WHY VSS SECURITY SERVICES?

WHY VSS SECURITY SERVICES?

It’s no secret that the widespread consolidation of the security industry has affected the quality and delivery of security services. VSS operates under a completely different model than other companies. We’re not focused on cutting programs or services, nor stifled by corporate bureaucracy. Our sole mission is to provide our clients with the best possible security solutions, personalized service and unmatched value. Unlike our competitors, we've grown the old fashioned way—through client retention, referral and superior service through the 25 years being in business.

VSS Security Services is one of the largest providers of security services in the U.S. and is recognized as the premier service provider in every market that we serve. We also offer our clients a 24 hour dispatch center; ensuring customers receive service at the highest level.

VSS Security Services offers an expansive range of security solutions for properties of every type including:

• Corporate Campuses • Distribution/Manufacturing Facilities • Educational Facilities • Healthcare Facilities • Office Buildings • Petrochemical Facilities • Residential Communities • Retail Centers THE VSS SECURITY SERVICES DIFFERENCE

As the industry leading service providers, we take extreme satisfaction in knowing our customers view us as an invaluable resource for their businesses. We continue to maintain our supreme customer service standards by keeping up constant communications with our clients and providing them with a steady flow of relevant information. At VSS Security Services, our formula is quite simple: unconditional integrity, precise organizational skills and a talented management team deploying the appropriate resources to our customers. Our formula enables us to live up to our commitments to our clients, each other and the community.

With its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, VSS Security Services is one of the largest security guard companies in Arizona. VSS Security Services was established in 1988 and has grown to become a major security force. Providing world-class security protection in any type of environment is our mission and our corporation has the experience, resources and commitment to do exactly that for our customers.

Property Managers & Security

Property Managers & Security

Property managers, building security goals, tenant security needs, balancing technology and people, avoiding surprises, security costs and ROI

Defining Building Security
Security is a mindset that “encompasses security technology, security people, tenants, and geography.”

Different locations require multiple strategies, “For instance, in a downtown Phoenix office building, I expect to see cameras, a guard desk, or both. If I don’t, I’ll have questions about security. Then again, you might see less security in buildings located in surrounding cities and northern Arizona.”

Balancing Security
Security needs balance; different clients expect different kinds of security. “One client may want you to manage visitors carefully to guard against theft or workplace violence, while other cautions against a system so strict that tenants and employees feel uncomfortable. You have to balance these desires.

“You also have to balance security people and security technology. While we all rely on technology, it is important to have enough security people to make judgments about and to act on the data produced by VSS-Trax our real-time reporting technology.”

Avoiding Surprises
Security surprises can be maddening! There are many difficulties of integrating base building security & technology.

“Everyone says open buildings makes the integration of access control impossible. But even open systems sometimes don’t share enough key data points to allow effective integration.”  “When you’re buying technology, you must ask very specific questions about integration.”

A security officer’s knowledge level about technology can surprise a property manager as well. “When we first began integrating VSS-Trax, half of our officers didn't know how to use the software.” “We incorporated specific training to make sure that all officers were trained before we installed new equipment.”

The Cost of Security
Property managers agree that buildings must execute a security strategy adequate to the task of mitigating a building’s security risks.

Depending upon the prevailing market rents for particular classes of buildings in certain locations, a property manager may or may not be able to recover security costs through rents.

The consequence is that you must have an appropriate level of security for the type of building, location, and client or you will not be able to lease the building. If you can’t cover the cost in the rent, you have to pay for it!

Return on Investment
The cost of security and the difficulties connected to recovering security costs in rents has led property managers to seek ways of creating a security ROI.

“In the long run, security is part of a building’s amenities.” “It increases the marketability of the property. New technology and top-notch guards give me a competitive advantage. That’s how I look at ROI.”

Technically, though, ROI means investing and earning a profit or return. For instance, today’s access control technology can integrate with environmental controls so that a building system can turn on heat or air conditioning in an office when someone cards in after hours or on weekends. The ROI comes from savings on utility bills.

“Security can sometimes offer opportunities to produce an ROI”. “But you have to be careful to take advantage of those opportunities without compromising security. Security has to come first, and sometimes a necessary security execution won’t produce ROI simply because it can’t.”

Shopping Center Security Best Practices Five Critical Considerations

Shopping Center Security Best Practices Five Critical Considerations

Engaging the right security partner is critical for ensuring the safety and security of visitors in the shopping center or mall as well as the tenants occupying the stores. The following best practice considerations will help you select the most suitable security services provider for your needs.

1. Ability to Respond

Consider if the company has the manpower and knowledge to handle emergencies. There continues to be a rise in critical incidents at shopping centers both across the United States and internationally. Do they have additional resources that can be quickly deployed? Will you have access to a state-of-the-art dispatch center? Can you reach their dispatch center or senior leadership 24/7?

