An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

Defense Logistics AgencyThe Nation's Combat Logistics Support Agency

Search
Search

Search

-  Home		 
-  What DLA Offers    -  Excess Property Disposal             
  -  Document Services             
  -  Products             
  -  Services             
  -  Programs 
-  Working With DLA    -  Applications             
  -  Small Business             
  -  Federal and International Cataloging             
  -  Defense Data Standards             
  -  Events             
  -  Procurement Policies             
  -  Government Programs             
  -  Forms 
-  Organizations    -  DLA Headquarters             
  -  DLA Aviation             
  -  DLA Disposition Services             
  -  DLA Distribution             
  -  DLA Energy             
  -  DLA Land and Maritime             
  -  DLA Troop Support             
  -  DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM             
  -  DLA Europe & Africa             
  -  DLA Indo-Pacific 
-  Customer Support    -  Self Help Tools             
  -  How to Order             
  -  Find Your Order             
  -  Customer Facing Offices             
  -  Training             
  -  Brochures             
  -  Warfighter Support             
  -  Customer Service Management 
-  Careers		 
-  About DLA    -  Contact Us             
  -  Locations             
  -  Leaders             
  -  News             
  -  History             
  -  Media Gallery             
  -  DLA Campaigns 

HomeAbout DLANewsNews Article View

PHOTO INFORMATION

** Download

** Details

** Share

# ‘Piggybacking’ can open doors to security problems

By Nancy Benecki

                FORT BELVOIR, Va.  –              
Holding a door open for the person behind you may seem like the polite thing to do, but it can lead to a serious security breach at the workplace.

The Defense Department calls this practice piggybacking and defines it as an unauthorized person tagging along with an authorized person to enter a facility, restricted area, checkpoint or other controlled environment.

Piggybacking happens when someone holds a door open for a second person who doesn’t scan a common access card or enter a personal identification number to gain access. 

“You're allowing someone in and you're assuming that person belongs in that location, but you should never assume,” said Mark Banks, law enforcement program manager for the Defense Logistics Agency Installation Management’s Security and Emergency Services.

Piggybacking can be unintentional and unnoticed. If a door is closing, an unauthorized person can catch it before it closes and get inside an area where they shouldn’t be, Banks said.

The best practice is not to hold the door open for anyone trailing behind and to make sure the door latches shut behind you, Banks said.

“It goes against what we were raised to do to be kind, but unfortunately in today’s world, it is safer for everyone to be security conscious rather than kind,” Banks said.

Instead, make sure each individual scans their own CAC or enters their own PIN to access buildings, workspace, rooms, controlled areas or restricted areas.

In general, Banks said employees should be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, or in other words, maintain security awareness.

If someone is found at a DLA location without a CAC or visitor’s pass and an escort, Banks said not to risk a confrontation and report the person to local police as quickly as possible with their location description.

“The best thing to do is to be safe and be smart,” Banks said.

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

DLADefense Logistics AgencyPiggybackingsecurity