When most people think of cybersecurity threats, they picture hackers breaking through firewalls or unleashing malware. But some of the most serious security breaches happen in plain sight — right at the front door or on an unlocked workstation.

The Risk of Tailgating

Tailgating, also known as “piggybacking,” occurs when an unauthorized individual gains physical access to a secure area by following an authorized person. It’s often unintentional — a courteous employee holds the door for someone who looks like they belong. But that one act of kindness can open the door (literally) to serious security threats: stolen devices, compromised servers, or even direct access to your network infrastructure.

Unattended Workstations: The Digital Door Left Open

Another common oversight is leaving a logged-in computer unattended. Whether an employee steps away for a meeting or forgets to lock their screen, an open session gives anyone immediate access to sensitive systems and data. This is sometimes referred to as session hijacking or account piggybacking, and it can be just as dangerous as a network breach.

Why These Risks Matter for Compliance

Tailgating and unattended session access aren’t just bad practice — they may be violations of regulatory requirements. Standards and frameworks that explicitly or implicitly require protections against these risks include:

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
  Requires covered entities to implement physical safeguards and workstation security to protect patient data.
• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
  Mandates restricting physical access to cardholder data and enforcing user access controls.
• NIST 800-53 & NIST CSF
  Recommend physical access control and session timeout policies to reduce insider and physical threats.
• ISO/IEC 27001
  Requires organizations to implement policies around secure access, screen locking, and physical security.
• SOC 2
  Trust Services Criteria include logical and physical access controls to mitigate unauthorized access risks.

How Tech Legion Can Help

At Tech Legion, we understand that cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and antivirus software — it’s about people, procedures, and physical access, too. We help organizations like yours:

• Design comprehensive IT security policies, including tailgating prevention and session timeout enforcement
• Implement physical security and access control systems
• Conduct security awareness training for employees
• Align your organization with HIPAA, PCI, NIST, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 compliance standards

Whether you’re building your security strategy from the ground up or tightening up an existing framework, Tech Legion is your partner in proactive protection.

Let’s lock the doors, shut the screens, and secure your business — together.