The fall of Troy is a legendary event that occurred in the 12th century BC. The Trojan War, which lasted for ten years, resulted in the destruction of Troy and the death of many of its inhabitants. Despite the city's high walls and strong defences, it fell to the Achaeans, who employed a strategic deception known as the Trojan Horse. This blog aims to explore how ineffective processes, poor security culture, optimism bias, and a generally poor application of security risk management led to the fall of Troy. 

• Ineffective Processes:  Troy's defences were weakened by ineffective processes that made it easier for the Achaeans to infiltrate the city. The city's gates were not well-guarded, and it was easy for Achaean spies to enter and leave the city undetected. In addition, the Trojans had a poor system of background checks for those who were allowed to enter the city. As a result, it was easy for the Achaeans to infiltrate Troy disguised as traders, merchants, or other civilians. 

• Poor Security Culture:  The poor security culture within Troy contributed to the city's fall. The Trojans had a false sense of security, which led them to neglect their defences. They believed that their high walls and strong gates were enough to protect them from any attack. As a result, they did not take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from infiltration or surprise attacks. 

• Optimism Bias:  The Trojans suffered from optimism bias, which led them to underestimate the physical security risks associated with the war. They believed that they were invincible and that no enemy could breach their defences. This optimism bias blinded them to the reality of their situation and prevented them from taking the necessary steps to mitigate the risks associated with the war. 

• Poor Application of Security Risk Management:  The Trojans had a generally poor application of security risk management principles, which contributed to their downfall. They did not conduct thorough risk assessments or develop effective security plans. They did not allocate sufficient resources to physical security measures or invest in training and awareness programs for their citizens. They did not have a robust system of intelligence gathering to identify potential threats or a strong culture of security awareness among their citizens. 

The fall of Troy was the result of a combination of factors, including ineffective processes, poor security culture, optimism bias, and a generally poor application of security risk management principles. These factors contributed to the Trojans' vulnerability and made it easier for the Achaeans to infiltrate the city and ultimately defeat them. The lesson from the fall of Troy is that effective physical security requires a robust and comprehensive application of security risk management principles, including risk assessment, security planning, resource allocation, intelligence gathering, and a strong culture of security awareness. 

ICARAS are always ready to help you protect your empire from marauding Myrmidons, Mycenaeans and sneaky Ithacans… as well as other threats!