South Dakota Security Guard Practice Exam

What are the primary functions of private security?

1. Lobby management and customer service

2. Monitoring employee behavior only

3. Protection, surveillance, and prevention of loss

4. Financial auditing and reporting

The correct answer is: Protection, surveillance, and prevention of loss

Protection, surveillance, and prevention of loss represent the core functions of private security, emphasizing the essential role that security personnel play in safeguarding assets, ensuring safety, and maintaining order within a facility or property. Protection involves guarding individuals and property from harm, theft, or vandalism, thereby reducing risks associated with crime and ensuring a safe environment for employees and customers. Surveillance encompasses the monitoring of activities through various means, including cameras, patrolling, and alertness to suspicious behavior. This helps identify potential security threats before they escalate into more serious incidents. Prevention of loss refers to implementing strategies and practices that deter crime and minimize security breaches, which can include training employees on security protocols, conducting regular inspections, and employing techniques to properly secure physical and digital assets. The other potential functions listed do not encapsulate the full spectrum of private security's responsibilities as comprehensively as the protection, surveillance, and prevention of loss do. Lobby management and customer service are support roles, monitoring employee behavior is too narrow in scope, and financial auditing and reporting fall outside the typical functions of security personnel. These alternative options, while relevant in specific contexts, do not define the primary objectives of private security as clearly.