Security Guard & Private Security Companies in Long Island, New York

New York regulates security differently from California: individual security guards are registered and trained under the New York State Security Guard Act, while the company employing them must hold a Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency license issued by the New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services under General Business Law Article 7. Investigative firms hold a separate private investigator license. Armed work requires a New York pistol license plus armed-guard registration, which are difficult to obtain in the New York City region, so most contract security across Nassau and Suffolk is unarmed. Confirm the company's Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency license and that its guards are state-registered before hiring.

The Melville and Hauppauge corporate parks drive professional, guest-facing office coverage — lobby and reception posts, integrated access control and badging, and after-hours patrol — while the Northwell Health system and other hospital campuses need around-the-clock officers trained in de-escalation for emergency departments and controlled-entry areas. Buyers here prioritize service quality and appearance, so look for a provider experienced in corporate and healthcare settings across Nassau and Suffolk.

Regional malls and retail corridors drive retail loss prevention and parking-lot patrol, while waterfront estates and affluent residential communities add executive and estate protection, gated-community and HOA patrol, and camera integration. An active events and construction scene adds event security and site coverage. Because the service area is large and spread out, mobile patrol across a shared route is a cost-effective staple.

Long Island bills at a premium above the national baseline, reflecting affluent Nassau and Suffolk wages, though below Manhattan's peak. A standing unarmed guard post over a 12-hour daily shift runs a monthly rate built on prevailing local wages before markup; corporate, healthcare and estate-protection work bills higher, while shared mobile patrol costs far less per property across the spread-out service area. Request two or three quotes from licensed Watch, Guard or Patrol agencies and compare scope.

Our directory lists 894 security guard and private security companies in Long Island. Most hold an active license with their state licensing board (such as California BSIS or Illinois IDFPR) and offer on-site security guards, executive protection, corporate security, mobile patrol and alarm monitoring.

Companies are ranked on merit: those with a verified, active state license come first, followed by verified reviews and track record. Reviews count 7 days after they're published. If you only want to see companies with a verified license, check the list of state licensed security companies in Long Island.

Costs vary by service type. A security guard post in Long Island runs between $9,200 and $15,000 per month for a 12h daily post; an executive protection agent between $17,000 and $40,000 per month; event security between $40 and $69 per guard per hour. We recommend requesting 2-3 quotes to compare.

Security companies in Long Island offer on-site security guards, armed security, mobile patrol, event security, executive protection, corporate security, warehouse and industrial security, residential and HOA security, alarm monitoring, video surveillance and security consulting. Each profile details the specific services each provider offers.

Each profile shows the company's license status and, where available, its license number. You can cross-check it on your state licensing board's public lookup — the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) in California or the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) in Illinois. If a company doesn't appear in the registry, or its license shows as expired, suspended or revoked, don't hire it.

Use our quote form to describe what you need (type of service, area within Long Island, shifts, number of guards) and we share your request with licensed companies so interested providers can contact you with a quote. It's 100% free with no obligation.

For standard services like on-site guards or alarm monitoring, coverage can typically start within 48-72 hours of accepting a quote. For specialized services (executive protection, large events), expect 5-10 business days for personnel selection, screening and site onboarding.

If an incident occurs involving personnel from an unlicensed company, you can face negligent-hiring liability. Unlicensed operators also frequently lack certified training, guard registration (guard cards) and active liability insurance, and states can fine businesses that knowingly use them. Always verify the state license before signing a contract.