The 3 Weak Spots Where Your Doors Are Most Vulnerable… And How To Protect Them

Most security systems make use of multiple, layered security mechanisms meant to reduce the likelihood of a security breach. Yet some companies, preoccupied with implementing safeguards to ensure delivery of critical services, overlook the most basic of physical security mechanisms: your doors.

A well-balanced security system has several security measures in place to serve as a backup solution, in case any one of them should fail. For many, this means robust and up-to-date cybersecurity measures and the on-site presence of trained security personnel.

Nevertheless, regardless of the size of your business (SMB or multi-million dollar corporation), doors play an integral part in the foundation of your security. That's why identifying and protecting your door's three weakest points is an important step in any cybersecurity plan. Our friends at United Locksmith offered these insights into door security measures.

What are the 3 weakest points of a door?

A door is usually most vulnerable at its strike plate, its hinges, and its existing lock hardware. Burglars and criminals are prone to attacking these points because that's where it's easiest to get in. Consider the way these elements work:

Strike plate: A common fixture on every door, the strike plate is the small metal piece installed on the door jamb, meant to work in conjunction with your lock bolt. Any time a door is closed, the bolt extends into the door jamb, and the strike plate helps keep it securely in place.

Door hinges: Door hinges allow a door to hang on its frame and swing forward and closed. The main issue with door hinges is that they are often left exposed. This gives burglars easy access to exploit your door security to gain access to your office or facility.

Lock hardware: Lock hardware refers to the section of the door where the lock is installed. As the focal point of door security, this is also one of the weakest points since it is the target of so many attacks.

Related: Watch as we show how easy it is to clone a door's security badge

How can you protect these 3 weak points?

Identifying security weak points is only the first step in a comprehensive cybersecurity plan. Implementing effective solutions for identified areas of risk is essential too. Better protect your door at its weakest points to help achieve well-balanced security in any commercial space.

1. Reinforce the strike plate

The strike plate often falls victim to blunt force attacks. If a door is attacked using brute methods, such as kicking or ramming attacks, the brunt of that force will be exerted on the strike plate. Strike plates are usually affixed to the door jamb using ¾ inch screws. These screws are good enough to keep the strike plate in place for regular use, but they are easily ripped out if enough force is applied to them.

Reinforcing the strike plate simply involves using longer screws. Substituting ¾ inch screws with 3-inch screws will drastically increase strike plate effectiveness and is a cost-effective method of improving physical security. Keeping the strike plate more securely attached to the door jamb makes it unlikely that the strike plate can be completely removed by a brute force attack.

2. Secure door hinges

Securing door hinges can be a very easy task, or a tricky one. The solutions depend on the kind of door hinges being used in your facility. The best way to circumvent bad actors leveraging exposed hinges is to install in-swing doors. These doors open inwards from the outside and make it much more difficult for any unauthorized individuals to tamper with the hinges. However, if you can't protect your door hinges in this manner, then make use of safety studs, fast-riveted pins, and set screws in the hinges.

3. Install protective units around your lock hardware

Installing a lock on a door usually requires a part of the door to be hollowed out and removed to properly place the lock within the door frame. This necessary step tends to weaken your door in some specific places. If they are subjected to extreme amounts of force, they can potentially buckle under the weight of attacks.

To prevent this, companies can utilize protective covers. Built around the existing lock hardware, these covers are a simple way to make it hard to attack any recesses in the door. The covers also improve the basic security your door locks provide.

4. Layer security measures and consistently audit security protocols

Simply fortifying your door security will not make all your other security woes go away. Another great way to protect your doors' three weakest points is to proactively build ample security measures around these entry points.

To better protect against external and internal threats, adopt a whole security ecosystem implementing access control systems, surveillance systems, and technical controls.

Then, implement maintenance schedules to constantly test your physical and cybersecurity measures are holding up. Penetration testing and security audits can help you identify any flaws and work to remove them in an expedient manner.

RedTeam Security offers advanced application, network, social engineering, and physical penetration testing services. Specifically, our physical penetration testing will reveal real-world opportunities for malicious insiders or bad actors to compromise physical barriers (not just your doors, but locks, sensors, cameras, mantraps) for unauthorized physical access to sensitive areas leading up to data breaches and system/network compromise.

Understand your security's true strength by scheduling a consultation with us today. We look forward to speaking with you!