What is Tailgating in Cyber Security & How to Avoid It

Tailgating in cyber security refers to unauthorized individuals gaining physical access to secure areas by following authorized personnel, creating vulnerabilities that can lead to serious data breaches and system compromises.

Many small business owners focus heavily on digital security measures like firewalls and antivirus software, but overlook a critical vulnerability that’s hiding in plain sight. Physical security breaches through tailgating attack methods can provide cybercriminals with direct access to your most sensitive systems, bypassing even the most sophisticated digital defenses.

The consequences of a successful tailgating breach can be devastating. Once inside your facility, attackers can install malware directly onto your network, steal confidential information, or plant devices that provide long-term access to your systems.

While some reports estimate small business breach costs from $120,000 to $1.2 million, broader industry research shows average total losses can reach $3.3 million, especially when factoring in downtime, churn, and fines. Many companies never fully recover from the reputational damage.

How Tailgating Attacks Work

Understanding how these security incidents unfold helps you recognize and prevent tailgating attempts. Here’s the typical progression of a tailgating attack:

1. Reconnaissance Phase: The attacker observes your facility to identify entry points, busy periods, and employee behaviors. They note when employees prop doors open or consistently help strangers enter the building.
2. Approach Strategy: The unauthorized individual positions themselves near your main entrance during peak hours when employees are rushing in and out. They may carry packages, wear uniforms, or act distressed to appear legitimate.
3. Social Engineering Execution: The attacker exploits human courtesy by approaching an employee with legitimate credentials. They might claim to have forgotten their keycard, ask for help carrying items, or simply follow closely behind.
4. Entry Achievement: The authorized employee, wanting to be helpful, holds the door open or allows the stranger to follow them inside. The attacker has now bypassed security measures without triggering alarms.
5. Internal Infiltration: Once inside the restricted area, the unauthorized person can move freely, install malicious devices, access sensitive information, or conduct reconnaissance for future attacks.

💡 Hypothetical scenario: An attacker dressed as a delivery driver waits near the building’s entrance. As an employee badges in and opens the door, the attacker quietly follows close behind, blending in and entering without saying a word. Unnoticed, they now have physical access to internal systems, where they can steal client data or plant ransomware.

Attacker Actions	Target Response
Observes entry patterns	Maintains predictable routines
Creates believable cover story	Accepts explanation at face value
Exploits human courtesy	Feels obligated to help
Follows through secure door	Doesn’t verify credentials
Gains unrestricted access	Assumes person belongs there

Physical vs. Digital Tailgating

Physical tailgating involves unauthorized individuals following authorized personnel through secure entry points to gain access to restricted areas. This type of attack targets your building’s physical security protocols and relies on exploiting human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities.

Digital tailgating, while less common, occurs when attackers gain access to secure systems by exploiting shared workstations or intercepting login credentials. According to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, organizations must address both physical and logical access controls to maintain a comprehensive security posture.

The connection between these attack vectors is critical to understand. Physical breaches often precede major cyber attacks because once inside your facility, attackers can directly access network infrastructure, install keyloggers on workstations, or connect malicious devices to your network.

This bypass security approach is particularly dangerous because it circumvents traditional cybersecurity defenses that focus primarily on external threats.

Piggybacking and Tailgating: Is There a Difference?

While tailgating and piggybacking are often used interchangeably, understanding their subtle differences helps improve your organization’s physical security protocols and employee training programs.

The key distinction lies in the level of awareness and consent from the authorized individual. Tailgating typically occurs without the knowledge or explicit permission of the person being followed. The unauthorized individual simply trails behind an authorized employee, taking advantage of brief moments when doors remain open or security measures are temporarily bypassed.

Piggybacking, conversely, involves some level of interaction or perceived permission from the authorized person. This might include an employee knowingly holding a door open for someone without proper credentials, often due to politeness, social pressure, or believing the person has legitimate business in the area.

Both methods represent serious security threat scenarios that can result in data breaches, theft of sensitive information, or installation of malicious software on your systems.

What Is Piggybacking in Cyber Security?

Piggybacking in cyber security refers to unauthorized individuals gaining access to a secure area through the conscious or unconscious assistance of authorized personnel who grant them entry permissions.

Unlike pure tailgating scenarios, piggybacking involves the authorized employee making a deliberate decision to help someone enter, even when proper protocols would require verification of credentials. This often happens when employees feel social pressure to be courteous or when attackers use compelling cover stories that make their requests seem legitimate.

💡 Hypothetical scenario: An attacker approaches an employee at your main entrance, explaining they’re interviewing for a position but their interviewer forgot to arrange visitor access. The well-meaning employee, not wanting the candidate to be late, badges them in and directs them to the appropriate floor. This act of kindness unknowingly provides an unauthorized person with access to sensitive information and systems.

