Security, discerned.
Security guides from someone who’s worked the job — for security pros, and for protecting your home and family
Get licensed and build a career as a guard or private investigator. Or secure your home, stay safe when you travel and find out what hiring an investigator really costs. Written from years on the door, on protection details, in loss prevention and on surveillance cases — and checked against official sources.
Find what you need
Pick your path, whether you work in security or just want your home, family and trips to be safer.
For your home, family and travels
Home Security
Secure doors, sliding doors and garages, choose cameras, safes and alarm systems with no monthly fee, and stop package theft. For owners and renters.
Personal & Travel Safety
Personal alarms and pepper spray, protecting your home while you’re away, cruise ship safety, and securing rural property and boats.
Hiring an Investigator
What a private investigator costs in the U.S., how billing and retainers work, how to check a license, and red flags in a quote.
For people who work in security
Security Guards
License requirements in all 50 states, training, de-escalation and the law on detaining people.
Private Investigators
How to become a PI, license requirements in every state, the equipment you need and what PIs earn.
Security Careers
Guard, bouncer, bodyguard, loss prevention and investigator, plus cruise ship, maritime and drone security jobs, with pay and next steps.
Gear and tools
Gear & Equipment
Picks for guards, investigators and homeowners: radios, cameras, flashlights, locks and alarms, plus the gear I actually carried on the job.
Security Technology & AI
AI report writing, voice recorders, guard tour systems, drones, and whether AI will replace security guards.
Forms & Templates
Free daily activity report, patrol log, pass-down log and incident report templates, plus the complete report writing kit.
Security Report Writing Kit
A report writing guide, 20 example reports and 8 templates. Instant download in Word and PDF, one-time payment of $19.
Essential guides
- 01Home SecurityHow to Secure Your Home: The Complete Guide→
- 02Home SecurityBest Home Security Systems With No Monthly Fee→
- 03Home SecurityWhere Burglars Look First (and Where to Hide Valuables Instead)→
- 04Hiring a PIHow Much Does a Private Investigator Cost? (U.S. Guide)→
- 05Know the LawCan Security Guards Detain You? What the Law Actually Allows→
- 06LicensingSecurity Guard License Requirements by State→
- 07CareersHow to Become a Security Guard: Steps, Requirements & Pay→
- 08InvestigatorsHow to Become a Private Investigator→
- 09CareersSecurity Careers: Every Path in Private Security→
- 10GearField-Tested Security Gear: What I Actually Carried→
Free shift forms for security officers
Daily Activity Report, Patrol Log and Pass-Down Log in Word and PDF. Enter your email on the next page and they’re sent right away.
Meet the author
Written by someone who’s done the job
I’m Yair Arad. My career started in the military and moved into private security: armed and unarmed posts, executive protection, nightclub and venue security, and loss prevention. I also ran my own private investigation firm, working surveillance cases. Since 2016 I’ve also worked in IT operations, enforcing security controls and compliance. Security Dogma is where I share what actually works on the ground — not textbook theory.
How this site works
Licensing facts come from state boards and statutes, and each guide names what it was verified against. Gear picks list specs from the manufacturer, and the site marks which notes come from real field use. Some links are affiliate links, and the site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full editorial policy.
Legal disclaimer: This page is for general information and education only. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Security Dogma is not a law firm. Laws, licensing rules and court decisions vary by state and change often, and what is written here may not match your situation or be current when you read it. Before you act on anything here, check the official rules from your state licensing agency, follow your employer’s and client site’s policies, and talk to a licensed attorney in your state for legal questions. See our Terms and Conditions and how facts are checked in our Editorial Policy.