Verkada’s Tailgate Detection Solution Reviewed
Does Verkada’s Access Control Tailgate Detection solution work you?
Tailgating: is when an unauthorized individual follows an authorized person through an access controlled door; gaining entry into the space without presenting a valid credential. It is a common risk for all access control systems.
Verkada offers a native solution utilizing their cameras and access control system. Through their software analytics they can detect and alert personnel of this violation.
Setup
The recommended configuration is an access controlled door equipped with a reader, door contact, request to exit device, and locking hardware. Configure this door to work normally on the Verkada system. Have one interior camera viewing the door. This door / reader will be paired with the interior camera to track for tailgating.
The analytics of the Verkada Command software allows for the monitoring of tailgating events through an access controlled door utilizing the Verkada camera and access control system.
Results
The Tailgate Detection works as long as only one valid credential is presented per door opening, which is the scenario laid out by Verkada. If an authorized user opens the door, walks through the door, and closes the door then no violation was noted. However, if an unauthorized person tailgated an authorized user then a violation occurred.
If two authorized users passed through the door on one opening, both presenting a valid credential to the reader, then a tailgating event occurred. No violation occurred upon exiting, one or multiple people, as expected.
We noted that the time from which the violation occurred to which the event notification was received at the Command software varied from 2-5 minutes. This notification is not instantaneous.
Possible Issues
If two or more authorized people approach the door together then each person will need to enter separately, otherwise they will trigger a tailgating event. One door opening and two or more valid credentials triggered the tailgating event.
As we demonstrated this to our end user it was sticking point for their purposes. It was viewed as not being practical, especially at their lobby entry doors where multiple authorized people routinely enter and exit together. The other sticking point was how do you handle visitors? The initial thinking was the authorized person could present their credential multiple times for the number of people passing through. This will not work as only one valid credential is allowed per opening, so each guest would need a credential and would need to enter independently.
Conclusion
It is important to understand how the Tailgating Detection works and really think about the application. If you have a heavily trafficked door this probably won’t work well for you. If you have a door with lots of guests this won’t work for you. The application seems best for a low traffic doors without guests such as a lab, data center, IT room, etc. and not ideal for your front lobby doors.
