Security, discerned. One guide at a time.
I’m Yair Arad, and after 15+ years in security and investigations, I built Security Dogma to be the resource I wish I’d had when I started in security: straight answers about licensing, careers and gear, from someone who has actually worked the posts — not from a textbook, and not from a sales page.
Where the experience comes from
I served in the Israeli Navy from 1994 to 1996 and worked my first security shift in late 1999. Over the years that followed I progressed from entry-level guard and armed officer to nightclub and event security, loss prevention, executive protection, private investigations and security management:
| Role | What it taught me |
|---|---|
| Armed and unarmed security | That most of the job — armed or not — is observing and reporting, and that knowing your legal limits protects you and everyone around you. |
| Executive protection (2 years) | That real protection is advance work and planning. If it ever comes down to the weapon, something already went wrong. |
| Nightclub and venue security (3 years) | That people get brave when they drink, and that calm words and a good team stop far more fights than size does. |
| Loss prevention | That every stop lives or dies on what you saw and what you wrote — reports can end up in court. |
| Large event security (5 years) | Crowd flow, entry control and teamwork at large public events. |
| Private investigations (5 years) | Mostly fraud cases, including running my own PI firm. Attention to detail, patience, and documentation that holds up. |
| Security management (3 years) | Supervising security operations for large telecom companies and managing a security company. |
| IT service and operations (since 2016) | Enforcing security controls, managing system access and keeping a company compliant — the digital side of the same mindset. |
Licenses I’ve held (California, issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services):
- Security Guard Registration (guard card)
- Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license
- Private Investigator license
Those years gave me stories, mistakes and lessons that you won’t find in a training manual. You’ll see them throughout the site in the “From the field” boxes.
Why “Dogma”?
A dogma is a set of principles you hold to. In security, those principles are simple but unforgiving: know the rules where you work, stay within your authority, prepare for the worst, and document everything. The site is named for those principles — and for the idea that you should discern what actually works before you trust it with your safety, your license or your career.
What you’ll find here
- Licensing & Training — state requirements, mandatory training, detention law, use of force and de-escalation.
- Security Careers — honest guides to becoming a security guard, bouncer, loss prevention officer or bodyguard.
- Security Guard Gear — what is worth carrying on shift, compared honestly.
- Resources — templates and practical guides for the paperwork that protects you.
More topics are on the way, including executive protection, nightclub and venue security, and home and personal safety. See all topics.
How every guide is made
- Field experience first. Guides are written from real posts, shifts and details.
- Checked against official sources. Licensing and legal guides cite state agencies and laws, and show the date they were verified.
- Updated when rules change. Each guide shows when it was last updated.
- Plain English. No filler, no jargon for its own sake.
- General information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change over time. Always confirm with your state’s licensing agency and your employer.
How Security Dogma is funded
Some guides contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, Security Dogma may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Over time, the site will also offer its own templates and study guides. Neither ever decides what gets recommended. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
Videos
Maglite vs Streamlight: 15 Years of Security Shifts
Security Guard Gear That Actually Holds Up in the Field
Security Guard Night Shift: Gear That Gets You Through 12 Hours
More videos on my YouTube channel.
Where to start
- New to the field? Start with how to become a security guard.
- Getting licensed in California? Read the California Guard Card guide.
- Already on the job? Sharpen up with de-escalation techniques and how to write an incident report.
- Questions about the site? Check the Help page.