Choosing the Right Type of Security for Your Event: Unarmed vs. Armed Guarding

Unarmed vs. Armed Guarding: How to Choose the Right Type of Security for Your Event 

Hiring security for an event sends a powerful message to your guests that safety is a top priority and shows potential threats that you’re prepared for any situation. It’s a proactive approach that reassures your guests and ensures your event runs smoothly. Whether you’re planning a high-profile event or an intimate private party, understanding the different types of protection available to you and what suits your event best can make all the difference. 

Types of events that benefit from protective security services

Every event can benefit from security, whether unarmed or armed. The key is choosing the right type of protection to ensure your event’s safety and success – different security measures may be needed depending on the kind of event you’re planning. 

High-Profile Events: 

High-profile events that attract mainstream and social media attention often benefit the most from robust physical security combined with protective intelligence measures to identify and mitigate potential threats before they occur. 

Examples of these events include: 

• Political Events: Rallies, diplomatic meetings, and government conferences
• Large Public Gatherings: Concerts, festivals, sporting events, and community fairs
• Corporate Events: Conferences, trade shows, product launches, and shareholder meetings
• Celebrity and VIP Events: Award shows, galas, and private parties
• Controversial or Sensitive Events: Protests and demonstrations, religious celebrations, and events attracting activist attention 
• Art and Cultural Events: Gallery openings, museum exhibitions, and fashion shows 

Weddings:

Large weddings, especially those where alcohol is served, can benefit from security to manage guest behavior and prevent potential disturbances. Security can also handle check-ins and verify identities to ensure that only invited individuals attend the event, as well as manage parking security and provide emergency response, such as first aid and CPR. 

Private Events:

The security needs for private events vary based on size, location, guest profile, and any known risks, such as potential conflicts among guests or the presence of high-profile individuals. Common security roles can include monitoring access control, physical security for incident response and maintaining order, surveillance via security cameras, bag checks, VIP protection, emergency response, perimeter security, alcohol management, conflict resolution, and crowd management to prevent overcrowding of specific areas for larger events. 

Business Meetings:

The level and type of security implemented for business meetings depends on the nature of the meeting, the sensitivity of the information being discussed, such as financial data or trade secrets, the event attendee profiles, and the location. Common security measures include access control, physical security, perimeter security, attendee screening, protective intelligence, and emergency preparedness.

Corporate Conferences:

Managing security at a corporate conference can be challenging due to the size, profile of attendees, location, and sensitivity of the information being discussed. Security services can handle access control measures such as badge and credential checks, guest list verification, metal detectors, bag searches, physical security, incident response teams, surveillance, crowd management, emergency preparedness, risk assessments, and venue security.

Choosing between armed vs. unarmed guarding 

Making the choice between armed and unarmed guards involves a thorough assessment of your event, including the specific security needs, risk factors, and budget constraints. Conducting an initial risk assessment is crucial to determining the right type of protection and the amount of security required. 

Consider these factors to help you decide if armed or unarmed guards are right for your event:

• Risk Level: Use armed guards when an event has a moderate to high risk of becoming a criminal target, which can be due to expensive assets, demographics handling sensitive information or large sums of money, venues hosting large, publicized events, or high crime locations. People often use unarmed guards in settings they deem low risk, such as schools, places of worship, traffic control, parks, pools, museums, and galleries; however, the risk profile for any given event or setting can be high enough to warrant armed guards. This is especially true in schools and places of worship.
• Venue or Business Type: Armed guards are more suitable for banks, hospitals, airports, government facilities, and courthouses. Unarmed guards are typically sufficient for events held in commercial or residential buildings, such as hotels, retail establishments, and construction sites where the environment and physical security layers may mitigate certain risks.
• Potential Threats: Armed guards may be necessary if there is a higher likelihood of violent crime. Unarmed guards can handle protection when it comes to concerns about theft, vandalism, or minor disturbances.
• Cost: Armed guards can be more expensive due to extensive training requirements and higher liability insurance costs. Unarmed guards may offer a more budget-friendly option, especially for smaller events. 
• Escalation Potential: Armed guards are better equipped to respond to escalating, dangerous situations. Unarmed guards are suitable for reporting continuity and handling minor incidents.
• Legal and Liability Considerations: Armed guards carry greater liability risks due to the potential use of lethal force. Unarmed guards may be preferable in environments where the presence of firearms could increase tension.

Tailored services to meet your event security needs 

The bottom line is this: Your event’s success hinges on ensuring its safety through proper planning, rehearsals, effective communication, and ground-level leadership. Working with a professional security partner like Convoy Group enables you to determine and implement the security measures needed. 

Convoy Group provides the right level of physical security and protective intelligence for any type or size of event. You’ll work with our security experts who tailor our protective services to your needs and make security recommendations based on your event’s specific factors, whether you’re an individual, place of worship, private school or club, or corporate client who needs exclusive security for events, meetings, and conferences. Our top-notch event security services offer you the protection of well-trained guards, as well as monitoring of specific threat keywords and your event location to ensure fast, pertinent information about any threats that may occur.