Which principle is used to help prevent tailgating in busy areas?

The principle of positive access control is essential in preventing tailgating in busy areas. Positive access control ensures that individuals are granted entry based on predetermined verifiable criteria, typically including authentication methods such as keycards, biometric scans, or personal identification numbers. By utilizing these systems, a facility can effectively manage who enters and exits by requiring each individual to provide valid credentials before gaining access.

This approach helps to ensure that only authorized personnel can enter the secure area, thereby reducing the likelihood of unauthorized individuals following closely behind (tailgating) someone who is authorized. In a bustling environment, where the temptation to slip in behind someone else may be high, positive access control enforces a strict verification process for everyone, promoting a secure operational framework.

In contrast, the other principles mentioned do not focus on the proactive verification of individuals in the same manner that positive access control does. Negative access control or random and conditional access controls may not provide the necessary level of scrutiny to effectively prevent incidents of tailgating, making positive access control the most appropriate choice in this scenario.