TL;DR
- This is part of the Uninvited mission (Mission 5).
- Eavesdrop on the two guards near the staircase to start the sub-objective called The Tardy Guard.
- Head to the cafe, get the laptop password from a drawer, and check the security roster on a tablet.
- Learn that Harry Sykes is the missing guard, then report back.
- Squeeze past the crates and head upstairs to complete the Always on Duty challenge.
Pose as a Security Guard is one of the more satisfying ways to reach the security room in the Uninvited mission of 007 First Light. Instead of sneaking through vents or picking pockets, Bond talks his way in. This guide walks you through every step of the Always on Duty challenge, from the first eavesdrop to walking upstairs without firing a single shot.
The game is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games Store. You can also find out more about the game directly from the developer at IO Interactive’s official page.
What Is the Always on Duty Challenge?
Always on Duty is a challenge inside the Uninvited mission, which has 29 challenges in total. To complete it, you need to pose as a security guard and use that disguise to get past the guarded entrance and up to the security room.
The sub-objective that triggers this is called The Tardy Guard. It begins once you discover that one of the guards at the entrance never showed up for his shift. Your job is to find out who that guard is and report the name back — which then lets you slip through.
This route is one of several ways to reach the security room. If you want to try a different approach, check the guide on how to get the VIP Entrance keycard, which is the cleanest no-disguise option.
Where to Start: Find the Two Guards
After you leave the bathroom, head to the front of the bar area. When you are facing the bartender, turn around to face the staircase, then go right. You will see two guards standing at an entrance that is blocked off to the public.
Eavesdrop on the guards. Their conversation reveals that one of their colleagues has not turned up for work. This kicks off The Tardy Guard sub-objective.
Once the eavesdrop is done, speak directly to the remaining guard. He will tell you to check the security roster, which is kept behind the counter in the cafe. He cannot let you through until you bring him the missing guard’s name.
How to Find the Cafe
After speaking to the guard, turn around and walk through the hallway behind you. Take the first left you come across. That is the cafe.
When you get inside, do not walk straight to the counter. There is a female staff member working there, and the restricted area behind her is off limits. You need to listen in first.
Eavesdrop at the counter. You will learn that the password for the laptop holding the security roster is stored inside a drawer.
How to Get the Password and Find the Roster
To get into the restricted area, you need to distract the staff member at the counter. Use a Poison Dart or your Laser Watch on her. While she is distracted, move into the restricted area.
Look for the drawer facing the guests. Open it to get the laptop password.
Now look for the tablet near the coffee machine. Interact with it. The security roster will show you that the guard who did not show up is named Harry Sykes.
That is the name you need. Now head back to the guard at the entrance.
If you want to make the most of your gadgets in this mission, the best gadget loadout guide is worth a look before you go in. You can also browse the full list of all gadgets to see what each one does.
Report Back and Get Through the Entrance
Return to the guard who sent you to the cafe. Tell him the name: Harry Sykes.
Once he hears this, the guard will leave his post to go deal with the situation. The entrance is now unmanned.
Walk through the entrance. Immediately turn right and squeeze through the gap between the two crates. This keeps you out of sight. From there, reach the exit door and smash through it, then take the stairs up.
You are now upstairs. Be aware that this route is a little more exposed than some of the others. There will be guards in the upstairs area between you and the actual security room, so be ready to avoid or deal with them.
Once you reach the security room, the Always on Duty challenge will unlock.
Tips Before You Start This Challenge
- Have a distraction gadget ready. The Poison Dart or Laser Watch is essential for getting the staff member out of the way in the cafe. Make sure you have one equipped.
- This route is mutually exclusive per run. You can only pick one way upstairs each time you play through this section. Use mission replay to come back and try other routes later.
- Eavesdrop before speaking. Do not skip the eavesdrop on the guards. It is what triggers the sub-objective. Talking to them first without listening may not start the chain correctly.
- Stay quiet in the cafe. If you raise the alarm in the cafe, the restricted area becomes harder to access. Use your distraction cleanly and get in and out fast.
Other Ways to Reach the Security Room
Posing as a security guard is just one of the four routes to the security room in the Uninvited mission. Each one is a separate challenge, so you will need to replay the mission to collect them all.
- Pose as a photographer — find a phone in the bathroom, listen to a journalist at the bar, then pick up a camera and walk in as press. See the full press badge and Press Only challenge guide.
- Use a keycard — pickpocket the Museum Keycard from a female staff member near the main staircase and walk straight up. Full steps are in the VIP Entrance keycard guide.
- Sneak through the press room’s backstage door — the press room is to the left of the main stage. Distract the guard with a Phone Dart and slip through.
- Pose as a security guard — the route covered in this guide, which unlocks Always on Duty.
To see every challenge in the mission laid out in one place, the full Uninvited all challenges guide has them all, including the Ghost and Pacifist routes.
What Comes After the Security Room?
Reaching the security room is the main goal of this section, but the Uninvited mission keeps going after that. The CCTV room is your next target, and it has five challenges of its own sitting inside it.
If you are trying to clear everything in one run, it helps to know how to handle the CCTV room entry options — through the front doors, through the skylight, or with no takedowns. You can find all of those steps in the Uninvited challenges guide.
If this is your first time playing through and you are still figuring out how to get into the gala itself, the how to enter the Webb Industries Gala (Gate Crasher) guide covers the no-invite method.
For a broader look at everything in the game, the all missions, challenges, and collectibles guide is the best place to start. You can also check how long it takes to beat 007 First Light if you are trying to plan your playtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the security roster in 007 First Light?
The security roster is on a tablet next to the coffee machine inside the cafe. You need to get the laptop password from a drawer in the restricted area first before the tablet becomes useful.
Who is the missing guard in the Always on Duty challenge?
The missing guard is Harry Sykes. You find this out by reading the security roster on the tablet in the cafe’s restricted area.
Can I do Always on Duty and other upstairs challenges in the same run?
No. Each route upstairs is its own challenge and you can only take one per run. Use the mission replay feature to come back and try the other routes on separate playthroughs.
What gadget do I need to pose as a security guard?
You need a Poison Dart or your Laser Watch to distract the cafe staff member so you can access the drawer and get the laptop password.
Is posing as a security guard the easiest route to the security room?
It is a solid route, but it involves more steps than the keycard method. The keycard path is the simplest overall. Posing as a security guard is worth doing specifically to unlock the Always on Duty challenge and tick it off your list.