The consequences of both tailgating and piggybacking are effectively the same: unauthorized access to restricted areas, potential data theft, surveillance device installation, or the planting of malicious hardware. While some experts distinguish piggybacking as involving more direct interaction or social engineering, in practice the terms are often used interchangeably.

For clarity, we’ll use “tailgating” throughout the rest of this article to refer to both types of physical intrusion.

Tailgating Attack Examples

Real-world examples of tailgating help illustrate how these social engineering attack methods target small businesses:

• The Helpful Maintenance Worker: An attacker poses as HVAC repair personnel, complete with uniforms and tools, claiming they’re responding to a service call. Busy employees let them into the building without verification, providing access to server rooms and network equipment.
• Delivery Deception: Someone approaches your office carrying multiple packages during your busiest delivery times, asking employees to hold doors open because their hands are full. Once inside, they can plant surveillance devices or steal sensitive information while employees assume they belong there.
• New Employee Impersonation: An unauthorized person claims to be a new hire who hasn’t received their access credentials yet, asking to piggyback through security doors. They may have researched your company enough to reference real employees or departments.
• Emergency Service Scam: Attackers pose as emergency responders or safety inspectors, claiming they need immediate access to check fire safety equipment or investigate a reported issue. The urgency prevents proper verification procedures.
• Vendor Exploitation: Someone impersonates IT support, janitorial staff, or other regular service providers, taking advantage of high employee turnover that makes unfamiliar faces less noticeable.
• The Distressed Visitor: An attacker appears upset or confused near your entrance, claiming to be late for an important meeting and asking employees to help them get inside quickly before their appointment is cancelled.

⚠️ After-hours vulnerability is particularly dangerous. Skeleton crews and reduced security awareness make evening and weekend shifts prime targets for tailgating attempts.

Who Is Most at Risk for Tailgating Attacks?

Small businesses face unique vulnerabilities that make them particularly susceptible to tailgating attacks and other forms of physical security breaches:

• High-Turnover Industries: Restaurants, retail stores, and seasonal businesses where employees frequently don’t recognize all coworkers create opportunities for attackers to blend in unnoticed.
• Professional Service Firms: Law offices, accounting practices, and consulting firms that handle confidential information are prime targets because successful breaches yield valuable data for identity theft or corporate espionage.
• Healthcare Practices: Medical offices and dental practices contain protected health information and often have less stringent security protocols than larger hospital systems, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
• Financial Service Providers: Small banks, credit unions, and financial advisory firms face elevated risks due to the sensitive nature of client data and potential access to financial systems.
• Technology Companies: Software developers and IT consultancies often have valuable intellectual property and client data that attackers can monetize through sale or ransom demands.
• New Employees and Temporary Staff: Recent hires who aren’t familiar with all colleagues and security procedures are more likely to grant access to unauthorized individuals without proper verification.
• Customer-Facing Businesses: Companies with frequent visitor traffic make it easier for attackers to blend in, as employees become accustomed to seeing unfamiliar faces in their workspace.

⚖️ The Department of Homeland Security workplace security guidelines emphasize that organizations handling sensitive data must implement appropriate physical security measures to prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas.

How to Avoid Tailgating

Effective prevention requires a multi-layered approach that combines technology, policies, and employee awareness to protect yourself from tailgating attacks:

• Implement Strict Entry Procedures: Require all employees to use individual authentication methods rather than sharing access credentials or propping doors open for convenience.
• Establish Clear Visitor Protocols: All guests, vendors, and contractors must check in at a reception desk, receive visible identification badges, and be escorted by authorized personnel while on premises.
• Create Physical Barriers: Install controlled access points that prevent multiple people from entering simultaneously, such as turnstiles or mantrap entries that ensure only one person passes through at a time.
• Deploy Strategic Lighting: Well-lit entry areas and parking lots deter tailgating attempts and make it easier for security staff to identify unauthorized individuals.

📌 Post clear signage at all entry points stating your security policies and reminding employees not to hold doors open for others without proper verification.

• Conduct Regular Security Audits: Periodically test your physical security measures by having authorized personnel attempt to gain access through social engineering to identify vulnerabilities.
• Implement Layered Authentication: Combine multiple security measures such as key cards, biometric scanners, and personal identification numbers to make unauthorized access more difficult.
• Establish Emergency Procedures: Train employees on how to respond when they suspect a tailgating attempt, including who to contact and how to safely handle the situation.

