RIP Traditional Security Guarding

A New Paradigm Built on Precision, AI, and Proactive Strategy

I've been based in Silicon Valley for over two years, overseeing corporate physical security in one of the world's most competitive business environments.

There are 44 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Bay Area, covering hundreds of millions of square feet of office space across sprawling campus-style environments. Add over 30 more companies with 2,000+ employees, and it's clear: Silicon Valley is a magnet for innovation—but there are security talent risks in having so many companies in the same place.

Each of these companies has some form of physical security, and most rely heavily on contracted security personnel. That also means every one of these companies is competing for the same limited pool of guard talent.

The result? Commoditization.

Contract security today has largely become a race to the bottom—the lowest bidder wins. Most guards are paid minimal wages and receive little training, and in many regions, the only requirement is a basic guard card.

Minimal physical fitness standards? Not required.

The industry has become about optics, not outcomes—warm bodies standing post to create the illusion of safety.

Let me be clear: this isn't about shaming current security guards doing this unglamorous but essential work.

It's about raising the bar.

The truth is that the industry has created a security model that's outdated and ineffective for the threats we face today. And the gaps become even more glaring when public safety resources are stretched.

I saw this firsthand as a police officer.

Early in my career, I was a patrol officer for the City of Redmond, WA, assigned to the "Ocean" district—home to Microsoft's sprawling corporate campus. Just one officer—me—was responsible for that entire campus (At least 7 Million Square Feet of office space), plus the surrounding business parks, retail centers, and residential neighborhoods. That meant managing everything from traffic complaints, collisions, and domestic violence to trespassing and in-progress thefts, robbery, and shoplifting calls.

One officer per shift to cover it all. Sound familiar?

Bay Area police departments are facing the same resource constraints—many even worse. Response times are long, staffing is limited, and mutual aid is reserved for major incidents like active shooter events. That's why corporate security must be built to hold the line until public safety can arrive.

And that starts with the people.

Just as law enforcement and public safety professionals have physical fitness and readiness standards, our top-tier corporate security officers must also have them. If your on-site guard is your first responder in an emergency—whether it's medical, trespassing, suspicious activity, or an active threat—they must be ready:

Physically. Mentally. Tactically.

That's why I transitioned away from the traditional "guard in every building" model. I've implemented a proactive patrol-based strategy—more aligned with public safety—supported by a centralized Global Security Operations Center (GSOC). Our GSOC functions like a 911 center for the enterprise, utilizing AI-powered video analytics, OSINT tools, and smart access control systems to secure our facilities, while also actively monitoring and coordinating real-time responses across multiple sites.

Instead of placing static, minimally prepared guards in every building, we deploy fewer—but elite—officers. These professionals meet defined fitness, training, and readiness standards, are equipped to respond to high-risk scenarios, and can effectively manage incidents until police or fire arrive.

As a contract security customer, I've embedded these requirements directly into the scope of work—and yes, it often means paying a premium for quality. However, by repurposing a large number of low-skill, static posts into a smaller team of highly trained, capable security officers, the model often ends up being cost-neutral. And even when there is a slight increase in cost, when lives and safety are on the line, it's an investment—not an expense.

We've proven this model works.

Fewer guards. Higher standards. Stronger outcomes.

It's smarter. It's scalable. It's time to move forward.

The traditional security guarding model is broken.

Let's stop pretending a warm body in a uniform equals safety.

RIP, traditional security guarding.