A mantrap, portal, circle lock door, tubestile, or access control vestibule is a physical security access control system comprising a small space with two sets of interlocking doors, such that the first set of doors must close before the second set opens.See Kouba Systems FAQ, Q1See Information Security Management Handbook, Volume 2 pp202-203.See Secure Your Server RoomSee CCTVokami Airlocks have a very similar design, allowing free ingress and egress while also restricting airflow.
In a manual mantrap, a guard locks and unlocks each door in sequence. An intercom and/or video camera are often used to allow the guard to control the trap from a remote location.
In an automatic mantrap, identification may be required for each door, sometimes even different measures for each door. For example, a key may open the first door, but a personal identification number entered on a number pad opens the second.See Kouba Systems FAQ, Q.12
Other methods of opening doors include proximity cardsSee NFC chips/"dots", a technology commonly used in credit/debit cards to help protect against malicious walk-by credential-copying by shortening the viable distance of the used frequency(s)., or biometric devices such as fingerprint readers or iris recognition scanners. "Time of Flight" sensors are used in environments that require high security, enabling detection of persons with significantly different walking speeds than the individual who is authorized to walk through the passageway. Newer stereovision detection systems are often employed, providing more accurate detection of walking rate via multiple viewing angles.
Some security portal mantraps use dual authentication (per portal), employing two separate readers (security card plus biometrics, for example). This is very typical in the data center security entrance control environment.
Security mantrap portals typically offer options for all-steel construction and either Bullet/Ballistics-Resistant (BRSee BR Glass Protection Levels and Their Meanings in Armored Cabins) or RC (burglar protection) construction, including thick laminated curved glass.
Metal detectors are often built in to prevent the entrance of people carrying weapons such as guns and knives, and can protect against other tools for intrusion and destruction such as crowbars and strong electromagnets Strong electromagnets are likely to contain a ferrite core. Crowbars can pry open locked doors and be swung as melee weapons. Electromagnets can read/write/wipe data stored in magnetic media such as credit cards or magnetic memory tapes.. Use of metal detectors is particularly frequent in banks, jewelry shops, and some public schools in the USA, despite having fine-tuning related issues that can sometimes cause dangerous False Positives and False Negatives.See School Metal Detectors
Turnkey systems are sometimes provided by some suppliers due to the need for specially trained installers.
Fire Safety regulations require that automatic mantraps allow exit from the intermediate (i.e., trapping) space; the regulations still allow the denial of access to a secure space such as a data center or research laboratory.See Kouba Systems FAQ, Q.7 A manually operated mantrap may allow a guard to lock both doors, trapping a suspect between the doors for questioning or detainment.See Kouba Systems FAQ, Q.6
See also Mantrap (snare) Sally port Optical turnstile References
External links
"The AI Revolution and What it Means for Data Center Security Design" (McGovern, October 2024)