How can industrial access be secured against tailgating?

In industrial and commercial settings, access security is no longer limited to controlling who enters a site. Today, another risk is becoming an increasing concern: “tailgating.” Although still little known outside of security specialists, this phenomenon represents a significant vulnerability in many access control systems.

June 1, 2026

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What is tailgating?

Tailgating refers to the act of an unauthorized person or vehicle taking advantage of an open access point to enter a secure area behind a legitimate user.

In practice, this can take several forms:

a vehicle that is following too closely behind another vehicle as a gate opens,
a person who walks behind an employee who has clocked in,
a service provider taking advantage of a brief opening,
a visitor who enters without providing any real identification.

In industrial, logistics, or service sector facilities, this phenomenon can lead to:

intrusions,
flights,
damage,
risks to personal safety,
or traceability issues.

The problem is all the more complex because these intrusions are often subtle and difficult to detect in real time.

Why tailgating is becoming a major issue in 2026

With the rise of smart buildings and the increase in logistics traffic, access points are now under much greater strain than before.

Companies must now manage:

employees,
subcontractors,
service providers,
delivery drivers,
visitors,
and sometimes multiple temporary access points.

As a result, automatic gates, barriers, and doors are opened more frequently, and the risk of unauthorized access automatically increases.

In certain sensitive sectors such as:

the industry,
logistics warehouses,
SEVESO sites,
data centers,
or secure condominiums,

Simply opening a gate is no longer enough to ensure an adequate level of security.

The Limitations of Traditional Systems

A standard access system generally works in a straightforward way:

a user logs in,
the gate opens,
The system considers the access to be secure.

But in reality, several vehicles can pass through at the same time.

Without additional equipment, the system is unable to distinguish between:

an authorized vehicle,
a “following” vehicle.

This is precisely where advanced security measures come into their own.

How can tailgating be effectively prevented?

Set up motion detection

Installing detection sensors makes it possible to accurately track who enters a facility.

When combined with appropriate control logic, they enable, in particular:

to detect several successive passages,
to prevent a dangerous shutdown,
to monitor abnormal crossings,
or trigger an alert.

In this type of installation, smart control cabinets play a vital role.

For example, solutions from Prastel’s UNIK line enable precise management of residential or industrial automation systems while integrating advanced access control logic.

The UNIK2E230-BT control cabinet offers the following features:

simplified management of automation systems,
advanced settings,
more detailed monitoring of events,
and improved tracking of openings.

With its dedicated smartphone app, it also lets you manage users, time slots, and event history directly from a smartphone.

Use a secure radio

In sensitive environments, securing radio transmissions is also essential.

Systems that use encrypted radio significantly reduce risks:

a copy of the transmitter,
of usurpation,
or fraudulent access.

For example, SLIM+ remote controls use AES-128 encryption, an advanced encryption technology that ensures secure, unhackable transmission.

When used in conjunction with MR2E-CR+ or MR4E-CR+ receivers, they significantly enhance the security of an automated access system.

The models in the SLIM+ series also offer:

a secure rolling code,
a long radio range,
programming via radio,
and an operation counter useful for preventive maintenance.

Monitor vehicle traffic

In high-traffic industrial access points, it is often necessary to go beyond a simple automated gate.

Several solutions can be combined:

automatic barriers,
magnetic loops,
smart delay,
license plate recognition,
multi-zone control,
or anti-passback scenarios.

The goal is simple: to ensure that only one authorized vehicle passes through the gate at a time.

Traceability is becoming essential

Today, companies want to know:

who came in,
when,
which entrance,
and under what conditions.

Event logging has therefore become a central component of modern systems.

Systems capable of logging access events, anomalies, or suspicious attempts offer a real advantage in terms of:

safety,
maintenance,
and incident analysis.

A New Approach to Access Security

For a long time, access control simply meant “opening or closing” a gate.

But needs are changing rapidly.

Companies are now looking for systems that can:

monitor the flow,
detect abnormal behavior,
secure communications,
and provide smarter access management.

Tailgating is a perfect example of this trend.

With facilities becoming increasingly connected and security requirements growing ever more stringent, access control systems must now incorporate advanced features that go far beyond simply granting access.

It is precisely with this approach in mind that Prastel has developed its solutions: to offer reliable, scalable systems tailored to the new challenges of securing access to residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

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