The correct choice is to install a mantrap or anti-passback turnstile that admits one person per badge authorization. This control directly addresses tailgating prevention by creating a physical barrier that enforces one-person-per-badge logic, so an authorized user cannot simply hold the door for an unauthorized follower. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of physical access control mechanisms under Domain 3 (Security Architecture), where mantraps and turnstiles are classified as preventive and deterrent controls that rely on technology rather than human vigilance. A common trap is selecting security guards or awareness training, but those depend on compliance and can slow employee flow; mantraps and anti-passback turnstiles preserve normal flow by automating authorization. Remember the mnemonic “M.A.T.”—Mantrap, Anti-passback, Turnstile—to recall the three physical controls that stop tailgating without manual intervention.
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. 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.
Exhibit
Lobby access review:
- 09:14:02 badge swipe accepted for employee j.tan
- 09:14:07 an unknown person entered immediately behind j.tan
- 09:14:19 CCTV shows the person had no badge visible
- 09:16:44 the person exited through the same lobby door
Current controls:
- Badge reader on main entrance
- CCTV camera facing the lobby
- Monthly security awareness reminder about badge use
Based on the exhibit, which additional control best reduces the risk of tailgating at the entrance while preserving normal employee flow?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Lobby access review:
- 09:14:02 badge swipe accepted for employee j.tan
- 09:14:07 an unknown person entered immediately behind j.tan
- 09:14:19 CCTV shows the person had no badge visible
- 09:16:44 the person exited through the same lobby door
Current controls:
- Badge reader on main entrance
- CCTV camera facing the lobby
- Monthly security awareness reminder about badge use
A
Post a security guard at the entrance during business hours.
Why wrong: A guard can deter tailgating, but this adds ongoing staffing cost and does not scale as well as a physical access device that enforces one-person-per-authentication.
B
Install a mantrap or anti-passback turnstile that admits one person per badge authorization.
This is the best fit because the current controls detect the problem but do not stop it. A mantrap or turnstile is a preventive physical control that enforces single-person entry and directly addresses tailgating while keeping normal employee movement efficient. It reduces reliance on people noticing and reacting in real time.
C
Add more CCTV cameras in the lobby and at the parking lot entrance.
Why wrong: Additional cameras improve evidence collection, but they remain detective controls. They may help investigate tailgating after it happens, yet they do not physically prevent an unauthorized person from entering behind an employee.
D
Send quarterly emails reminding employees not to hold doors open.
Why wrong: Awareness reminders can help, but the exhibit shows a repeated physical bypass. Training alone is too weak when the organization needs a control that reliably enforces entry behavior at the door.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Install a mantrap or anti-passback turnstile that admits one person per badge authorization.
A mantrap or anti-passback turnstile enforces one-person-per-badge authorization, physically preventing tailgating by only allowing a single individual to pass per valid credential. This preserves normal employee flow because authorized users can enter quickly without manual intervention, unlike guards or awareness campaigns that rely on human compliance.
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.
✗
Post a security guard at the entrance during business hours.
Why it's wrong here
A guard can deter tailgating, but this adds ongoing staffing cost and does not scale as well as a physical access device that enforces one-person-per-authentication.
✓
Install a mantrap or anti-passback turnstile that admits one person per badge authorization.
Why this is correct
This is the best fit because the current controls detect the problem but do not stop it. A mantrap or turnstile is a preventive physical control that enforces single-person entry and directly addresses tailgating while keeping normal employee movement efficient. It reduces reliance on people noticing and reacting in real time.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add more CCTV cameras in the lobby and at the parking lot entrance.
Why it's wrong here
Additional cameras improve evidence collection, but they remain detective controls. They may help investigate tailgating after it happens, yet they do not physically prevent an unauthorized person from entering behind an employee.
✗
Send quarterly emails reminding employees not to hold doors open.
Why it's wrong here
Awareness reminders can help, but the exhibit shows a repeated physical bypass. Training alone is too weak when the organization needs a control that reliably enforces entry behavior at the door.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between preventive controls (mantraps/turnstiles) and detective or administrative controls (CCTV, emails, guards), leading candidates to choose a familiar but ineffective option like CCTV or security guards.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Awareness reminders can help, but the exhibit shows a repeated physical bypass. Training alone is too weak when the organization needs a control that reliably enforces entry behavior at the door.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A mantrap uses two interlocking doors with sensors that detect occupancy; only one door can open at a time, and the second door unlocks only after the first closes and a valid badge is presented. Anti-passback turnstiles track badge usage in a database, preventing a badge from being used twice in quick succession (e.g., passing back to an unauthorized person). In real-world deployments, these systems integrate with access control servers via protocols like Wiegand or OSDP to enforce real-time policy decisions.
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.
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Install a mantrap or anti-passback turnstile that admits one person per badge authorization. — A mantrap or anti-passback turnstile enforces one-person-per-badge authorization, physically preventing tailgating by only allowing a single individual to pass per valid credential. This preserves normal employee flow because authorized users can enter quickly without manual intervention, unlike guards or awareness campaigns that rely on human compliance.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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