Technology Solutions for Preventing Tailgating

Modern technology offers cost-effective solutions that can significantly enhance your organization’s ability to deter tailgating and protect sensitive data:

• Smart Card Access Systems: Programmable cards unique to each employee create audit trails and can be instantly deactivated if lost or stolen. These systems typically cost $1,000-$3,000 for small offices and integrate with existing security infrastructure.
• Video Surveillance with Analytics: AI-powered cameras can detect when multiple people enter through single-badge events, automatically alerting security personnel to potential tailgating attempts.
• Biometric Authentication: Fingerprint or retinal scanners ensure that only authorized individuals can access secure areas, making it virtually impossible for attackers to exploit stolen or borrowed credentials.
• Electronic Door Strikes: Automatically closing doors with adjustable timing prevent unauthorized individuals from slipping through before doors secure, while magnetic locks provide additional resistance against forced entry.
• Proximity Sensors: Advanced systems can detect when someone approaches entry points without proper credentials, triggering alerts before a potential security breach occurs.

✔️ The return on investment for these tailgating detection systems becomes apparent quickly when you consider that preventing just one successful attack can save tens of thousands in recovery costs, legal fees, and regulatory fines.

Employee Training and Policies

Creating a security-conscious workplace culture requires comprehensive training that goes beyond simple awareness to include practical, actionable security protocols:

Effective security awareness training should address the psychology behind why employees fall victim to social engineering. People naturally want to be helpful and courteous, but these instincts can be exploited by attackers who understand how to take advantage of human nature.

Training should include role-playing exercises where employees practice politely but firmly directing unauthorized individuals to proper check-in procedures.

Your organization should establish written security policies that clearly define acceptable behavior around physical access control. This includes never holding the door open for others, always verifying credentials before granting access, and immediately reporting suspicious individuals to security personnel or management.

⚠️ Template policy language for small businesses: “All employees must use their access credentials to enter secure areas. Under no circumstances should doors be held open for others, regardless of their claimed affiliation with the organization. When approached by unfamiliar individuals requesting access, employees should politely direct them to the main reception area for proper visitor registration.”

Regular refresher training helps maintain awareness levels, as security consciousness tends to decline over time without reinforcement. Consider implementing monthly security tips, quarterly drills, and annual comprehensive training sessions that keep physical security top-of-mind for all staff members.

Tailgating Security Awareness

Building lasting security awareness requires transforming security from a burdensome requirement into an integral part of your company culture that every employee embraces as their personal responsibility.

Security awareness goes beyond knowing what tailgating is in cybersecurity; it involves developing the confidence and skills to tactfully handle potentially awkward social situations when someone requests access without proper authorization. Employees need to understand that protecting sensitive information and maintaining security protocols isn’t rude or unwelcoming; it’s professional and necessary.

According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), organizations should regularly reinforce physical security awareness through ongoing campaigns that keep potential threats top of mind. This can include monthly reminders about common tailgating tactics, visible signage near access points, and brief team discussions about recent physical security incidents or suspicious behavior.

The most effective security awareness programs connect physical security threats to business outcomes that employees care about. Help staff understand that successful tailgating can lead to data breaches that jeopardize client relationships, result in regulatory fines, or even threaten job security if the business suffers significant financial losses.

Reach out to CMIT Solutions for expert guidance on preventing tailgating attacks and protecting both your physical and digital environments.

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Creating a Security-Conscious Workplace Culture

Sustainable security improvements require embedding awareness into your organization’s daily operations rather than treating it as an occasional training topic:

• Lead by Example: Management must consistently follow security protocols, as employees will model the behavior they observe from leadership, regardless of written policies.
• Recognize Security-Minded Behavior: Acknowledge employees who properly challenge unauthorized individuals or report potential security incidents, reinforcing that these actions are valued and appreciated.
• Make Security Personal: Help employees understand how breaches could affect them individually through identity theft, compromised personal information, or job loss due to business closure.
• Simplify Reporting Procedures: Create easy, non-punitive ways for employees to report security concerns, ensuring they feel comfortable raising issues without fear of blame or ridicule.

✔️ Integrate security discussions into regular business operations rather than treating them as separate, special events that employees might forget or dismiss.

• Provide Clear Decision-Making Guidelines: Give employees specific scripts and procedures for common situations, reducing the mental burden of deciding how to respond during potentially stressful encounters.
• Celebrate Security Successes: Share stories (while protecting privacy) of how proper security practices prevented incidents, helping employees see the real-world value of their vigilance.

What to Do If You Suspect Tailgating

Quick, appropriate response to suspected tailgating incidents can prevent serious security breaches and minimize potential damage to your organization:

1. Remain Calm and Professional: Avoid confronting suspected tailgaters directly, as this could escalate situations or put you at personal risk if the individual has malicious intent.
2. Document Immediately: Note the time, location, physical description of the individual, and any identifying information such as clothing, vehicles, or claimed affiliations while details remain fresh in your memory.
3. Alert Security Personnel: Contact your designated security team, management, or local law enforcement if the situation seems threatening or if the individual refuses to follow proper visitor procedures.
4. Secure Sensitive Areas: If possible, ensure that the suspected tailgater cannot access areas containing confidential information, valuable equipment, or critical system infrastructure.
5. Preserve Evidence: Avoid disturbing any physical evidence and request that security cameras be preserved for potential investigation while maintaining normal business operations.
6. Follow Up Appropriately: Participate in any necessary interviews or investigations while cooperating fully with authorized personnel conducting security reviews.

