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When security managers choose to deploy a smart lock activation system, the number of units needed and their location needs to be established. This study aims to present the results of a penetration test involving smart locks in the context of building security. The authors investigated how the amount of effort an employee has to invest in complying with a security policy (i.e. walk from the office to the smart key activator) influences vulnerability. In particular, the attractiveness of a no-effort alternative (i.e. someone else walking from your office to the key activators to perform a task on your behalf) was evaluated. The contribution of this study relates to showing how experimental psychology can be used to determine the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of physical building security measures.

Twenty-seven different “offenders” visited the offices of 116 employees. Using a script, each offender introduced a problem, provided a solution and asked the employee to hand over their office key.

A total of 58.6 per cent of the employees handed over their keys to a stranger; no difference was found between female and male employees. The likelihood of handing over the keys for employees close to a key activator was similar to that of those who were further away.

The results suggest that installing additional key activators is not conducive to reducing the building’s security vulnerability associated with the handing over of keys to strangers.

No research seems to have investigated the distribution of smart key activators in the context of a physical penetration test. This research highlights the need to raise awareness of social engineering and of the vulnerabilities introduced via smart locks (and other smart systems).

The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the development of the Secured by Design (SBD) award scheme in the UK.

The paper is an invited opinion piece and comment based upon the specialist experience and viewpoint of the author as a Development Officer at the Association of Chief Police Officers SBD.

The paper describes the rationale for the development of the SBD award scheme and outlines the key elements which must be achieved to obtain SBD accreditation. The paper refers to the findings from a number of evaluations which have indicated that dwellings built to the SBD standard are less likely to experience crime and disorder compared to dwellings which have not been built to the standard.

The paper provides a historical review of the development of the SBD scheme and outlines current and future areas of work.