• ID: PR053
  • Created: 03rd November 2026
  • Updated: 03rd November 2026
  • Contributor: The ITM Team

Circumventing Physical Security Controls

A subject deliberately bypasses, weakens, disables, or interferes with physical security controls to facilitate a subsequent infringement. This may involve manipulating locks or secured entry barriers, bypassing credential-based access restrictions, circumventing visitor or escort procedures, or interfering with physical security monitoring and alarm systems.

 

These activities may compromise physical safeguards designed to restrict unauthorized entry, protect organizational assets, or detect movement through secured environments. The subject may exploit existing access, manipulate physical infrastructure, misuse access credentials, or circumvent established security procedures.

 

Circumventing physical security controls may enable unauthorized access to restricted areas, theft of organizational assets, interference with critical infrastructure, or the unauthorized presence of third parties. The behavior differs from physical reconnaissance or security control testing because the subject actively circumvents or impairs an established protection in preparation for further activity.

Subsections (6)

ID Name Description
PR053.001Door and Entry Barrier Manipulation

A subject deliberately interferes with a secured door, gate, or other physical entry barrier to prevent it from locking or closing as intended. This may include propping open access-controlled doors, obstructing latching mechanisms, or manipulating automatic closing systems to facilitate subsequent unauthorized access or movement.

PR053.002Lock and Physical Barrier Bypass

A subject circumvents physical locking mechanisms or secured barriers without using an authorized access method. This may involve picking or manipulating mechanical locks, bypassing secured cabinets or enclosures, or otherwise defeating physical barriers to facilitate unauthorized access to restricted areas or organizational assets.

PR053.004Physical Access Credential Misuse

A subject uses physical access credentials that they are not authorized to possess or use to circumvent organizational access restrictions. This may include using another individual's access badge, an improperly retained access card, or a physical key obtained outside established authorization procedures to facilitate unauthorized entry or movement.

PR053.006Physical Security Monitoring and Alarm Interference

A subject deliberately interferes with physical security monitoring or alarm systems to reduce the likelihood of subsequent unauthorized activity being detected. This may include obstructing surveillance cameras, disabling door alarms, interfering with motion sensors, or otherwise impairing physical security detection mechanisms in preparation for an infringement.

PR053.003Tailgating and Piggybacking

A subject bypasses physical access controls by following or accompanying an authorized individual through a secured entrance without independently presenting valid access authorization. This may occur without the authorized individual's awareness or with their deliberate cooperation, allowing the subject to circumvent individual access verification and associated entry records.

PR053.005Visitor and Escort Procedure Circumvention

A subject deliberately circumvents established visitor registration, identity verification, escort, or physical access authorization procedures to facilitate unauthorized movement within an organizational facility. This may involve bypassing reception controls, separating from an assigned escort, or avoiding mandatory security checkpoints to access areas without the required authorization or oversight.