Boon Edam Inc. conducted a survey in late 2014 that looked at perceptions and trends with respect to the issue of tailgating entry into buildings. It asked more than 3,000 contacts from its database of end users, security consultants and integrators to share their perceptions about the risk of tailgating into their facilities. The survey consisted of eight multiple-choice questions with comments available for certain questions. The survey achieved a response rate of approximately 8 percent, and respondents were primarily from North America.

 Survey Results

• Based on media coverage over the past 10 years, a majority of respondents believe security breaches from tailgating have remained constant or are on the rise. 

• More than 70 percent of respondents believe they are currently vulnerable to a security breach from tailgating. 

• More than 50 percent of those surveyed believe the cost of a breach caused by tailgating would be from $150,000 up to “too high to measure.”

• More than 70 percent of respondents believe a barrier of some type is the most effective way to curtail tailgating, and more than 60 percent reported that they use a physical security barrier of some type as well as employee education. 

• Only 15 percent said they are currently tracking tailgating incidents regularly