Most businesses reviewing their security contract are asking the wrong question. The question is not “how do we reduce this cost?” The question is “do we actually know what we are paying for?”
With Fair Work Award changes taking effect in July, a lot of businesses will be receiving new quotes or questioning their current spend. Before signing anything, it is worth understanding what compliant security pricing actually means for your organisation.
What “cheaper” security really costs you
There is a common assumption that security is security. That a licensed guard showing up is the baseline, and anything beyond that is just a premium for the same outcome.
That assumption is wrong, and increasingly, it is a legal and operational liability.
Any provider quoting below award minimums is not finding efficiencies. They are cutting corners somewhere, whether that is licensing, training, coverage, or all three. And when something goes wrong at your site, the liability does not sit with them. It sits with you.
Compliant pricing is not a cost, it is risk mitigation.
Three questions to ask before you sign with any security provider
Before reviewing or renewing any security contract, every operator should be able to answer these clearly.
- Are your guards licensed and compliant with the Security Industry Act? This is the baseline. If a provider cannot confirm this immediately, that is your answer.
- Is the rate above the award minimum? If a quote seems too good to be true, it most likely is. The award minimum exists for a reason. Providers quoting below it are creating exposure for themselves and for you.
- What does their incident management process look like? Any provider worth hiring can answer this clearly and specifically. Vague answers here reveal exactly how they will perform when something actually happens at your site.
What this means for your business right now
Security is not where you find savings by going cheap. It never was, but the risk of getting it wrong has never been higher.
With July changes approaching, this is the right moment to review what your current setup actually delivers, not just what it costs.
If you are unsure whether your current security arrangement is compliant and fit for purpose, that is exactly the conversation Allied Risk Security is here to have. We provide compliant, sustainable security solutions that protect your business on every level.
Get in touch and we will walk you through what good security actually looks like for your environment.