What Are the Different Types of Guards? 9 Main Types of Guards in the Security Industry
Security plays a vital role in protecting people, property, and operations in today’s world. From homes and businesses to public events and industrial sites, trained guards help deter threats and enforce safety. But what are the different types of guards, and how do you know which one is right for your situation?
Understanding the wide range of security guard roles helps property owners and managers make informed choices. Each type of guard offers unique strengths suited to different industries and needs. At Oatridge Security Group (OSG), we’re proud to serve communities across Washington with a diverse range of expertly trained security professionals.
Why Knowing the Right Type of Guard Matters
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work when it comes to security. Each setting, from a downtown Seattle office to a Kent construction site, comes with different challenges.
Choosing the right type of guard improves:
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Safety: Guards trained for specific threats can act faster and more effectively.
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Efficiency: Proper coverage reduces overstaffing and miscommunication.
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Compliance: Especially for armed guards or regulated industries.
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Liability and cost-effectiveness: Proper roles reduce incidents and avoid unnecessary spending.
For example, a retail store in Olympia may benefit from unarmed security guards, while a government building in Bellevue may require armed security guards with advanced training.
Main Types of Guards in the Security Industry
1. Unarmed Security Guards
Duties: Monitoring entrances, conducting patrols, managing access points, writing incident reports, and deterring misconduct.
Typical settings: Retail centers, residential complexes, front desks, and educational campuses.
Benefits: Cost-effective, visible deterrents, often trained in customer service and de-escalation.
These guards are common in Tacoma, Seattle, and Olympia businesses where a security presence is needed but no high-risk threats exist.
2. Armed Security Guards
Duties: Responding to high-risk situations, managing hostile individuals, protecting assets during transport, and supporting emergency protocols.
Settings: Banks, courthouses, cannabis dispensaries, and government buildings.
Legal regulations in Washington: Armed guards must meet licensing requirements, undergo firearms training, and follow Washington State guidelines.
At OSG, our armed security guards receive extensive training and regular certification updates to ensure full compliance and professionalism.
3. Mobile Patrol Guards
Duties: Roving inspections of large properties, checking entry points, responding to alarms, and reporting suspicious activity.
Ideal for: Gated communities, warehouses, industrial parks, and parking lots.
Benefits: High visibility, broad coverage, and cost-effective security outside regular business hours.
Mobile patrol services are frequently requested in suburban neighborhoods and larger sites throughout Federal Way, Renton, and Tacoma.
4. Residential Security Guards
Duties: Access control, patrolling neighborhoods, responding to resident concerns, monitoring security systems, and liaising with law enforcement.
Application: HOA communities, apartment complexes, senior living facilities.
Local use: Residential guards play a growing role in Bellevue, Lacey, and Renton neighborhoods where community safety is a priority.
5. Commercial Security Officers
Duties: Monitoring public areas, deterring theft, managing foot traffic, and ensuring emergency response readiness.
Environments: Office buildings, shopping centers, logistics hubs.
Value: Combine professionalism with strong interpersonal skills to protect property while representing the business.
Commercial clients in Seattle and Bellevue often request uniformed security officers who reflect their brand while providing reliable protection.
6. Construction Site Security
Focus: Theft prevention, equipment monitoring, perimeter control, and after-hours site safety.
Services: Fixed guards or mobile patrols depending on project size.
Real-life risks: Tools, materials, and equipment are often targeted, especially in high-growth areas like Kent and Federal Way.
Construction site security helps builders stay on schedule and avoid financial losses.
7. Event Security Guards
Duties: Controlling entry, managing crowds, checking bags, protecting VIPs, and monitoring exits.
Skills required: Calm demeanor, quick decision-making, conflict de-escalation.
Use cases: Festivals, concerts, sports venues, trade shows, especially in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and Seattle.
8. Executive Protection (Bodyguards)
Role: Safeguarding high-profile individuals, executives, and public figures from physical harm, unwanted attention, or targeted threats.
Services include: Threat assessments, secure travel coordination, and real-time situational response.
Discretion and confidentiality: Essential qualities for working with tech leaders and business executives in areas like Bellevue and Seattle.
9. Loss Prevention Officers
Specialization: Shoplifting detection and prevention using surveillance, behavioral analysis, and customer interaction.
Collaboration: Work closely with store management and law enforcement.
Industries served: Retail stores, supermarkets, department stores, common throughout shopping hubs in Washington.
Specialized Guard Categories
1. Fire Watch Guards
Purpose: Monitor properties where fire systems are disabled or under repair.
Mandated by code: Washington jurisdictions often require fire watch guards to prevent hazards during construction or system downtime.
2. Industrial/Manufacturing Plant Guards
Knowledge required: Hazardous materials handling, emergency response, equipment protocols.
Systems used: CCTV, automation tools, and incident logs for factory floors and industrial zones.
3. School Campus Security
Focus: Student safety, emergency drills, building checks, and reporting suspicious activity.
Skills: Communication, approachability, conflict resolution.
Demand: Rising across Washington as schools seek full-time campus protection.
What About Machine Guards?
While this article answers what are the different types of guards in terms of people, some readers may be referring to machine guards, physical barriers used in manufacturing to protect workers.
For example:
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Fixed guards: Enclose dangerous moving parts.
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Interlocked machine guards: Shut down machinery when accessed.
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Transmission guards: Cover mechanical transmission parts to prevent contact.
These machine guarding systems fall under OSHA’s workplace safety regulations and differ entirely from human security guards.
Armed vs. Unarmed Guards: Which Do You Need?
Situational factors: Consider the threat level, asset value, and public exposure.
Budget vs. risk: Armed guards are costlier but offer advanced deterrence.
Legal and insurance requirements: Washington law requires licenses for armed guards and may influence coverage options.
At Oatridge Security Group, we help you assess your needs to recommend whether unarmed or armed security guards are the right fit.
Key Industries That Rely on Guard Services in Washington
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Tech companies in Seattle: Executive protection, access control
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Government buildings in Olympia: Armed and unarmed guards
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Warehouses in Kent: Mobile patrol guards
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Malls in Tacoma: Loss prevention and commercial officers
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Events in Puyallup: Event security guards
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Gated communities in Gig Harbor: Residential patrol services
What to Look for in a Professional Guard Service
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Licensing and training: All guards should meet Washington security requirements.
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Background checks: Ensure guards are vetted and drug-free.
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Technology integration: Look for mobile patrol tracking, digital logs, and real-time reporting.
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Client support: Reliable communication, flexible schedules, and service transparency.
Oatridge Security Group delivers on all fronts, and then some.
Why Choose Oatridge Security Group in Washington
- Experience: With years of experience, OSG understands the unique needs of clients in both urban and rural Washington.
- Full-spectrum services: From unarmed guards to executive protection, we cover every sector, residential, commercial, industrial, and public.
- Client commitment: Our team is trained, licensed, and focused on results. Oatridge Security Group (OSG) is a HUBZone certified business serves Olympia, Tacoma, Puyallup, Lacey, Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, and Gig Harbor.
Whether you need temporary construction site coverage or permanent uniformed security officers, OSG customizes a plan that works for you.
Final Thoughts: Protect What Matters Most
Knowing what are the different types of guards is the first step in making informed, proactive decisions about your security.
Whether you’re protecting your home, managing a business, or hosting an event, choosing the right security guard services is key to peace of mind.
Ready to protect what matters? Contact Oatridge Security Group today for a no-obligation consultation and let our team build a custom solution for you.
