Q: Mr. Balaa, how do you see the private security industry evolving in the local market of Lebanon?
A: The overall quality of the industry’s service is growing with the demands of the clients. Many now require international quality certifications, specialized training, and more stringent quality control. Every client has their own operating procedures and well reputed companies are adapting to the needs of a more discerning market.
Q: When was your company established and how did it grow throughout the years?
A: SPC was established in 1998. In this business reputation is everything. Long standing clients who will testify to the quality of our service were the key to growing a successful private security company.
Q: What are the obstructions that you face as a company and that your officers face while fulfilling your duties as a private security company and how do you overcome those obstacles?
A: Market regulation and proper implementation of those regulations are the key to any healthy industry; more so in the private security sector. We need clearer more modern laws and more control over license prerequisites to maintain high standards and protect consumers.
Q: Are there any new technologies in the security world that suit the Lebanese market?
A: The innovation in our business never stops, and if you aren’t up to date with the latest developments you will fall behind. It is a continuous endeavor and it is part of our strategy to remain at the cutting edge of our industry, tailoring the newest techniques and technologies to fit the Lebanese market. Both the CEO and myself are ASIS members and attended ASIS Europe 2019 in Rotterdam with a team of our executives last March. ASIS exhibitions are an excellent opportunity to network with and learn from world leaders in the fields of private, physical and cyber security.
Q: What is unique about SPC that industries may not find in other companies?
A: Many companies in Lebanon have a good reputation and are managed by qualified personnel, but there are many things that set SPC apart from the rest. We are the one and only company awarded three ISO certifications including ISO 18788 the international benchmark for private security operations. Our officers are continuously trained, evaluated and re-evaluated. It’s an ongoing commitment. We have a unique process for establishing our clients’ operating procedures and making sure they comply with international standards. And that is why many of our clients who we like to call “our partners in success” have been with us for over two decades.
Q: Do you have plans to implement new techniques in your company?
A: We are always doing so. We have been fine tuning and evolving our service for more than twenty years and we expect to stay true to our strategy. We are automating many of our processes and introducing technology into more aspects of our operation.
Q: Mr. Balaa, thank you for receiving us at SPC and for your time, and would you tell us how do you envision your company would look like in the year 2030?
A: Very similar to what we look like now, as we have worked hard to preserve our identity, but with significantly better technology. We see a big future for biometrics in private security.