Commercial security encompasses a range of markets, including offices and office buildings,financial institutions, retail, and other businesses (e.g., lodging and hospitality, food service,entertainment). The primary threat to office buildings is burglary and theft. Common measures taken to protect against this type of loss include access controls (e.g.,identification card or fob readers, coded access, biometric access), closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, and security guards. Financial institutions also suffer from losses involving theft (e.g., cash and stocks) and regularly use guards and alarm monitoring systems. Larger financial institutions may also hire investigators devoted to investigating identity theft and fraud, especially since the federal government has reduced the number of federal investigators devoted to these crimes. Retailers face a number of security issues, including shoplifting, vandalism, and employee theft. To deter shoplifting, approximately 37% of retailers use uniformed security guards  Other methods include physical controls, such as alarms and surveillance equipment. Other commercial markets, such as hotels and restaurants, increasingly use CCTV monitoring systems to monitor common areas against theft and vandalism.

Visitor control, internal and external theft, and fire are the major security concerns of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, which may use security guards to patrol the hallways and control access. Risks at educational institutions include the safety of students and staff, violence, vandalism, and theft. To address these concerns, access control, lighting, and security guards may be used in some facilities. For example, Schools hired guards after experiencing problems with school violence. Because of their open environments, colleges
and universities use security guards to secure their facilities.