If we compare at the evolution of Infosecurity with history, how far have we come? The authors believe that we’re somewhere shortly after the Norman Conquest — in other words, mediaeval. However, that’s not a criticism: in fact, in the 13th century, they had a pretty strong grasp of security issues. Go to any Heritage castle that dates from these times and you’ll see what he means. Take Harlech Castle in North Wales, for example. Harlech formed part of the Iron Ring of castles built by King Edward I in order to quell Welsh resistance and prevent future insurrection. Its design and location are testament to the advanced security architecture of the time and their success in securing key assets and keeping intruders at bay. Design BluePrints Back in the days of the crusade and the knight errant, the security of the castle was put above all else in the design phase. A secure design was paramount, and a key part of the business of survival. Whilst security remained uppermost in the mind of the castle architect, convenience and useabiltiy did also factor in the design process.