📌 Create an incident response template that includes emergency contact numbers, step-by-step procedures, and documentation requirements to ensure consistent handling of security events.

The Real Cost of Tailgating Attacks

For small businesses, the financial impact of successful tailgating extends far beyond immediate theft or vandalism, creating cascading costs that can threaten long-term viability.

Direct costs include stolen equipment, damaged property, and immediate security system upgrades needed to prevent future incidents. However, the indirect expenses often prove more devastating: legal fees for regulatory compliance violations, notification costs for affected customers, credit monitoring services for compromised individuals, and potential lawsuit settlements from clients whose data was exposed.

Security incidents can cause long-lasting damage that extends far beyond immediate recovery efforts. For small businesses, the disruption to operations, loss of client trust, and reputational fallout can be even more devastating than the financial hit, jeopardizing years of hard-earned relationships with customers and partners.

💡 Consider a hypothetical law firm with 15 employees: A tailgating attack leads to theft of three laptops containing unencrypted client files. Direct costs include $6,000 for replacement equipment and $15,000 for emergency IT security upgrades. Indirect costs escalate to $45,000 in legal fees, $25,000 for client notification and credit monitoring, $30,000 in regulatory fines, and an estimated $200,000 in lost business as clients lose confidence in the firm’s ability to protect their confidential information.

Cost Category	Small Business Impact	Example Expenses
Direct Costs	Immediate, tangible losses	Equipment, repairs, security upgrades
Regulatory Costs	Compliance violations	Fines, legal fees, reporting requirements
Operational Costs	Business disruption	Downtime, investigation, remediation
Reputation Costs	Long-term relationship damage	Lost clients, reduced referrals, marketing recovery

Business interruption during investigations can halt operations for days or weeks, preventing revenue generation while expenses continue accumulating. Many small businesses lack the financial reserves to weather extended downtime combined with significant unexpected security expenses.

How CMIT Solutions Protects Your Business

At CMIT Solutions, we understand that effective cybersecurity requires protecting both your digital infrastructure and physical environment through comprehensive security practices tailored specifically for small and medium-sized businesses.

Our team brings over 25 years of experience helping organizations like yours implement layered security approaches that address tailgating vulnerabilities alongside traditional cyber threats. We recognize that small businesses need cost-effective solutions that provide enterprise-level protection without requiring dedicated IT security staff or massive budget allocations.

We provide comprehensive physical security assessments that identify vulnerabilities in your current access control systems, employee procedures, and facility design. Our experts work with you to implement appropriate technology solutions,  from basic access card systems to advanced biometric authentication,  that fit your budget and operational requirements.

✔️ Our managed IT services cover every aspect of cybersecurity, including physical threats like tailgating. We provide employee training that helps staff recognize and respond to unauthorized entry attempts while maintaining professionalism and customer service.

Our comprehensive approach includes regular security audits, customized security policies for your industry, and 24/7 monitoring that detects unusual access behavior before it becomes a threat. As your dedicated security partner, CMIT Solutions delivers the expertise and protection of a full in-house team without the overhead.

FAQs

Can tailgating happen in small offices with just a few employees?

Yes, small offices are often more vulnerable to tailgating because employees typically know each other well and may be less suspicious of unfamiliar faces. Limited staff means fewer people to notice unauthorized individuals, and small businesses often lack formal visitor management systems that larger organizations use.

What should I do if an employee accidentally lets someone tailgate into our building?

Immediately assess the situation to ensure the unknown individual is legitimate by asking them to identify themselves and their business purpose. If they cannot provide satisfactory identification, escort them to your reception area or ask them to leave while you contact management or security personnel for guidance.

How much does it typically cost to implement basic tailgating prevention measures?

Basic prevention measures like employee training and simple access control systems typically cost $2,000-$5,000 for small businesses, while comprehensive solutions with biometric systems and surveillance can range from $10,000-$25,000 depending on your facility size and security requirements.

Are delivery drivers and contractors more likely to be used in tailgating attacks?

Yes, attackers frequently impersonate delivery personnel and contractors because these individuals are expected to have legitimate business reasons for entering your facility. The uniforms, vehicles, and equipment associated with these roles provide convincing cover stories that make employees more likely to grant access without verification.

Can tailgating lead to ransomware attacks on our business systems?

Absolutely. Once inside your facility, attackers can directly access network infrastructure, install malicious software on workstations, or connect devices that provide remote access to your systems. Physical access often bypasses traditional cybersecurity defenses, making it an effective entry point for sophisticated cyber attacks, including ransomware deployment.