Piggybacking Security: How Can You Solve The Problem Of Tag-Along Users?

Piggybacking Security: How Can You Solve The Problem Of Tag-Along Users?

tailgating and piggybacking securityWhen you offer a key or card security system you’ll already understand the problem of piggybacking. Undoubtedly one of the most abused weaknesses of an automated access control system, this particular structure doesn’t filter the number of people that it grants access to. For the most part all these systems allow is the electronic control of a particular door at any given time, so this allows people who don’t have access the option to gain entry to your building or secure area by default. As long as a non-authorized person waits for someone who carries the key to either enter or exit, they can get in.

So how do you solve the problem of piggybacking security when a lot of the issues are caused by social etiquette? In many cases, the person tagging along is open about entering the space, either grabbing the door as somebody leaves, or calling out for the person to hold the door open as they go through. Its human nature to be polite, so good security practices fall by the wayside much more often than the probability of the system itself breaking down.

It’s important to recognize that piggybacking security is likely to be the biggest weakness in your entire security system as most focus in terms of security is usually on the CCTV installation and monitoring. Many business and security personnel are concerned about issues such as duplicated security cards and hacking, but piggybacking is actually far less sophisticated and much more accessible to those who want to gain unauthorized access; particularly for access points that are subject to a high volume of both employee and visitor traffic.

While you can begin to tighten your security measures by offering employee training for security awareness, it’s a good idea to invest in an “anti-tailgating” device. Anti-tailgating devices were developed by leading security institutions in recent years to combat the problem of piggybacking entirely. You can find a range of options, both small and large, to suit your individual needs. Some of the devices are:

  • Mechanical turnstiles (in half and full height options)
  • Optical turnstiles
  • Security revolving doors
  • Security portals
  • Doorway anti-tailgating devices
  • Video analytics systems

The basic function of each is to permit only one authorized user to either enter or leave the area or building at any given time. This can be by way of either a physical barrier or an electronic one that will detect when a person attempts to piggyback the system.

Choosing the right Tailgating Security Device

Choosing the right anti-tailgating device can and will make all of the difference to your current security issues. You need to first consider the extent of your overall security risk, your ability to provide the right amount of security staff to monitor exits and entrances, how quickly your team can respond to alarms and your budget for not just the initial purchase of the device, but also for the ongoing maintenance of the new system. Once you have the right anti-tailgating devices in place, piggybacking security will become a thing of the past.