Tailgating - Gemplus
One BSIA member worked with Gemplus, provider of solutions empowered by Smart cards, who due to the nature of their organisation wanted to focus on who gained access through a door once it had been opened with the need for a high level of security on key access points. They found that their existing access control system was effective whilst the door was closed, however they were vulnerable to unauthorised entry once a door was open. Staff were holding the doors open for each other and the access control system was rendered useless. They needed to find a way of ensuring that everyone who went through an access controlled door was made to present their access card or an alarm would be raised.
The security review found that they, like most access systems, had major problems with tailgating, which is where an unauthorised user follows an authorised user through an open door way. Tailgating is very easy to do. We have all been told it is good manners to hold doors open for other people and more often than not good manners win over the good security practice of closing the door firmly behind you to stop someone else coming in. It is very easy to jam your foot in a closing door and follow through 30 seconds later after the authorised person has left, due to the fact that many people don't check to see if the door is secured behind them. Intruders may therefore be willingly let in to a secure area and the access control system is beaten.
Gemplus bought on board a BSIA member to help increase the level of security at these key doors by integrating tailgate detection devices with the existing access control system on these doorways. The tailgate detection devices increased the level of security at these doors by creating an infra-red field across the doorway to monitor the passage of every individual passing through the door, only alerting the security staff to the presence of unauthorised staff. Thereby ensuring each individual who passes through a door must present his or her access card.
Now unauthorised access, which is highlighted as an alarm event, is monitored by a CCTV camera and when connected to a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is recorded for security to review and take appropriate action. The pre-alarm feature on the DVR allows the guards to see up to 10 seconds before the alarm event to help them assess the risk properly. This allows the security to easily monitor the doors remotely and take the appropriate action in the event there is any unauthorised access, as they know which doorway this has occurred on and who is responsible for it. As the system is being monitored in this way it has also encouraged the staff to use the system properly and present their card when they pass through an access controlled doorway as opposed to tailgating through there.
The result is that the security system is now operating more effectively and Gemplus has found that having the tailgate detection device is like having a guard on the door 24/7.
“Door detection is a great supplement to our access control system. It is being used in secure areas where we have to ensure only authorised staff have access, and the access control system by itself may not have been enough. For staff passing through door detection there is no difference, but now Gemplus security personnel are alerted each time someone tries to tailgate through a key area.” - Geoff Flowers, Corporate Security, Gemplus.Click here to find a BSIA member that can provide a Tailgating System.