2. Reporting Procedures  

What process is in place for communication? Can you receive real-time reporting and GPS tracking, or are there other types of technology available to you to stay on top of risk management issues? Also, be sure to review the vendor’s incident reporting procedures.

3. Industry-Specific Training

Providing security for a retail center is different than handling the security for other types of environments. Do they have shopping center-specific training and does it include topics such as:

• Disaster Response

• Fire Safety Officer (FSO)

• Terrorism Awareness

• Management of Aggressive Behavior (Verbal Judo)

• CPR, AED and First Aid

• CCTV and Command Center Operations

• Workplace Violence Prevention and Response

• Organized Retail Crime (ORC)

• Awareness/Prevention

4. A Program that adds Value

Consider all of the ways a security partner can enhance your security program from a long-term perspective. Determining the value you will receive from a security partner requires an assessment of how their strategy will reduce risk, limit liability and lower the cost of the entire retail center’s operations – not just the hourly bill rate. While it may be tempting to have an initial-price perspective, a better way to value a spending decision is to look with an eye towards how the provider can help you achieve all of your goals.

5. A Customizable and Proactive Partnership

Before mapping out your security solution, the provider should become knowledgeable about your property, your neighborhood, typical shopping traffic and a host of other important areas so that they can make appropriate recommendations. Their plan should incorporate staffing levels, indoor and outdoor patrols, access points, security procedures, technology integration and other pertinent areas of concern specific to your property.

"The guard assigned to protect the top of 1 WTC was asleep"

Thankfully this young man was not hurt, it clearly illustrates the importance of using real-time reporting tracking the location of your security officers!

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/25025573/nj-teen-sneaks-up-to-top-of-1-world-trade-center

Arizona's #1 Security Guard Company

VSS Security Services is the industry’s premier provider of highly trained security personnel to many industries including commercial real estate, higher education, healthcare, residential communities, chemical/petrochemical, government, manufacturing and distribution, financial, and shopping centers and malls. Responsive, client-focused security officers and managers at our client sites are supported by award-winning national resources developed from over 25 years of security experience. Our more than 500 employees and 4 offices across the country service a client base of several thousand which includes several Fortune 500 companies nationwide. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ VSS Security Services has been family owned and managed since 1988.

The most honored security officer services company, VSS Security Services  offers on-the-job, web-based, and ongoing training programs for all personnel from security officers through executive-level management. Our commitment to training includes several customized industry-specific programs.

Our formula enables us to live up to our commitments to our clients, each other and the community. We will not waiver from our commitment to maintain team spirit based upon pride and mutual respect within our organization and for our clients. Together, we can exceed goals and achieve superior results.

Ranked #1 Security Company

Ranking Arizona

HOT OFF THE PRESS! 

Our Clients have spoken, VSS Security Services has been named #1 Security company in Arizona once again this year. We would personally like to thank all of our clients for making this happen, we are truly humbled and honored to receive it. Our dedication to excellent service will always be paramount.

Security Officer Drive Through Mobile Patrol Service.

Here at VSS Security Services I  frequently get asked for a recommendation for a drive-through security patrol service for a commercial property. My first question is always, "What do you want to accomplish with the security patrol service?"

Purpose
Drive-through security patrols serve a limited, but useful purpose. By definition, the drive-through patrol service does not remain on-site and generally uses a vehicle to make the rounds. This type of patrol is less expensive then a dedicated on-site security officer because of the limited time spent on the property. Highly visible, drive-through security services are ideal for the patrol of commercial properties after business hours or on private property not open to the public.

One purpose of this type of patrol is to observe (or test) all accessible gates, doors, and windows and make sure they are secured, and to report the conditions found on the property to the business owner or the police. Another purpose is to make sure no unauthorized persons are trespassing on private property. Some drive-through security services may also respond to alarm signals, but this requires a more specialized officer force. The primary goal of a drive-through security patrol service is to deter property loss and discover vandalism after business hours.
By design, drive-through security patrols should be highly visible and therefore should be incapable is sneaking up on a perpetrator. The best patrol vehicles are high profile, and distinctive in appearance. This high visibility maximizes the deterrent effect as long as the security officer is patrolling competently and according to post orders.

Random drive-through security patrols are less effective on commercial properties while open to the public. This is because the drive-through security officer probably has 6-10 other commercial accounts to patrol each hour. Random and infrequent patrol does not allow the security officer enough time to observe loiterers or differentiate between the customers, the residents, and the criminals. Many drive-through patrols consist of only a high-speed pass and offer little in the way of observation or scrutiny of suspicious activity. Because of the nature of the drive-through patrol, customer contacts are infrequent and suspicious groups are not likely to be confronted. Drive-through is better than not doing anything, but understand the limitations of infrequent and non-confrontation security services. Due to fear from prior litigation claims, signs supporting the random drive-through security patrol are not always used on retail and rental housing settings for fear of misrepresenting to a consumer that security officers are always on-site.

