Protos Security reshaped the industry with a unique approach of matching the best vendors for our clients’ needs through our managed service model. To ensure our vendors are held accountable and providing consistent, excellent guarding service, our cloud-based software tool unifies service levels by accurately monitoring performance in real time and ensuring our clients are billed for actual hours worked. Our extensive vetting processes and internal management procedures make our program oversight stronger than any other in the industry.
To ensure that we truly can serve our clients with the best fit, Protos has the largest nationwide security network. Currently, our vendor network comprises over 4,000 regionally based providers—and that number is growing. Protos’ diverse vendor network allows us to provide the right solution provider to handle various requests.
Commonly Asked Questions
I’ve used companies that subcontract before. What makes Protos different?
Our vendors are regional service providers, typically founded by former police or military. As entrepreneurs, they thrive on operating successful businesses and have vast experience with security leadership. Like Protos, they have a vested interest in making sure clients are not only happy but being heard and understood. Unlike Protos, though, many small guarding companies do not have the administrative overhead to effectively track time/attendance and incident reporting.
This is where Protos Security’s comprehensive cloud-based platform elevates their service, with features such as electronic work orders, timekeeping, and incident reporting. With all vendors using our platform, we can monitor every post in real time and accurately compile performance data. This provides the best possible combination of local entrepreneurship, backed by Protos’ focus on creating the best technology solution.
Are there advantages to using a managed service model for security guarding services?
Yes. We match the best security vendor to the client’s needs. We also don’t need to establish a new local presence or hire more officers to expand service, so we can staff posts faster than our competitors. Backed by our industry-leading technology, clients receive a standardized program with full transparency, real-time updates, improved visibility, and to-the-minute billing. These factors, along with our client-centric service first culture, places us above our competition in meeting—and often exceeding—client needs.
As a third-party provider, how can you outshine my in-house team?
Since 2006, we have been building our technology platform to make security management as efficient as possible while cultivating a company based on service excellence. We have sought out vendors that repeatedly perform at high-quality service levels and rewarded them with more opportunities for work whenever possible.
If the officers aren’t your employees, how do you effectively manage them?
Our software provides incentives for quality work at the officer and vendor levels. One example is the way we track time, including clocking in/out and arriving as scheduled. Officers are incentivized to arrive on time because our technology ensures that they only clock in when they are close to the client site, and their pay is based on this. Unlike many of our competitors, we bill for the actual minutes worked instead of projections. Our vendors are incentivized to ensure their officers are providing the best possible service because they know that we have a large network and could replace them if needed. We believe punctuality is proportional to quality, and a vendor with a good management structure will be shown to have a high success rate in ensuring officers arrive on time, among other key metrics tracked.
How do you ensure consistent service across so many vendors?
Protos employs quality assurance (QA) specialists to perform location checks every fourteen days to ensure proper service is provided. The results of these QA calls are then passed on to our vendors and client account managers for discussion, as necessary. This constant feedback is part of the ongoing evaluation of our security vendors, and it’s why high-quality guarding companies work hard to remain a valuable vendor with Protos.
What are the requirements to become a Protos security vendor?
Protos Security has strict standards for vendors. At minimum, our vendors must be licensed guarding companies (if operating in a state that regulates guarding companies), perform preemployment drug screenings and background checks, have a program for ongoing random drug testing, and not subcontract security personnel from another company.
The Protos Security Vendor Vetting Process
Application. Potential vendors complete a detailed form on the Protos website that includes a company profile, coverage areas, and points of communication. They also must submit documentation, including state licenses (if applicable), a certificate of insurance (COI), and W-9 information.
Initial Vetting. This includes verifying all documentation, checking references, and conducting online searches for bad press or other red flags.
Continual Vetting. The vetting process is ongoing for continuous performance improvement.
- Bimonthly KPI Trend Report—Through our KPI data, our compliance team can determine trends and areas of improvement for each security vendor and discuss any concerns monthly. As a result, our vendors always have a clear understanding of their performance levels and service quality trends.
- Client Account Managers—The status of every Protos post is tracked in real time by our dispatch team. Each week, client account managers and vendors receive automated reports containing tardy alerts, early clock outs, and the number of incident reports. These ensure that everyone is aware of problems and provides the client account managers with the information they need to resolve issues.
- Annual Review—Online searches can yield valuable information on a company or its owners. Our system reminds us to perform searches on Google and social media annually. We look for red flags about the company as well as its principal leaders.
Removing Your Administrative Burden
Certificate of Insurance Record-Keeping. Protos tracks the expiration dates of COIs for all vendors. Expiration reminders are automatically generated twice a week starting thirty days prior to expiration. If the vendor does not forward a replacement COI, our system alerts us, and we reach out to the vendor for an update.
State License Information. In the US, forty-three states require guarding companies to be licensed. As the company of record, we are required to have their license information on file. Our system will alert us to the upcoming license expirations which, in turn, leads us to work closely with our vendors to ensure their licenses are renewed.
Limiting Your Risk. Because Protos enforces license and insurance, and performs regular quality assurance tests, we can ensure that the quality of security coverage for your business is top-notch, thereby limiting your risk in hiring new providers.
About Protos Security
Protos Security is a technology enabled security services company offering security guarding, monitoring, and device solutions for a wide spectrum of customers across North America. Protos prides itself on delivering high-touch service, actionable insights, transparency, and program flexibility for its clients. For more information, visit protossecurity.com.
