15 min read
“No, ma’am. I can’t beep you in right now, I actually left my badge in my car.”
That’s what one of RedLegg’s penetration testers said during an engagement, as he attempted to breach a secure facility. Ironically, a worker who had forgotten her badge attempted to use the very tactic our penetration tester was about to exploit, using trust to bypass security.
This unexpected moment wasn’t part of the plan, but it revealed something important. It showed just how common and casual these security lapses can be. How many people badge in a coworker who forgot their ID without thinking twice?
The goal of a physical pentesting engagement is to answer these questions. These physical security engagements are designed to probe the human element of security. Our team has tested the physical defenses of corporate offices, industrial sites, and sensitive infrastructure across industries. Their work reveals a hard truth: while organizations invest heavily in cybersecurity firewalls, endpoint protection, and phishing awareness, they often overlook the physical layer.
This is where genuine threats originate.
A firewall can’t stop someone who tailgates. Antivirus won’t catch a social engineer with a smile. And endpoint monitoring won’t question a stranger holding a clipboard.
This blog will share real tactics used during RedLegg’s physical pentesting engagements. These aren’t hypothetical scenarios; they’re based on actual events that show how easily physical security can be breached and how your organization can prevent it.
What Is Physical Penetration Testing?
Physical security penetration testing is a hands-on security engagement that simulates how an intruder might attempt to gain unauthorized access to a facility.
It goes beyond reviewing protocols. It tests them. These simulations are designed to expose both mechanical weaknesses and human behavior gaps in real-time.
These tests typically assess:
- Entry points like side doors, loading docks, and maintenance gates
- Employee behavior and adherence to access control policies
- Badge usage and physical checkpoint enforcement
- On-the-ground response to unauthorized presence
It’s not about tricks; it’s about real risk. Could someone bypass your physical controls without raising an alarm? That’s what these tests answer.
Physical Security Assessment vs. Physical Penetration Test
It’s essential to distinguish between a physical security assessment and a physical security penetration test, as each serves a distinct purpose and identifies different types of risk.
- Physical Security Assessment
A nonintrusive, onsite review of access controls, surveillance placement, signage, and badge systems. Think of it as a physical security audit focused on inspection and observation, not simulation. - Physical Security Penetration Test
A live simulation where a tester uses deception, distraction, and real-world tactics to attempt unauthorized access, just like a real adversary would.
Would your team recognize a fake visitor? Would they question someone tailgating? Would a propped-open door trigger a response?
These are the kinds of real-world gaps RedLegg’s team uncovers before someone with malicious intent does.
Here’s a side-by-side look at what each engagement reveals:
How Facilities Get Breached: Real Tactics from the Field
These true stories, drawn from RedLegg’s physical pentesting engagements, reveal how common, preventable mistakes can lead to serious exposure.
Unsecured Vehicle Keys and Asset Access
Inside an industrial facility, a company vehicle was found unlocked, with the keys left inside. The tester cloned the key. Though the vehicle wasn’t stolen, it exposed how easily an attacker could have used it for unauthorized movement, or even theft.
How to prevent it:
Never leave keys in vehicles. Enforce credential checks before use and monitor all on-site assets for unauthorized access.
Bypassing a Lock with a Simple Sticker
A slow-closing security door and a small adhesive label created a major access gap. The sticker jammed the door, preventing the lock from re-engaging and giving the tester quiet, repeated access.
How to prevent it:
Test closing speeds and locking reliability on secure doors. Add tamper alerts to high-risk access points and train staff to notice subtle changes.
Circumventing Security with Research and Deception
At one waterfront facility, a boat approach was blocked by perimeter fencing. To gain access, our team had to shift tactics.
They posed as job applicants and were granted entry for an interview, ultimately being escorted to a shared space that also served as an emergency response room with access to sensitive systems.
In a separate case, a security guard casually directed a tester to “just use the back gate,” which turned out to be wide open, unmonitored, and camera blind.
How to prevent it:
Train all staff, including guards, not to redirect anyone without verifying identity. Routinely audit side gates, alternate access points, and escort policies.
Executive Impersonation Using Public Info
Using LinkedIn and a public company calendar, a tester assumed the identity of a real executive. Without checking ID, the front desk allowed him into a meeting space and directly into a sensitive area.
How to prevent it:
Don’t rely on calendars or familiar names. Require verified ID at all entry points and have a clear policy for escorting visitors.
Why Physical Pentesting Matters
Every organization talks about reducing attack surfaces, but without testing your physical environment, your security picture is incomplete.
Physical pentesting helps organizations:
- Identify weaknesses in employee behavior and physical controls
- Validate that badge policies and escort procedures work
- Uncover physical security vulnerabilities that paper-based assessments won’t show
- Prepare for real-world threats, not just compliance checkboxes
In today’s hybrid workplace, with rotating vendors, third-party contractors, and evolving social engineering tactics, testing your physical defenses is not optional; it’s essential.
Want to See These Tactics in Action?
You can hear more from our assessment team in this YouTube breakdown, where they explain the thinking behind these controlled intrusions and how your team can learn from them.
It’s not just about checking doors; it’s about checking assumptions.
Connect with a RedLegg advisor to learn more about our physical security testing services and how we help organizations secure what matters, inside and out.
Ready to Test Your Physical Security?
RedLegg’s physical pentesting services go beyond theory. We simulate how attackers operate, so you can fix gaps before they’re exploited.
We help organizations:
- Spot disconnects between policy and behavior
- Prepare staff for real-world intrusion attempts
- Evaluate access systems, escort procedures, and checkpoint enforcement
- Build stronger, more complete risk management strategies
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