They Guard Your Building. Who Guards Their Identity?
SIA licence holders in the UK
of guards work through agencies
to verify with Certifyd
The reality of security guards in the UK.
Identity verification for security guards closes an ironic gap: the people responsible for site security are often the least verified individuals on the premises. Certifyd uses bi-directional authentication — both the site manager and the security guard cryptographically prove their identity to each other in real time. The system verifies not just who the guard is, but that they hold an active SIA licence, are a current member of the security company, and are authorised for that specific site. Every shift creates a tamper-proof audit record.
The Private Security Industry Act 2001 requires security guards to hold a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence. But SIA licences prove that a person passed the required training and background checks — they do not prove that the person presenting at your site is the licence holder. SIA licence numbers can be shared, badges can be cloned, and there is no real-time mechanism to confirm the guard standing at your reception is who they claim to be.
The security industry relies heavily on agency and subcontractor labour. Over 25% of security guards work through agencies, covering shifts at sites they may never have visited before. The site manager receives a name from the agency and a guard arrives — but without independent verification, there is no way to confirm the match. When a guard covers a colleague’s shift at short notice, the gap widens further.
Security guards hold extraordinary access: keys, alarm codes, CCTV systems, server rooms, and detailed knowledge of a building’s vulnerabilities. Certifyd’s bi-directional, device-bound authentication ensures that every guard on every shift is cryptographically verified, with their organisational membership and site authorisation confirmed in real time.
This is broken.
Here's why.
SIA licences prove qualification, not that the person presenting is the licence holder.
Agency guards cover shifts at unfamiliar sites with no independent identity verification.
Security guards have access to keys, alarm codes, CCTV, and knowledge of building vulnerabilities.
When security incidents occur, there’s often no verifiable record of which specific guard was on duty.
Simple verification.
Every time.
Guard arrives for shift — both parties open Certifyd and authenticate via their registered device
Each person’s identity is cryptographically verified to the other — bi-directional, not one-way
The system confirms the guard’s active membership with their security company and authorisation for that site
A tamper-proof record is created: who, when, where, and under whose organisational authority
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Common questions.
SIA licences confirm that a person has passed the required training and background checks. They do not confirm that the person standing at your reception is the licence holder. An SIA badge shows a name, licence number, and photo — but badges can be cloned, photos can be outdated, and there is no real-time verification mechanism. Certifyd uses device-bound cryptographic authentication: the guard proves their identity through their registered device, which cannot be transferred, cloned, or spoofed.
BS 7858 is the British Standard for security screening, covering employment history verification, criminal record checks, and identity confirmation at the point of hiring. Certifyd complements BS 7858 by providing ongoing, real-time identity verification at every shift — not just at onboarding. A guard who passed BS 7858 screening six months ago is verified again cryptographically every time they arrive for duty.
Yes. A guard’s Certifyd identity is device-bound and portable. The security company adds site-specific authorisations as part of the guard’s membership. When a guard arrives at any authorised site, the system confirms their identity, company membership, and specific site authorisation in real time. If site access is revoked, it takes effect immediately — the guard can no longer verify at that location.
Every shift verification creates a tamper-proof record: the guard’s verified identity, the time of verification, the location, and the organisational authority under which they are working. Over time, this builds a complete, auditable shift history for every guard across every site — invaluable for compliance, incident investigation, and client reporting.
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Verify every guard on every shift
Book a demo to see how Certifyd works for your team, or tell us about your verification needs and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Read: Audit Trails for Compliance