Contract Security vs. In-House Security: 9 Reasons Facilities Choose a Professional Security Firm
- blupovitz
- Mar 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 24
If you're responsible for the safety of your facility, you've probably weighed the idea of building your own in-house security team. On paper, it sounds like more control. In practice, it usually means more headaches and more costs you didn't plan for.
Here's what facility managers, operations directors and administrators across Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut have learned the hard way: managing a proprietary security force is a full-time job in itself. Partnering with a professional security services firm like USENTRA isn't just easier, it's smarter.
Here are nine real advantages that make contracted security the right call for most organizations.
1. Your Budget Stays Predictable
With a contracted security firm, your costs are locked in before the year begins. There are no surprise overtime charges when someone calls in sick, gets injured, or takes an unplanned vacation. If budget cuts happen mid-year, you simply adjust the hours of service, no layoffs, no severance, no HR headaches.
2. You Can Scale Services Up or Down
Business changes. Events happen. Security needs shift. With a contracted security team, you have the flexibility to adjust your coverage up or down as needed without the burden of hiring, firing, or scrambling to fill gaps.
A contract security partner solves this by:
Filling call-outs or vacancies within hours
Scaling teams up or down on demand
Providing specialized officers when needed
Eliminating overtime and burnout
Whether you need additional officers for a special event or need to scale back during slower periods, a professional contracted security firm can handle it seamlessly.
3. Liability Moves Off Your Plate
Maintaining an in-house security force means carrying legal and financial exposure, attorney's fees, complaints, investigations and potentially even unfavorable press. When you contract with a professional security firm, that risk transfers to them. You get the financial protection without the liability.
4. Open Posts Get Covered - Every Time
When an in-house security officer doesn't show, someone has to fill that post. Managing a proprietary security team requires dedicated supervisors, managers, and administrative staff - adding cost and complexity. If your team is lean, that usually means expensive overtime or leaving a gap in coverage. A professional security firm has trained backup workforce and typically fill the post when the unexpected happens.
With contract security:
We provide all supervision, scheduling, and performance management
Our management team is trained specifically in security operations
We conduct audits and evaluations regularly
We enforce consistent service standards across all posts
You don't have to manage it. It just gets handled.
5. Discipline and Termination? Not Your Problem
When a performance issue arises with a contracted security officer, the security firm manages it not you. If someone isn't the right fit for your environment, that can be resolved quickly and professionally without involving your HR team or creating internal friction.
6. You Get the Time Back To Focus on What You Do Best
Your core business is not recruiting, training, scheduling, or managing security officers. Ours is. By outsourcing, your internal resources can focus on:
Customer service
Operations
Production
Growth initiatives
Strategic planning
While we ensure your people, property, and reputation remain protected.
7. Training Is Already Done
You shouldn't have to become a security training expert to have well-trained officers at your facility. A professional security firm handles training requirements, certifications and standards and has far more resources and expertise to do it correctly than most organizations maintain internally.
Our officers receive:
Industry-leading onboarding and continuous professional development
Specialized training (CPR/AED, de-escalation, anti‑bias protocols, incident reporting, emergency procedures)
Periodic performance assessments
Policy compliance and refresher courses
8. Access to a Deeper Bench
In-house security departments are often limited in what they can offer. A professional firm brings multi-disciplined personnel, specialized expertise and a broader range of skills that can support your evolving security needs from access control and patrols to investigations and consulting.
9. Technology is Provided to Easily Track Performance and Monitor Risks
Contract security firms invest heavily in the latest technology, investments that are often cost‑prohibitive for internal teams.
We provide:
Real-time incident reporting systems
Digital patrol verification
Detailed analytics and trend dashboards
Integrated access control and surveillance support
Centralized supervision with transparent accountability
This allows clients to easily track performance, monitor risks and make informed security decisions.
The Bottom Line
Running your own security force sounds like control. But for most facilities, what it actually creates is cost, complexity and risk. A professional security services firm gives you reliable, trained officers without the operational burden that comes with employing them yourself.
USENTRA has been protecting businesses across New England for over 70 years. If you're evaluating your security setup or frustrated with your current provider we'd be happy to talk. Call us at 1-844-USENTRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is contract security actually more cost-effective than hiring in-house?
While an in-house guard’s base hourly wage might look lower on paper, the "fully loaded" cost is almost always higher. When you hire in-house, you are responsible for payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, health benefits, and retirement contributions. You also absorb the "hidden" costs of recruiting, background checks, and specialized insurance. With a professional firm, these costs are bundled into one predictable rate, making your budget much easier to manage.
How do we ensure quality and "brand fit" if the guards aren't our employees?
This is a common concern, but the reality is that partnering with a security firm often raises the bar for quality. If an officer isn't a perfect fit for your facility’s culture or needs, the firm can provide a replacement quickly and professionally. This removes the "friction" of internal HR processes and ensures your security team always aligns with your brand’s standards.
What happens if a security officer calls out or doesn't show up?
This is the single biggest headache for in-house managers. If your proprietary guard calls out, you're stuck scrambling for coverage or paying massive overtime to another employee. A professional security firm maintains a "deeper bench" of trained backup personnel. It's the firm's responsibility to fill every post, you don't have to worry about gaps in coverage.
Does moving to a contracted firm mean I lose control over my security?
Actually, it’s the opposite. It shifts your role from micromanager to strategist. Instead of dealing with individual disciplinary issues, uniform orders, or training schedules, you manage the partnership and the results. You get the benefits of professional expertise and 24/7 oversight without the operational "noise" that comes with running a department inside your organization.
Is Your Facility at Risk?
Our security experts will walk your facility, identify vulnerabilities and give feedback on what's working and what's not - at no cost.
About USENTRA Security Services
USENTRA Security Services is a leading security service company delivering reliable solutions to a wide variety of New England clients. Established in 1946, and built on the belief that integrity and superior customer service are the cornerstones of our success, USENTRA has grown to become one of the largest independent security service firms in New England. In a market full of large, impersonal international companies, USENTRA is an independent, locally owned and operated business laser focused on our customers and their needs.
