As organisations continue to grapple with the ever-present threat of physical security risks, it is essential to recognise the role that cognitive biases can play in shaping our perception of these risks. One cognitive bias that organisations should be particularly mindful of is optimism bias, which can lead to underestimating the likelihood or impact of security threats. In this blog, we'll explore why organisations should be concerned about optimism bias when undertaking their own physical security risk management. 

First, let's define optimism bias. Optimism bias is a cognitive bias that causes individuals to believe that they are less likely to experience negative events than others. This bias can lead people to underestimate the probability of negative outcomes and overestimate the probability of positive outcomes. In the context of physical security risk management, optimism bias can cause organisations to overlook or downplay potential security threats. 

One of the main reasons why optimism bias is a concern for organisations is that it can lead to inadequate security measures being implemented. When an organisation underestimates the likelihood or impact of a security threat, it may fail to implement the necessary security measures to mitigate that threat. This can leave the organisation vulnerable to attack, theft, or other security breaches. For example, an organisation may believe that its building is secure enough without implementing additional security measures, such as surveillance cameras or access control systems, only to discover that their premises has been compromised by an intruder. 

Another reason why optimism bias is a concern for organisations is that it can lead to a false sense of security. When an organisation believes that it is well-protected from security threats, it may become complacent and fail to take appropriate precautions. This can create an environment in which security breaches are more likely to occur, as employees may become lax in their security practices, or fail to report suspicious activity. 

To mitigate the impact of optimism bias, organisations must take a proactive and evidence-based approach to physical security risk management. This can involve conducting thorough risk assessments, gathering information from a variety of sources, and engaging in scenario planning and testing to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats. It may also be helpful to seek the input of independent security experts to provide an external perspective and help identify potential blind spots. 

In conclusion, organisations must be concerned about optimism bias when undertaking their own physical security risk management. By recognising the impact that cognitive biases can have on our perception of security threats, organisations can take steps to mitigate these biases and implement effective security measures that will protect their people, assets, and reputation. 

Avoid that bias. Get an external perspective to help identify potential blind spots. We can help - Give us a call or drop us an email.