What is Tailgating in Cybersecurity & How to Prevent It

Despite the preventive measures we take when we work online to safeguard ourselves from phishing and cyberattacks, it’s equally important to ensure we don’t overlook the physical aspects of security breaches. One such that has become rather common in cybersecurity is tailgating.

A common type of security threat to organizations, tailgating offers ways for hackers, thieves, and unsavory characters to physically access restricted areas, by targeting unsuspecting employees.

However, companies are already taking steps to protect themselves against this. According to a report generated by Globe NewsWire, the tailgating detection system market is expected to skyrocket from $63.5 million in 2021 to $99.5 million by 2028.

What is tailgating in cybersecurity?

Tailgating is a form of a social engineering attack where an unauthorized individual breaches a company’s security system to physically access, steal, or compromise its data. An unauthorized person gains physical access to an off-limits location — perhaps a password-protected area — where they might steal sensitive information, damage property, compromise user credentials or even install malware on computers.

“Piggybacking” is closely related to tailgating, but it involves consent from the duped employee. These individuals usually convince an authorized person to allow them entry into a password-protected area and gain access to sensitive information.

So, while a worker might be unaware that someone has tailgated them into a restricted area with piggybacking, the hacker might convince a worker to provide access because they are posing as, say, a delivery driver.

Tailgating attacks vs. piggybacking attacks

While the objective of tailgating and piggybacking is essentially the same, there is a key difference between them.

Tailgating in cybersecurity refers to social engineering attacks where an unauthorized person looks to gain access from an unaware individual. Piggybacking attacks are coordinated in nature, where an authorized entity provides access to an unauthorized individual in a secure environment. Tailgating requires no consent while piggybacking requires the consent of an authorized person.

How tailgating works

Tailgating can occur in nuanced ways that do not arouse suspicion; in the most banal way.

For example, it could be in the form of someone in disguise, either pretending to be a delivery person or a repairman. They could then ask an employee to give them access to a restricted, authorized-personnel-only area. Their excuse for ‘help’ could be that their hands are full (and hence are unable to adhere to any biometric protocol in place at the point of entry). The unsuspecting party complies and the unauthorized person has found a way in.

Alternatively, it could even be something as simple as the unauthorized person following closely behind an employee without their knowledge—essentially tailgating them.

Some of the most common ways of a tailgating attack include:

A person pretending to be an employee and claiming that they have forgotten their ID so that you can grant them access
Someone walking behind you into a secure area and expecting you to keep the door open for them to enter right after you
Service providers, delivery persons, or painters who request access to authorized spaces

Who is at risk of tailgating attacks?

Companies, particularly at risk of being targeted by tailgating scams, include those:

With many employees, often moving inside and out of the premises
With multiple entrance points into a building
That receive deliveries of food, packages, documents, and other things regularly
With many subcontractors working for them
Where employees aren’t thoroughly trained in physical and cybersecurity protocols

Generally speaking, companies with robust security systems in place — including using biometrics, badges, or other identity and information security measures — are better protected from tailgating and piggybacking attacks.

But that’s not to say that some smooth-talking fraudster can’t talk someone into letting them in or finding some way around those protections.

Whether you’re spending time on the web or working in the office, you want peace of mind knowing that you are in a safe environment. While most of us know to take precautions when online — protecting ourselves from things like phishing attacks and other cyber threats — we should also attend to our physical security.

What are common tailgating methods?

Common types of tailgating attacks that you should be aware of on the job include:

Someone walking behind you into a secure area, depending on your common courtesy to keep the door open for them
A courier or delivery driver who isn’t what they seem
Someone with their hands full of items to trick you into opening the door for them
A person who claims they’ve lost their work ID or forgotten it at home so that you grant them admittance

Now that you have understood how tailgating works, let’s look at factors that can make an organization susceptible to cybersecurity threats.

Effects of tailgating

Tailgating is a significant security breach event where unauthorized personnel can break into a company’s database or cause damage that has huge consequences. Let’s look at the potential harm of tailgating:

Tailgaters can initiate access to the server room and establish a back door into the company’s network
They can have access to an organization’s sensitive customers’ data and company funds or secrets
They can install cameras in certain areas to monitor the activities going on in restricted areas and gather important information

Factors that make an enterprise susceptible to tailgating

Without proper cybersecurity measures in place, any organization is vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can compromise confidential data. Here’s how your enterprise can be liable to cybersecurity threats, including the very real risk of tailgating:

Not having an updated threat protection software

Advanced and updated threat protection software helps an organization identify and resolve tailgating activities. Without this software in place, companies leave themselves vulnerable to security breaches.

