Front-desk security officer for businesses

A front-of-house role Appearance, speech, dress: the role is on show. We assign people chosen specifically for it.

Screening without friction No one gets in unexpected, without the visitor feeling they are going through a checkpoint.

Register and audit trail Who came in, when, and to see whom. Useful day to day, essential after an incident.

Recurring posts An ongoing service during office hours, or extra cover for specific periods.

01 · Duties

The duties of a front-desk security post

The role combines classic front-desk tasks with constant vigilance that the visitor should never notice.

In-person and phone reception

Welcoming visitors, announcing them to staff, directing them around the building, handling incoming calls according to your instructions.

Managing badges and the register

Issuing and collecting visitor badges, keeping the entry register, checking that every visitor is expected.

Mail, parcels and deliveries

Receiving and logging post and parcels, checking deliveries, directing couriers to the loading bay.

Vigilance and screening

Spotting people who should not be there, doors propped open, unattended packages. A lobby is an entry point: vigilance there is constant but invisible.

Opening and closing the building

Unlocking in the morning, checking access points at the end of the day, confirming the floors are empty, setting the alarm.

First response to an incident

Applying the safety instructions, guiding the emergency services, helping with evacuation, alerting your internal contacts.

02 · Sizing

How we set up a front-desk post

A successful office post comes down to three things: the right person, clear instructions, and stability.

The right person before the rota

We introduce you to the guard we have in mind before they start. A company lobby cannot cope with a constant rotation of strangers.

Your instructions, in writing

Who can come in unannounced, what to do with an unexpected visitor, how to deal with a courier in a hurry, who to report what to. We draft it, you approve it.

A shadowing period

The guard works alongside your team for a few days, long enough to learn the faces, the org chart and the way your company works.

Continuity

The same guard, plus a named stand-in who already knows the site. A last-minute replacement by a stranger is what damages a front-desk post fastest.

03 · Real-world examples

Three settings

Head office

Office hours

A single reception post, Monday to Friday. The value lies in knowing the staff and keeping client reception running smoothly.

Multi-tenant building

Shared screening

Several companies, one lobby: the register and the announcement procedure become central, and the cost is shared between occupants.

Residential building or clinic

A reassuring presence

The role leans more towards a reassuring presence and monitoring comings and goings than towards security in the strict sense.

04 · Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about front-desk security.

The questions that come up most before booking this service. If yours isn't here, ask us: reply within 24 working hours.

What is the difference between a receptionist and a security guard?

Front-of-house work in the strict sense is not a regulated private security activity. However, as soon as the role includes an element of surveillance or access screening, it falls under the French Internal Security Code (Code de la sécurité intérieure), and the guard must hold a CNAPS professional licence.

Our front-desk security officers are licensed: this protects you from any reclassification risk, and lets you give them a genuine vigilance role.

Can the guard also handle the switchboard?

Yes, this is common, provided the call volume stays compatible with the vigilance the role requires. A guard who spends the day on the phone is not watching anything.

We discuss this when sizing the service: beyond a certain volume, it is better to split the role into two distinct functions.

Can you cover our receptionist during her holidays?

Yes. Covering holidays, sick leave or a vacant post is part of our regular service. We prefer to send a guard who has already worked on the site, or arrange a shadowing day beforehand when time allows.

What is the minimum number of hours you work with?

There is no contractual minimum, but a front-desk post makes most sense on a regular schedule. In practice, we take on everything from a few days of extra cover to a permanent, year-round post.

05 · Where we operate