Access Control: Tailgating

Access control is a simple practice that most businesses have in place, to mitigate unwanted entrance to controlled areas. Whether it is something as simple as a lock on a door, or advanced biometrics, one of the biggest threats at the access control point, is tailgating.

What is tailgating? Tailgating is when an unauthorized person attempts to enter a controlled area, usually by following close behind an authorized user. An example of this is holding the door open for a fellow “employee” that forgot their access badge.

Why is tailgating a problem? Boon Edam Inc. conducted a survey of enterprise security executives with some eye-opening results. “According to the survey results, a majority of the respondents believe that security breaches from tailgating remain at the same level or are on the rise.  More than 70 percent of respondents believe they are currently vulnerable to a security breach from tailgating. Hitting even closer to home, more than 70 percent believed that it was somewhat likely to very likely a security breach could happen at their own facility as a result of a tailgating incident.” Fifty percent of those surveyed predicted a breach due to tailgating would cost the company more than $150,000.

So how can this be mitigated? There are several options that when employed singularly or together can help reduce the chances of tailgating. Firstly, there must be a strictly enforced policy against tailgating in place. If employees know that if they are caught allowing someone to tailgate, it is grounds for strict punishment, which will help deter most people from taking the risk. Another inexpensive way to reduce the chances of tailgating is an awareness campaign. By emphasizing the awareness and consequences of tailgating, employees may be less likely to engage in it. Physical barriers are a popular option for companies. Having turnstiles or revolving doors helps reduce the chances of tailgating, but it can also cause bottlenecking and delays during peak usage times. Another way to help reduce the possibility of tailgating is having monitored access points. Whether it is a manned position or a security camera overwatch, both options when done correctly work well. There are also advanced biometric options like retina scans, palm print scans, and voice recognition, however, these can be expensive.

Combining more than one barrier is a good way to layer the access point that can help to reduce the possibility of tailgating. For example, the picture above shows badge readers which then allow access to the turnstiles. These are just a few options that can help reduce the chances of a tailgating incident occurring at the facility. For more information or questions, please contact us at: https://www.fc-llc.org/contact-us/

Sources:

https://www.seqrite.com/blog/tailgating-security-risks-involved/

https://www.metacompliance.com/blog/the-dangers-of-tailgating-in-the-workplace/

https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/86026-tailgating-a-common-courtesy-and-a-common-risk