The correct first action is to implement mantraps and enforce a policy of one person per keycard entry. This directly addresses the most likely attack vector—tailgating, also known as piggybacking—where an unauthorized person follows an authorized employee through a secured door without using their own credentials. A mantrap, a small room with two interlocking doors that allows only one person to pass at a time, physically prevents this social engineering exploit, which relies on human courtesy like holding doors open. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this scenario tests your ability to prioritize physical security controls over monitoring or policy tweaks; a common trap is to focus on John’s after-hours log anomalies, but the real vulnerability is the lack of tailgating mitigation. Remember: tailgating exploits trust, so the first defense must be mechanical, not procedural. Memory tip: “One badge, one body—a mantrap stops the buddy.”
CEH Social Engineering and Physical Security Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of social engineering and physical security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are a security consultant hired by a mid-sized company with 500 employees. The company has a central office with a lobby, reception, and two secure areas: the server room (requires keycard and PIN) and the executive floor (requires keycard only). Recently, employees have reported seeing unfamiliar people in restricted areas. Security logs show keycard access for the server room only during business hours, but no anomalies. However, the executive floor logs show multiple entries by a single employee, John from Sales, at odd hours. John claims he was working late. The company has a policy that all employees must wear ID badges visibly. You observe that employees often hold doors open for colleagues, and the receptionist does not verify visitor badges. Which of the following actions should you recommend FIRST to address the most likely attack vector?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement mantraps and enforce a policy of one person per keycard entry
The most likely attack vector is tailgating (piggybacking), where unauthorized individuals gain physical access by following an authorized employee through a secured door without using their own credentials. Option C directly addresses this by implementing mantraps (a small room with two interlocking doors that only allows one person to pass at a time) and enforcing a strict one-person-per-keycard-entry policy, which physically prevents tailgating. This is the first and most effective control because it mitigates the root cause—social engineering exploiting human courtesy—rather than focusing on symptoms like John's after-hours access or adding surveillance that doesn't prevent the act.
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.
✗
Investigate John's activities and consider disciplinary action
Why it's wrong here
John may be innocent; the issue is systemic tailgating.
✗
Upgrade keycard readers to biometric scanners
Why it's wrong here
Biometrics may help but do not prevent tailgating.
✓
Implement mantraps and enforce a policy of one person per keycard entry
Why this is correct
Mantraps physically prevent tailgating, addressing the most likely attack vector.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Install additional CCTV cameras in hallways
Why it's wrong here
CCTV is reactive, not preventive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the distinction between authentication (e.g., biometrics) and access control (e.g., mantraps), and the trap here is that candidates confuse improving credential verification with preventing the social engineering technique of tailgating, leading them to choose a more expensive but ineffective solution like biometric readers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A mantrap typically uses two sets of interlocking doors with sensors (e.g., weight, infrared beams) to detect if more than one person enters the vestibule; if so, both doors lock, trapping the individuals until security intervenes. This enforces the principle of 'one person, one credential' at the physical layer, similar to how 802.1X enforces per-device authentication on a network port. In real-world attacks, tailgating is responsible for up to 70% of physical security breaches, often exploiting the same 'door-holding' courtesy described in the scenario.
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: Implement mantraps and enforce a policy of one person per keycard entry — The most likely attack vector is tailgating (piggybacking), where unauthorized individuals gain physical access by following an authorized employee through a secured door without using their own credentials. Option C directly addresses this by implementing mantraps (a small room with two interlocking doors that only allows one person to pass at a time) and enforcing a strict one-person-per-keycard-entry policy, which physically prevents tailgating. This is the first and most effective control because it mitigates the root cause—social engineering exploiting human courtesy—rather than focusing on symptoms like John's after-hours access or adding surveillance that doesn't prevent the act.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "most likely". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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