CEH Social Engineering and Physical Security Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of social engineering and physical security. 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.
Which TWO of the following are effective physical security controls to prevent tailgating?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Mantrap
A mantrap is a physical security control consisting of two interlocking doors that create a small vestibule. Only one door can be opened at a time, and the system verifies that only one person enters before allowing the second door to open. This design directly prevents tailgating by trapping unauthorized individuals who attempt to follow an authorized person through the first door.
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.
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Biometric door lock
Why it's wrong here
Biometric lock authenticates but does not prevent someone from following.
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Mantrap
Why this is correct
Mantrap requires one person to pass through and door to close before next opens, preventing tailgating.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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CCTV cameras
Why it's wrong here
CCTV detects but does not prevent tailgating.
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Security guard
Why it's wrong here
Security guard is a personnel control, not a physical control device.
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Turnstile with one-way access
Why this is correct
Turnstile physically restricts entry to one person per credential.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'preventive' controls (like mantrap and turnstile) with 'detective' controls (like CCTV) or 'deterrent' controls (like security guards), leading them to select CCTV or guards as effective tailgating prevention measures.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A mantrap typically integrates with an access control system (e.g., RFID card readers or biometric scanners) and uses interlock logic to ensure both doors cannot be opened simultaneously. In high-security environments, the mantrap may include weight sensors or pressure plates to detect if more than one person is inside the vestibule, triggering an alarm if tailgating is attempted. This is commonly deployed in data centers, server rooms, and secure government facilities where strict access control is mandated by standards like ISO 27001 or NIST SP 800-53.
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 practitioner preparing for the CEH exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CEH question in full detail.
Social Engineering and Physical Security — This question tests Social Engineering and Physical Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Mantrap — A mantrap is a physical security control consisting of two interlocking doors that create a small vestibule. Only one door can be opened at a time, and the system verifies that only one person enters before allowing the second door to open. This design directly prevents tailgating by trapping unauthorized individuals who attempt to follow an authorized person through the first door.
What should I do if I get this CEH 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.
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Question Discussion
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