With a threat detection mechanism in place, organizations can successfully minimize the chances of tailgating.

Ineffective cybersecurity prevention practices

Every organization must have a cybersecurity assessment mechanism to detect cybercrimes or security breaches and tackle them in real-time.

Absence of effective employee training

Every organization must conduct training sessions on security protocols from time to time to ensure employers are thoroughly trained and understand the consequences of security breaches.

How to prevent tailgating attacks in cybersecurity

Protecting yourself from tailgating attacks is partly a matter of learning about the issue, raising your level of awareness on the job, and depending on your employer, putting in place more effective security systems.

Some solutions include:

Increased security training

Many companies know how to train employees to recognize, avoid, and cope with online security issues but may forget to provide the same diligence to physical security. How to spot and deal with threats should be part of this training, plus cultivating an awareness of surroundings and people who might be out of place.

Management should offer a clearly stated security policy taught to everyone, which might insist that no one be allowed into a secure area without the proper pass or identification. As the security policy is updated, all employees should be aware of changes and additions.

These security measures should be part of an overall protection program, like McAfee® Total Protection, which includes antivirus software, a firewall, identity monitoring, password management, web protection, and more.

Biometric scanners

Biometric scanners are an even more advanced way to provide proper authentication for a worker’s identity. They scan a unique physical or audible feature of a person and compare it to a database for approved personnel.

Examples of biometric security include:

Voice recognition
Iris recognition
Fingerprint scans
Facial recognition
Heart-rate sensors

Smart badges and cards

If you have a large business spread over several floors, it can be hard for employees to know who works there and who doesn’t, leaving them susceptible to tailgating and piggybacking attacks. Requiring smart badges and cards to access restricted areas can help cut back on unauthorized intrusions and provide better access control.

Building fully staffed reception areas with dedicated security personnel could also be part of a larger security system.

One reason people are vulnerable to physical and cyberattacks is that they lack education on social engineering and the kinds of threats it poses. Workers need to understand the full range of social engineering techniques and know-how to protect themselves, whether in their social media accounts or physical work environment.

For their part, companies can use simulated phishing emails and tailgating attacks to raise awareness and underline how to follow protocols in dealing with them.

Increase security for physical access

In many organizations, entrance to the office is provided by a relatively simple device: a smart card. But tailgating attacks demonstrate how inadequate this security mechanism can be. Reception rooms manned by professional security officers add another layer of physical access security. If you do not have the space to establish a reception area, turnstiles are another option because they only permit one person to enter at a time.

Badges are also an inexpensive way to increase access security. Recognizing someone who should not be entering a building or certain area when all authorized personnel and visitors wear badges is easier if the required badge is missing or has someone else’s likeness on it.

Video surveillance

If there are many ways to enter a business, it may make sense to put video surveillance on all entrances. Advanced video surveillance systems can use artificial intelligence (AI) and video analytics to scan the faces of people entering and compare them to a database of employee features.

How technology helps prevent tailgating in cybersecurity

Technology can help prevent tailgating attacks by controlling access to sensitive areas and entrances, incorporating video surveillance, and enabling digital visitor identification.

Controlling access

Installing adequate entry control systems and systematically managing them is one of the most effective strategies to reduce the danger of tailgating. As mentioned above, turnstiles are a good way to control access. Turnstiles are the preferred entrance control mechanism for busy facilities because they only permit one person at a time and only after the visitors have shown the required entrance credentials.

Also, it is possible to operate the turnstiles with or without the help of the front desk or security staff, which can potentially save the time of otherwise busy security employees.

Video surveillance

A building’s main entrance is a popular location for video surveillance. The video system not only serves as a deterrent to crime but also helps law enforcement identify intruders. Some modern video security systems can even distinguish between onlookers and tailgaters, thanks to technological advances in biometrics and machine learning.

Video identification

Anyone carrying wearable identification, such as a badge, can be allowed entry into the building. This can be a suitable authentication system for all permanent employees, guests, and temporary employees.

You can also use biometric credentials or a QR code generated from a smartphone app. These can be sent only to people with the right to enter secure areas.