When dealing with security companies, many tend to advertise their range of security accreditations. But what do they mean? In this article, we will go over some of the most common security accreditations and what they mean for your business. Visit our accreditations page to learn more about the accreditations we have.
Table of Contents
What Is A Security Accreditation?
To understand what a security accreditation is, you first need to understand what an accreditation is in general. Accreditations are earned by businesses when they have had its company and services evaluated by a CPD accreditation body, like the CPD standards. Security accreditations are just specific accreditations given to security companies instead of standard businesses.
Some of the most common accreditations that security companies may have are:
- SIA Accreditation
- CCAS ISO 9001
- ICO Certified
- Safe Contractor
- CHAS
- SMAS Ltd
- Builders Profile
Security Accreditations
SIA Accreditation
Short for the Security Industry Authority, the SIA is a government run organisation which is responsible for regulating the private security industry. If a guard performs any of the following activities, they will need to be SIA accredited:
- Cash and Valuables in Transit (CVIT)
- Close Protection (CP)
- Door Supervision (DS)
- Public Space Surveillance (CCTV)
- Security Guarding (SG)
- Vehicle Immobilisation (VI)
- Key Holding (KH)
Practically all private security companies are registered with the SIA, and will require guards to be, too. This simply means that the company is trustworthy and that you are getting your money’s worth.
CCAS ISO 9001
The CCAS ISO 9001 accreditation is a mark that a company has worked to develop a solid management framework. This framework then builds up the quality of the company, leading to better quality control, customer satisfaction and many more improvements.
ICO Certified
This certification is required for all companies who process personal data. Personal data is defined as information relating to an identifiable person, such as staff or clients. Failure to do so is even considered a criminal offence!
Having this certification means that all personal data handled by the company is used in a way which abides by the Data Protection Act. Your can feel safe that your data will be used in the right way with an ICO certified company.
Safe Contractor
Safe Contractor is an accreditation scheme that assesses the health and safety competency of contractors and service providers. It shows that the company certified is not only taking responsibility over their health and safety measures, but acting on them. It also shows that the company certified is following the legal requirements.
CHAS
Self proclaimed as one of the founders of third party accreditations, CHAS considers themselves to be an authority of health and safety compliance. This means that any company accredited with them is a safe contractor you can trust.
SMAS Ltd
Another health and safety accreditation company, SMAS has a focus on promoting high standards of quality. Whilst they work primarily with construction companies, SMAS does accredit other companies when appropriate.
Builders Profile
Builders profile is an open-access database that provides both compliance and PQQ information to companies. This allows contractors to easily share and access important information!
Conclusion
It is important to note that the listed security accreditations are just some of the available accreditations that security companies might have. There is a wide range out there, so it is important that you pick an accredited security company that match your business’ needs.
To stay updated with all the latest industry news, check out our blog, where you can learn 5 Things You Need to Know About Martyn’s Law, or Important Changes to SIA Training for Security Professionals.
