During physical security assessments, one of the most common reactions we get from facility managers is disbelief. "That lock cost $500" or "We just installed that system last year." The reality is that most commercial locks provide the illusion of security rather than actual protection.
The Hard Truth About Commercial Locks
Most pin tumbler locks—the standard for commercial and residential doors—can be picked, bumped, or bypassed in under a minute by someone with basic training. This isn't theoretical; it's what we demonstrate regularly during penetration tests.
Common bypass techniques include:
- Lock picking: Manipulating pins to simulate the correct key
- Bump keys: Using specially cut keys to jar pins into place
- Shims: Bypassing the locking mechanism entirely on padlocks
- Under-door tools: Reaching through gaps to operate interior handles
- Latch slipping: Using flexible tools to push back spring latches
Beyond the Lock: Common Physical Security Failures
Locks are just one part of physical security. During assessments, we commonly exploit:
- Door hinges on the outside: Remove the pins, remove the door
- Glass panels near handles: Break glass, reach through, unlock
- Motion sensors that don't cover the floor: Crawl underneath
- Tailgating: Following authorized personnel through secured doors
- Prop doors: Employees leaving doors propped open for convenience
What Actually Works
Effective physical security requires layers. No single control is sufficient:
- High-security locks: Medeco, Abloy, or Mul-T-Lock with pick-resistant features
- Proper door frames: Reinforced frames that resist kick-in attacks
- Access control systems: Card readers with audit logs and anti-passback
- Security cameras: Monitored, not just recorded
- Security culture: Employees who challenge unknown visitors
The EOD Mindset Applied to Physical Security
In EOD, we learned that adversaries are creative and persistent. They probe defenses, find weaknesses, and exploit them. The same applies to physical security. A determined attacker will find the path of least resistance—your job is to make every path difficult.
Physical security assessments reveal these weaknesses before criminals do. We think like attackers because we've trained to understand adversary mindsets. Let us show you what an attacker would see when they look at your facility.