Tailgating Prevention Q&A Guide

Tailgating, a form of physical security breach, grants unauthorized individuals access to restricted company areas by exploiting human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities. Once inside a facility, these intruders can directly compromise systems, install malware on devices, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent network access that extends the threat far beyond their physical presence.

This employer-focused guide explains how to communicate tailgating prevention expectations to employees, strengthen physical access controls, and reduce cybersecurity risk. For a more detailed explanation of tailgating and the specific risks for cybersecurity see our previous article: What is Tailgating in Cybersecurity?

What Is Tailgating?

Tailgating is a physical security breach in which an unauthorized person enters a restricted area by following an authorized person through a controlled access point. It creates cybersecurity risk because physical access can directly enable digital compromise.

How Does Tailgating Create Cybersecurity Risk?

Verizon's 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report documents physical actions as part of breach activity, while IBM's 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report shows the average breach results in multimillion-dollar losses tied to preventable access failures.

Once attackers gain physical access through tailgating, they can exploit several attack vectors:

• Access to unattended or unlocked systems
• Introduction of malware through removable media
• Theft of devices containing sensitive data
• Observation of credentials or workflows

What Happened In The Target Breach?

The 2013 Target breach demonstrates how third-party access can escalate into a major cybersecurity incident. Reporting from Krebs Security shows attackers leveraging vendor access, which later resulted in a significant FTC settlement.

Employees allow tailgating for psychological and social reasons, including:

• Holding doors is socially reinforced behavior
• Perceived legitimacy due to appearance
• Hestitation to challenge others
• Worry about being wrong
• Inattention or multi-tasking

What Are Common Tailgating Scenarios?

Security teams should train staff to recognize these common tailgating situations:

• Secured doors: A person enters immediately behind an employee without authenticating by relying on proximity or conversation.
• Courtesy exploit: Someone carrying equipment or materials pressures an employee to hold the door open.
• High-traffic blending: Unauthorized individuals blend into groups during shift changes or busy periods.
• Impersonation: CISA guidance explains how attackers exploit trust and appearance through social engineering.

What Policies Prevent Tailgating?

Clear and effective physical security policies including the following core requirements:

• Every person must authenticate individually. Credential sharing is prohibited.
• Staff may not allow entry without proper authentication.
• Doors must close fully. Propped doors are not permitted.
• Visitors and contractors must check in, receive badges, and follow escort rules.
• Tailgating attempts and lost credentials must be reported immediately.

How Can Employers Implement These Policies?

Start with a comprehensive policy template that includes implementation guidelines, employee communication scripts, and enforcement procedures. A well-structured policy document ensures consistent application across all departments and locations.

Our template includes sample language for employee handbooks, training materials, and incident response procedures tailored specifically for business environments.

Why Leadership Modeling Matters

Employees take cues from leadership. When the CEO stops to badge in instead of expecting doors held open, it sends a powerful message that security is everyone's responsibility. Leaders who visibly follow protocols, challenge potential tailgating, and never make exceptions for themselves create a culture in which employees feel empowered to do the same.

Addressing employee concerns

Employees often worry it feels rude not to hold doors, or fear challenging someone who actually works there. Reframe this by emphasizing that every legitimate employee understands security protocols. Challenging someone isn't confrontation; it's following procedure, just like asking for a ticket at a concert.