The answer is a mantrap and a turnstile, as these are the two most effective controls for preventing tailgating at a sensitive room entrance. A mantrap is a small vestibule with two interlocking doors that allows only one person to enter at a time, physically trapping an unauthorized individual between the doors if they attempt to follow an authorized user. A turnstile enforces one-person entry by mechanically restricting passage to a single individual per authentication, making it equally effective against piggybacking. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your understanding of physical access controls under Domain 3.0 (Implementation), specifically how mantrap and turnstile differ from less effective measures like CCTV or simple badge readers, which only detect but do not prevent tailgating. A common trap is confusing a mantrap with a simple airlock or security vestibule that lacks interlocking doors—remember, true mantrap doors cannot both open simultaneously. Memory tip: think “one at a time, locked behind you” for mantrap, and “one spin, one person” for turnstile.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A data center wants to reduce tailgating at a sensitive room entrance. Which two controls are most effective? Select two.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A mantrap that allows only one person through at a time.
A mantrap is a small room with two interlocking doors that allows only one person to enter at a time, physically preventing tailgating by trapping unauthorized individuals between the doors. This control enforces strict one-person entry and is highly effective against tailgating in high-security areas.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
A mantrap that allows only one person through at a time.
Why this is correct
A mantrap forces one person through at a time and blocks piggybacking.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
A turnstile or other one-person entry control.
Why this is correct
A turnstile helps enforce one-person entry and slows tailgating attempts effectively.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A standard badge reader without anti-passback.
Why it's wrong here
A standard badge reader alone can still allow someone to follow behind.
✗
A motion sensor in the hallway.
Why it's wrong here
A motion sensor detects movement, but it does not stop entry itself.
✗
A visitor sign-in sheet at the front desk.
Why it's wrong here
A visitor sign-in sheet records names, but it does not prevent tailgating.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse administrative controls like sign-in sheets or detection controls like motion sensors with physical deterrents, failing to recognize that only physical barriers like mantraps and turnstiles actively prevent tailgating.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Mantraps often use biometric or card-based authentication for the first door, then require re-authentication or a sensor to confirm only one person is inside before the second door opens. In high-security environments, mantraps may include weight sensors or optical turnstiles to detect multiple individuals, ensuring compliance with one-person-per-entry policies.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A mantrap that allows only one person through at a time. — A mantrap is a small room with two interlocking doors that allows only one person to enter at a time, physically preventing tailgating by trapping unauthorized individuals between the doors. This control enforces strict one-person entry and is highly effective against tailgating in high-security areas.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. A data center has repeated tailgating incidents at the entry to the server room. Management wants a control that forces one person to pass after badge authentication and prevents two people from entering together. What should be installed?
medium
✓ A.A mantrap between the outer door and the server room entrance
B.A CCTV camera focused on the doorway
C.A motion sensor inside the server room
D.A standard badge reader with no additional controls
Why A: A mantrap is a physical security control with two interlocking doors that enforces one-person entry. After badge authentication at the outer door, the inner door will not unlock until the outer door closes and locks, preventing two people from entering together. This directly addresses tailgating by creating a small vestibule that can only hold one authenticated person at a time.
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This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
Question Discussion
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