Security operations glossary

This glossary defines the terms used in day-to-day contract security work, from daily activity reports and post orders to guard tours, geofencing, and proof of service.

Every definition is written to stand on its own. If your team uses a term differently, that is normal. The industry is not consistent, and these are the most common meanings.

BOLOBOLO stands for "be on the lookout", a short alert circulated to guards describing a specific person, vehicle, or behaviour to watch for, along with what to do if it is seen.
Buddy punchingBuddy punching is when one employee clocks in or out on behalf of another who is not actually there, producing paid hours for time that was never worked.
Checkpoint scanA checkpoint scan is the record created when a security guard registers at a fixed patrol point (by tapping an NFC tag, scanning a QR code, or recording GPS at the location), proving the guard was physically present there at that time.
Contract securityContract security is security staffing provided by a third-party company that employs the guards and supplies them to clients under a service contract, as opposed to in-house security staff employed directly by the protected organisation.
Daily activity report (DAR)A daily activity report (DAR) is a shift-by-shift written record of everything a security guard observed and did on post, submitted at or before the end of the shift and used as the client-facing proof that the shift was worked.
Fire watchA fire watch is a dedicated patrol assigned to detect fires in a building whose fire protection system is impaired or offline, walking the affected areas at a required interval and logging each round.
GeofencingGeofencing is drawing a virtual boundary around a physical location so software can tell whether a device is inside or outside it. In contract security it is most often used to let a guard clock in only while actually at the assigned site.
Guard tourA guard tour is a defined patrol route with fixed checkpoints that a security guard walks on a set schedule, recorded so the company can prove each checkpoint was physically visited at the required time.
Incident report (IR)A security incident report is a written record of a single specific event on a site (a theft, injury, trespass, alarm, or property damage), documenting what happened, when, who was involved, and what action the guard took.
Lone workerA lone worker is an employee who works without direct supervision or nearby colleagues, which is the normal condition for most security guards and the reason welfare-check and duress procedures exist in guarding contracts.
Mobile patrolA mobile patrol is a security service where one guard in a vehicle covers several client sites in a rotation, making short scheduled visits to each rather than remaining posted at one location.
Post ordersPost orders are the written, site-specific instructions that tell a security guard exactly what to do on a given post: patrol routes and timing, access rules, escalation contacts, and the procedures to follow for each foreseeable situation.
Proof of serviceProof of service is the verifiable evidence a security company gives its client showing that contracted coverage was actually delivered: who was on post, when, where, and what they did.
Static postA static post is a security assignment where a guard remains at one designated location for the whole shift, such as a lobby desk, gatehouse, or entrance, rather than moving between sites.
Welfare checkA welfare check is a scheduled confirmation that a lone-working guard is safe, requiring the guard to actively respond within a set window so that no response automatically triggers escalation.