Why use this tool?
Security procurement often involves comparing proposals that cover different services, frequencies and coverage levels — making them hard to compare. This tool standardises the comparison across key dimensions so you can evaluate models objectively.
Use it to shortlist service models before requesting formal quotes, or to benchmark an existing arrangement against alternatives.
Who should use this?
Before you begin
Annual ranges shown are indicative Yorkshire & Lincolnshire benchmarks based on typical service volumes. Actual costs depend on visit frequency, site complexity and service design.
Compare security services: guarding, patrols and CCTV
Answer five quick questions to see which security options fit your site best, then compare up to four side by side: indicative cost, how much presence you get, how incidents are handled, and the trade-offs.
Find your best fit
Five questions about your site
What kind of site is it?
When is the site most at risk?
How important is a visible security presence?
Do you have CCTV?
Does someone need to open and lock up each day?
Annual ranges are indicative Yorkshire and Lincolnshire benchmarks for typical service volumes. Guarding ranges run from the National Living Wage to the Real Living Wage pay basis. Real prices depend on visit frequency, hours, site size and risk. Use the Security Cost Planner or Guarding Estimator for your own numbers.
Security options
Click a card to add it to the comparison (up to four).
Side-by-side comparison
Mobile patrols + keyholding vs Monitored CCTV + patrols + keyholding vs Night and weekend officer
| Compare | Mobile patrols + keyholdingStandard | Monitored CCTV + patrols + keyholdingIntegrated | Night and weekend officerGuarding |
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| Indicative cost / year | £1,800 – £5,500 | £4,300 – £9,500 | £110,500 – £120,500 |
| About per week | £35 – £106 | £83 – £183 | £2,125 – £2,317 |
| Presence on site | Randomised patrol visits, typically one to three a night. | Cameras watched remotely when activated, plus patrol visits. | An officer on site every night and through the weekend (about 108 hours a week). |
| When something happens | Patrol officers check the perimeter and buildings; keyholding covers alarm call-outs in between. | Operators see the intruder, issue audio warnings where fitted and send a response officer. | Someone on site whenever the building is empty, able to act immediately. |
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| CCTV systems | — | Need cameras installed or upgraded? SPS Technical designs, installs and maintains CCTV. | — |
Free, no obligation
Get a real price for your site
The ranges here are benchmarks. Tell us where the site is and we'll price the model properly, after a quick conversation or a site visit.
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Want to put your own numbers to it?
Add visit frequencies, patrol lengths and officer hours to get an annual cost for the model that fits your site.
Vacant retail unit in a city centre
This side-by-side example shows how three possible models may differ for one realistic vacant-property scenario.
| Model | Illustrative monthly cost | Coverage pattern | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile patrols only | from approximately £375 per month (1 visit per day) | Scheduled or random checks; no continuous presence | Lower-risk units and budget-conscious owners |
| Keyholding plus patrols | from approximately £400 per month | Patrols plus alarm-response cover | Units with an active alarm system |
| Static guarding | from approximately £3,000+ per month (1 officer, standard shift) | Continuous on-site presence | High-value stock and active development sites |
Important: Figures are illustrative ‘from’ benchmarks based on published indicative rates and standard assumptions, not quotations. Actual costs depend on site size, access, local risk and specific requirements. Rates are reviewed annually, or quarterly where set by contract terms; figures may not reflect current pricing.
Understanding your results
The comparator shows each model scored across:
Indicative annual cost range
Resilience and coverage depth
Visibility and deterrence value
Reporting and proof-of-attendance quality
Limitations: Cost ranges are indicative benchmarks for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire — not fixed prices. Use the Guarding Estimator or Cost Planner for specific calculations.
Common mistakes to avoid
Comparing only on price
The cheapest model is rarely the best. Resilience, visibility and reporting quality all affect the value a service delivers.
Overlooking technology-integrated models
CCTV-integrated models can deliver comparable deterrence at lower cost than full-time guarding for many sites.
What happens next?
Use the Security Cost Planner to add visit-specific cost calculations.
Open the Guarding Estimator if manned guarding is a core part of your model.
Contact SPS Security for a formal proposal based on your shortlisted models.
Security Service Comparator — FAQs
They are indicative Yorkshire and Lincolnshire benchmarks for typical service volumes. Guarding ranges are worked out from officer hours, using pay from the National Living Wage up to the Real Living Wage. Use the Cost Planner or Guarding Estimator for figures specific to your site.
Usually, by a wide margin. A patrol and keyholding service typically costs a few thousand pounds a year, while an officer on site every night and weekend costs over £100,000 a year. Patrols suit sites that need regular checks and visible deterrence; a guard suits sites that need someone present all the time.
Sometimes. Remotely monitored CCTV with a mobile response can cover many sites overnight at a fraction of the cost of a guard, if camera coverage is good and the system is well maintained. Busy sites, controlled access points and high-risk sites usually still need people on site, often in a hybrid model.
Keyholding means a security company holds your keys and attends when needed, so your staff don't have to. Alarm response is the attendance itself, usually triggered by your monitored alarm. Most providers offer them together.
Yes. Answer the five questions to see your best fits, then compare up to four options side by side and download the comparison as a PDF.
Yes. No login, no obligation.
Services commonly recommended
Based on your results, one or more of these services may strengthen your security arrangements.