Security services, in the industrial context, can be defined as those provided by the private sector, to prevent crime, loss or harm to specific individuals, organizations or facilities; for companies and individuals in this industry, the provision of security services is done on a commercial basis and is their major preoccupation.

Statistics Canada defines industry 5616, Investigation and Security Services, as comprising establishments primarily engaged in providing investigation and detective services, guard and patrol services, armoured car services and security system services. The detailed breakdown of industry 5616 are as follows:

56161 Investigation, Guard and Armoured Car Services:
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing investigation and detective services; providing guard and patrol services; and picking up and delivering money, receipts or other valuable items using personnel and equipment to protect such properties while in transit.

561611 Investigation Services:
This industry encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing investigation and detective services. Included are: fingerprint services, missing person tracing service, detective agencies, polygraph service, lie detection service and skip tracers services.

561612 Security Guard and Patrol Services:
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in providing guard and patrol services. Included are: body guard services, personal protection services, guard dog services and security patrol service.

561613 Armoured Car Services:
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in picking up and delivering money, receipts or other valuable items using personnel and equipment to protect such properties while in transit. Included are: armoured car services, transportation guard service and convoy guard services.

56162 Security Systems Services:
This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in remote monitoring of security alarm systems, such as burglar and fire alarms; and selling security systems, including locking devices, along with installation, maintenance or monitoring services.

561621 Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths):
This industry encompasses establishments primarily engaged in remote monitoring of electronic security alarm systems, such as burglar and fire alarms; and selling security systems, along with installation, maintenance or monitoring services. Included are: alarm system monitoring; security system sale, combined with installation, maintenance or monitoring, alarm systems sale, combined with installation, maintenance or monitoring.

561622 Locksmiths:
This Canadian industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in selling mechanical or electronic locking devices, safes and security vaults, along with installation, repair, rebuilding or adjusting services; and installing, repairing, rebuilding and adjusting mechanical or electronic locking devices, safes and security.

Industry information is available from Statistics Canada.

Not included in the above definition are the following:

Security consulting services, that can involve advising on the appropriate security systems required in particular situations, purchasing and supervising the installation of the necessary security hardware, and the training of the security staff; these services may be provided as an integrated package.

• the operation of correctional facilities by private companies
• proprietary security services, such as guards and investigators on the staff of business establishments and government.