Post Orders
Any contract security services must have clearly defined and articulated "post orders". Post orders are written instructions for how the security officer is to patrol a site and should be incorporated as part of the contract. These written instructions need to be detailed and reflect the expectations of the property manager and the responsibility of the security patrol service. Post orders are necessary for drive-through accounts because the same security officer will not always patrol the site and each property will have specific requirements. Written post orders allow for consistency in patrol and reporting and set forth the obligations for fulfilling the service contract. Post instructions should specify if drive-through security officers are to get out of their vehicle to "shake" doors or walk behind buildings. If you don't require it...it won't occur. Well-written post order acts like a checklist for the security officer while on-site and helps them fill out their daily activity reports and logs.

Reporting
It is the custom and practice of all contract security patrol industry to complete daily activity reports (DARs) and incident reports for each site they patrol. Despite this practice, it is important to require written DAR and incident reports as part of the contract for service. This is usually one of the items specified in the post orders. As a rule of thumb, if you don’t receive a written report, assume the patrol did not occur and don’t pay for the service until you receive one. This practice will ensure that reports are written and submitted in a timely manner.
Detailed daily activity and incident reports are crucial to a property owner. It is a form of supervision and holds the security service accountable for patrolling the property as agreed. In addition to communicating what was observed in the parking lot, the reports provide important documentation in case of a lawsuit alleging inadequate security.

Daily activity reports are designed to report routine things like when and where the security officer was on your property and what they observed. DARs should be detailed and informative. Each entry should list the date, time, location, and activity. Don’t accept activity logs that merely state, "10:00 PM or 11:00 PM – All Quiet". A proper daily activity report of an apartment property might state, "9/29/99 -10:06 PM – Completed patrol of the south parking lot, one light burned out over parking space #256 or "9/29/99 - 10:14 PM – Checked the mail room, pool gate, laundry room, and restroom door locks. All were secure." These reports notify the landlord to repair burned out lights or to resolve hazardous conditions. Daily activity reports should document the patrol of all roadways on a property even if no unusual activity is observed.
Incident reports are only written when something unusual happens that requires a more detailed account. Incident reports are not limited to crime. Incident reports should notify the client of an unlocked door, a large group loitering, a flooded parking lot, safety hazards, and of course all crimes or property damage. All contacts with persons on a client’s property should be reported as well. Incident reports should be more detailed than DARs because they chronicle one specific event. Incident reports that say "see police report" are not acceptable. Incident reports should note everything the security officer observed, what they did, and what they were doing at the time of the incident. They must contain the basics of reporting like who, what, where, when, why, and how.

What Is VSS-Trax?
Complete Facility Management - Executive Reporting & Command - Vehicle Verification & Parking
VSS TRAX is a state of the art, green friendly software powered by Silvertrac Software. In the field our personnel can immediately receive and respond to security situations with their hand held devices, phones, pda's, etc. The Smartphone capability provides the exact details of the situation in real time to our officers enabling them to take swift action. All issues are time stamped reported and recorded in our database for quality assurance and control. Our service allows us to catch time stamped photos and audio files that are attached to the report in real time. Our client portal allows customers to access view and monitor all activity on site including audio. This enables our customers to have piece of mind with their security services. All information is in absolute real time and tracked through the VSS TRAX "issue Monitor". This service is available from anywhere in the world and accessible 24/7.

Supervision
One inherent flaw in contracting for drive-through security patrol service is supervision of the officers. Unless someone is checking, the drive-through patrol may not occur or the service may be insufficient. A common problem for some security patrol services is that they overbook, and assign too many accounts to their officers. It is impossible for patrol officers to properly inspect a site if they must make a high-speed pass to keep on schedule. It is important at the beginning of the contract to establish the quality and timing of the patrols and then follow up if you suspect that the service is inadequate.

Worse yet, is when security officers falsify reports indicating that they patrolled when they had not. To avoid these problems, security patrol officers need to know that they are being supervised in some manner. This can be accomplished by a patrol supervisor but will usually involve additional costs. Other methods are to incorporate a mechanical or electrical check in device. Common systems include logging in on strategically placed watchman clocks, dropping patrol slips through the mail slot (hopefully in view of a video camera) or punching in on a time clock. On occupied commercial properties, the officer service should check in or sign off on a log in presence of a site employee. VSS (VSS-Trax) has incorporated real-time reporting technology to identify, report, locate the officer’s position and findings. Nothing can falsely be reported with this method of reporting.