Everything you need to understand Bay Area security — hiring, pricing, compliance, and what to look for in a security company — in one place. This page links to our full service catalog, city-by-city coverage, and the deeper guides that explain how we do the work. Whether you’re comparing vendors for the first time or looking up a specific detail about California guard licensing, start here.
Start Here: How to Hire Bay Area Security
If you’re shopping for a security company, these four pages cover 90% of what you need to decide.
- How Much Do Security Guards Cost in the Bay Area? (2026 Pricing Guide) — $30–$45/hr unarmed, $40–$65/hr armed. The real numbers, what drives variance, and what rates below these actually mean.
- How We Work — The 4-step process from quote to deployed officers, plus industries we cover and answers to the most common questions.
- Armed Security Guards — When armed is the right call, BSIS Exposed Firearms Permit requirements, licensing, and liability considerations.
- Unarmed Security Guards — The right answer for most Bay Area properties. Deterrence, access control, and professional presence.
All Security Services
Surefire covers the full range of Bay Area security work. Each of these pages goes deep on the specific service.
- Security Guard Services — The core offering: uniformed guards, static posts, patrols.
- Armed Security — Licensed armed officers for high-risk environments.
- Unarmed Security — Professional deterrence for standard sites.
- Mobile & Vehicle Patrol — Roving marked-vehicle checks across multi-site or large footprint properties.
- Courtesy Patrol — Residential and HOA patrol with tenant-facing service posture.
- Firewatch Security — Regulatory firewatch for impaired sprinkler systems, hot work, and insurance compliance.
- Event Security — Corporate events, weddings, private parties.
- Quinceañeras Event Security — Specialty event coverage with bilingual officers.
- Construction Site Security — After-hours site protection, equipment theft prevention.
- Apartment & HOA Security — Residential community coverage with tenant communication.
- Tech Office & Campus Security — Corporate coverage integrated with badge/IT systems.
Cities We Cover
Surefire deploys across the full Bay Area, with dedicated city pages covering local market conditions, response times, and the specific risks each city presents.
- Fremont — Our home market; fastest response times.
- Oakland — East Bay commercial, retail, and construction coverage.
- San Francisco — SF commercial, events, and high-rise residential.
- San Jose — South Bay corporate and industrial coverage.
- Hayward — East Bay industrial and apartment community coverage.
- San Leandro — Warehouse, industrial, and retail security.
- Union City — Multi-family and commercial corridor coverage.
- Alameda — Island coverage with specialized waterfront experience.
- Palo Alto — Tech campus and high-net-worth residential.
- Santa Clara — Corporate campus and data center coverage.
By Buyer Type
Long-term security contracts start with buyer-specific pages that speak to your role:
- Security for Property Managers — Multi-property portfolios, monthly reporting, insurance-ready documentation, named account manager.
- Security for General Contractors — Same-day fire watch, per-project pricing, jobsite theft prevention, hot work permit coverage.
Case Studies
Real Bay Area properties, real problems, real results. See client wins — an Alameda self-storage facility that eliminated recurring burglaries in year one, and a Hayward motel that got better security for less money (now a 3-year client).
Free Property Walk-Through
The best way to figure out if we’re right for your property is to have us walk it with you. Request a free walk-through — 30-45 minutes on-site, written security assessment, firm 30-day quote, no obligation. Every long-term contract we’ve signed started here.
Fire Watch Coverage by City
Regulatory fire watch coverage — sprinkler impairment, hot work, fire alarm testing, post-incident, and insurance carrier requirements — with fire marshal-ready documentation. Choose your city for local coverage details:
- Fire Watch Security Fremont
- Fire Watch Security Oakland
- Fire Watch Security San Francisco
- Fire Watch Security San Jose
- Fire Watch Security Hayward
- Fire Watch Security San Leandro
- Fire Watch Security Union City
- Fire Watch Security Alameda
- Fire Watch Security Palo Alto
- Fire Watch Security Santa Clara
Insights & Guides
Our blog covers hiring guides, compliance walk-throughs, and Bay Area-specific security topics. A few good starting points:
- How Much Do Security Guards Cost in the Bay Area? (2026 Pricing Guide)
- Event Security Guide: Keep Your Bay Area Events Safe
- Bay Area Crime Rates and Statistics
- Mobile Patrol Security Services Overview
About Surefire Security
Surefire is a California-licensed Private Patrol Operator (PPO 121780) based in Fremont and serving the Bay Area. We run a small, accountable officer pool, publish pricing honestly, and carry insurance that exceeds the state-required minimums. Read more about us or request a quote.
Switch Security Vendors and Save
Unhappy with your current security vendor? Get 10% off your first 3 months when you switch to Surefire. We handle the transition, coordinate directly with your outgoing vendor, and deploy officers within 14 days (5-7 days for emergencies). Read our step-by-step guide: How to Switch Security Companies Without a Service Gap.
By Buyer Role
Buyer-specific pages for the specific role you play:
- Security for Hotel & Motel Operators — Hospitality-trained officers, per-room budgeting, brand compliance, right-sized coverage.
- Security for Storage Facility Operators — Marked vehicle patrol, randomized rounds, insurance-carrier documentation. Alameda client: burglaries eliminated in year one.
- Security for Corporate Event Coordinators — Suited or uniformed officers, VIP coordination, venue security layering, medical response.
- Executive Protection for Family Offices & HR — Confidential consultation, NDA-first, armed/discreet coverage, advance work.
