{"id":30391,"date":"2024-06-01T17:10:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-02T00:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thresholdsecurity.com\/staging\/?p=30391"},"modified":"2026-07-16T10:53:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T14:53:53","slug":"how-to-improve-building-security-by-preventing-tailgating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thresholdsecurity.com\/staging\/how-to-improve-building-security-by-preventing-tailgating\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Improve Building Security by Preventing Tailgating"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What does tailgating have to do with building security? The term \u201ctailgating\u201d derives from the practice of driving too closely behind another car. In a physical building security setting, <\/span>tailgating refers to an unauthorized person who follows closely behind an authorized staffer, visitor or vendor and enters a building by \u201cpiggybacking\u201d or tailgating to gain access into a restricted area or past a particular checkpoint. The person \u201ctailgates\u201d or walks so closely behind the authorized person so that they can slip in while the door or access point is open. Sometimes, the tailgater is assisted willingly, such as by an employee who, trying to be courteous, unwittingly admits an intruder by holding a locked door open through which that person may follow. Sometimes tailgaters sneak in, bypassing the reception desk or security station. Or, taking a cue from Hollywood heist movies, the tailgater may pose as a uniformed vendor and bluff their way inside where security guards might have no idea the person bypassed a checkpoint. Unless the facility has a mandatory badge policy and visitor management system in place, there may be no way to alert security personnel that the tailgater is an unauthorized intruder.<\/span><\/p>

Why is tailgating a problem?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>

Let\u2019s consider why an individual would want to tailgate. Perhaps the tailgater is an otherwise good person who is simply in a hurry and wants to circumvent security procedures to save time. What seems like a harmless action could inadvertently trigger a building-wide security alert.<\/span><\/p>

Facility administrators and security personnel must assume all tailgaters have malicious intent to harm property and occupants. The stakes are high in building security. Assuming someone rushing past security is late to a meeting and doesn\u2019t pose a threat is a breach that cannot be risked. In the case of an innocent breach,\u00a0 catching up with the person to get them screened and badged is the best course of action.<\/span><\/p>

Why else might someone want to bypass a security checkpoint? The scary scenarios are endless. Disgruntled clients or ex-employees looking to extract revenge and cause damage;\u00a0 thieves hoping to steal valuable items; saboteurs, hackers or corporate spies hoping to access private information; the list goes on and on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In an industry survey, more than 70% of respondents said tailgating could likely result in a security breach at their facility. <\/span>In one extreme case documented in 2017, a disgruntled former medical student gained access to several operating rooms and observed medical procedures in Boston-area hospitals by forging credentials and tailgating into restricted hospital areas. <\/span><\/p>

According to Campus Safety’s article “Woman Caught Impersonating Doctor at Boston Hospitals” (February 17, 2017), “Cheryl Wang reportedly observed operations, attended patient rounds and transported a patient at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital before officials realized she was not an authorized visitor. The incident, which included Wang entering at least five operating rooms at Brigham\u2019s, represented a major lapse in hospital security. Wang claimed she was a doctor in training. Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital uses electronic card readers to restrict access to surgery suites, but Wang was able to bypass those systems by tailgating other employees if groups were travelling together or during shift changes. The hospital plans to hold additional training for staff members on the dangers of tailgating”. (source: https:\/\/www.campussafetymagazine.com\/news\/woman_impersonates_doctor_breaches_security_at_boston_hospitals\/30160\/<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>

While no one was injured, by entering into vulnerable surgical settings, the medical student\u2019s actions highlighted a substantial threat to hospital staff and patients.<\/span><\/p>

Note: tailgating can occur anywhere in a building. For example, even current employees, though authorized to be in your facility, may not be allowed access to internal areas that contain valuable equipment, sensitive files, restricted pharmaceuticals, or dangerous supplies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

How can tailgating be prevented?<\/strong><\/h2>

Physical barriers such as turnstiles or electronic keypads may be installed at access points, but those options require expensive equipment which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.<\/span><\/p>

A more cost-effective solution to alert building staff to anyone who may be tailgating is to institute a badge protocol and invest in a visitor management system that visually identifies authorized visitors, and thereby makes anyone not wearing a badge suspect as an intruder.<\/span><\/p>