card access points to help secure sensitive areas
- Incident management software allows centralized reporting platforms to simplify tracking and improve decision-making.
Once performance goals are set, continuous measurement is critical. Regularly review KPIs to ensure your provider is aligned with your expectations. Are response times meeting set benchmarks? Are security incidents decreasing? Is compliance with safety protocols being maintained? Clear performance goals are crucial to building an effective security strategy. Whether you rely on an in-house team or a contracted provider, setting, monitoring, and adjusting these goals ensures your security efforts align with your broader organizational needs. By using both human expertise and cutting-edge technology, you can optimize the security and safety of your tenants, as well as the operational efficiency of your property. This article is one of our 3-part Keys to Effective Security Management & Performance report. To read the full report, download it today.