High turnover has always been a major challenge for security guard providers. While turnover isn't unique to any industry, the security industry at large typically experiences a high turnover rate with national annual rates of anywhere from 100-300%.

Although turnover cannot be eliminated altogether, there are ways to significantly reduce it. One way is to offer online guard training. The pandemic has shown us that online learning has a meaningful place in the world and that it is quite effective.

As a guard company alumni and founder of Defencify Training, here are the top five benefits of online learning for guards and guard companies that I’ve seen to be effective:

1. Convenience

Offering online training to your security guards is an efficient way to help them train faster, while simultaneously helping security guard providers save money on the costs of in-person training. Available 24/7, students can learn at their own pace, on their own schedule. With this option, students are more likely to complete their courses because they don’t have the hassle of traveling to an in-person classroom.

2. Accessibility

Online training levels the playing field. Anyone with an internet or data connection can log in and learn. With busy lifestyles and our “new normal”, it’s important that your guards can access work-critical information from anywhere.

3. Affordability

Online learning doesn’t carry the hard costs that in-person instruction does so it’s inevitably more affordable. Guards on a budget need affordable access to course material so they can stay certified and up-to-date on job-specific topics. And companies that offer courses to their guards see huge cost savings. Defencify Training clients on average see a 44% decrease in training costs.

BONUS: Check out this FREE Thinkcurity webinar that debunks common myths of online guard training.

4. Student-Oriented

Online security guard training is 100% focused on the student experience. Courses are easy to navigate and are not monotonous. Choosing a platform that has fun and engaging ways of teaching is paramount for retaining information.

One example of this is gamification. In a 2013 study from the Universidad de La Laguna entitled, “Gamification of Learning and Educational Materials,” researchers discovered:

Gamification works to satisfy some of the most fundamental human desires: recognition and reward, status, achievement, competition & collaboration, self-expression, and altruism. People are hungry for these things both in their everyday world and online. Gamification taps directly into this (González, Carina & Area, Manuel).

Learning can be both fun and educational. Students are much more likely to complete a course if it’s engaging and interactive.

5. Course-Variety

Finally, online learning platforms have the ability to house a variety of content. This is a great benefit for companies that need ongoing education training for their guards and could benefit from site-specific, job-specific, or more general HR courses. Guards can learn while on the job and acquire more pertinent information needed for their position.

Online training is an affordable, engaging way to train your security guards. Unlike traditional training tools, it’s convenient and much more accessible. Check out this Thinkcurity webinar I did for more info on debunking online security guard training myths.