In the security industry, ticking the BS7858 compliance box is often seen as a job well done. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: being compliant isn’t the same as being confident in your workforce. Security vetting is about far more than checking off a list of requirements — it’s about safeguarding your business, reputation, and clients. For many mid-sized security companies, there’s a dangerous gap between what BS7858 covers and what modern vetting demands.
So, where are companies falling short? And what does effective staff vetting really look like in 2025? Let’s uncover the blind spots — and how to fix them.
What Is BS7858? Understand the Standard and Its Gaps
Before you can improve your vetting practices, you need to understand the limits of the current standard. Let’s look at what BS7858 covers and what it leaves out.
BS7858 is the UK standard for vetting individuals employed in secure settings. It includes:
- ID and right-to-work checks
- Five-year employment history verification
- Criminal record (DBS) checks
- Address verification
- Personal references
It’s designed to reduce the likelihood of employing individuals who may present a security risk. However, it was not built with modern digital workflows, urgent staffing demands, or real-time visibility in mind.
While BS7858 is still essential, it leaves room for interpretation and error if handled manually. Security firms that only meet the standard often leave themselves exposed, especially when contract SLAs demand fast, verified deployment.
The Real Cost of Incomplete Vetting Practices
Even companies with good intentions can fall short when it comes to thorough staff vetting. The result? Avoidable risk, lost contracts, and operational delays.
When BS7858 Security Screening Isn’t Enough
BS7858 vetting ensures that individuals working in sensitive environments undergo identity verification, criminal record checks, and a five-year work history review. But here’s the problem: BS7858 security screening is a minimum standard, not a gold standard.
In reality, BS7858 doesn’t account for operational pressures, recruitment speed, or fraud risk. It doesn’t include ongoing compliance monitoring, real-time status updates, or validation of digital documents. And it certainly doesn’t provide a centralised dashboard for managing your vetting pipeline, unless you’re using a tool built for that purpose.
The Risks: From Contract Loss to Compliance Breaches
Missing or inconsistent records in your employment background screening can mean more than a compliance warning — it can mean losing a high-value contract. Worse still, onboarding the wrong individual could lead to theft, absenteeism, or even liability in a legal case.
In today’s fast-moving contract environment, reputation is everything. You may never hear why a client doesn’t renew, but weak vetting practices are a likely culprit. Check out our guide on ensuring compliance with security vetting for more details.
3 Common Security Vetting Failures Security Companies Make
Relying on outdated processes or surface-level checks is one of the biggest mistakes in today’s security hiring landscape. Below are the most common pitfalls to avoid.
1. Gaps in Employment Background Screening
It’s one thing to request five years of work history — it’s another to validate every month of it properly. Manual screening methods (like spreadsheets and email chains) are prone to errors, delays, and incomplete data.
Automated employment background screening ensures every reference, employment gap, and previous role is accounted for. It also speeds up hiring and prevents hold-ups that frustrate both recruiters and clients.
2. No Real-Time Tracking of Vetting Progress
Many security firms still manage vetting offline or across multiple systems. That means HR or compliance officers are often working in the dark, unaware of which step is next or where a file is stuck.
This lack of visibility not only slows down your hiring pipeline but also increases your audit risk. A missed update or an unsigned consent form could unravel your entire compliance defence in a review.
3. Data Insecurity and Poor Documentation
Are your vetting files stored in physical folders or sent over unsecured email? If so, you’re putting personal data at risk — and falling short of GDPR expectations. Poor documentation also makes it nearly impossible to produce consistent evidence of vetting quality.
Gold vetting systems ensure digital, encrypted storage and auditable records for each candidate, with two-way access for internal collaboration.
GuardCheck: The Future of Security Vetting for Security Companies
To truly protect your business, you need a vetting solution that keeps pace with modern hiring — that’s where GuardCheck comes in.
Go Beyond BS7858 With Gold, Digital Vetting
GuardCheck is GuardPass’s fully managed BS7858 vetting service. It’s built for today’s security employers — fast, compliant, and digital from end to end.
- Average turnaround: under 48 hours
- 100% BS7858-compliant
- Real-time progress tracking
- Fully auditable digital files
- Integrated dashboard and automated workflows
Whether you’re hiring permanent guards or deploying short-term staff, GuardCheck gives you confidence, not just compliance.
Better Vetting Practices = Better Hires
GuardCheck automates staff vetting, removing guesswork and standardising outcomes. You’ll never wonder “Did we miss something?” again.
With built-in DBS checks, address validation, and historical employment review — all handled by vetted professionals — your hiring team can spend more time onboarding the right people, not chasing paperwork.
Why Better Staff Vetting Builds a Stronger Business
Vetting isn’t just a hiring step; it’s a strategic lever for improving trust, winning contracts, and safeguarding your operation.
Turn Vetting Into a Competitive Advantage
In tender negotiations or renewal periods, your vetting practices can make or break your position. Clients increasingly want to see evidence of hiring integrity and operational excellence.
With GuardCheck, you gain not only BS7858 compliance but a professional edge. A clear, auditable vetting process shows clients that you’re serious about trust, security, and transparency.
Protect Your Time, Your Clients, and Your Brand
Poor staff vetting isn’t just a recruitment issue — it’s a brand risk. GuardCheck gives you scalable, secure systems that streamline hiring and de-risk your operation, so you can focus on winning new contracts and growing your business.
Want to learn more? Check out our article on security vetting best practices for further tips.
Embracing Staff Vetting That Goes Beyond the Standard
Many security companies assume that BS7858 compliance guarantees quality, but that assumption can be costly. It’s time to look beyond the standard.
Security vetting should be fast, thorough, secure, and strategic. Whether you’re scaling operations or fulfilling urgent shift demands, having confidence in your people is non-negotiable. With GuardCheck, you’re not just meeting compliance; you’re raising the bar.
Don’t let BS7858 compliance give you a false sense of security. GuardCheck simplifies vetting, reduces risk, and delivers results in under 48 hours — all while staying 100% BS7858 compliant.