Incident Response Retainer
Pre-agreed access to incident responders, with defined activation steps and response targets.
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Proactive Cybersecurity Services
Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercises
Rehearse a cyber crisis in a safe setting, so your first real incident is not your first practice.
Overview
A tabletop exercise walks your team through a realistic incident scenario, such as ransomware, data theft or a supplier compromise, in a facilitated discussion. Although the scenario simulates an incident, this is a proactive preparedness service: it tests plans, roles and decisions before they are needed.
Business objectives
- Test incident response and crisis management plans
- Clarify roles, decision rights and escalation paths
- Practice internal and external communication
- Identify gaps in business continuity and recovery
Why it matters
Incident response plans often fail at the human level: unclear authority, slow decisions and confused communication. Rehearsing these moments reveals gaps when the cost of finding them is low.
Common challenges we address
- An incident response plan that has never been tested
- New leadership or crisis team members
- Uncertainty about who decides on shutdowns, disclosures or ransom demands
- Regulatory or board expectations to demonstrate preparedness
Scope and key activities
- Scenario design tailored to your threats and environment
- Separate or combined sessions for executives and technical teams
- Staged scenario “injects” that escalate the situation
- Facilitation and structured observation
- Hot debrief at the end of the session
- After-action analysis
Methodology
Our approach
Work starts with an assessment of your needs and a written scope. Pricing follows that scoping and sizing.
- DesignAgree objectives, participants and a realistic scenario with a small planning group.
- PrepareReview your plans and build scenario injects and expected decisions.
- FacilitateRun the exercise, typically half a day per audience.
- DebriefCapture immediate observations from participants.
- ReportDeliver an after-action report and improvement plan.
Deliverables and outcomes
- Tailored scenario and exercise materials
- Facilitated exercise session(s)
- After-action report
- Lessons learned
- Prioritized improvement plan
Typical use cases
- Annual crisis-readiness exercise for leadership
- Testing a new incident response plan
- Preparing a SOC or IT team for escalation scenarios
- Following a real incident to embed lessons learned
Who it is for
- Executive leadership and crisis management team
- CISO and IT leadership
- SOC and incident response teams
- Legal, communications and HR
Engagement options
- Executive tabletop exercise
- Technical tabletop exercise for IT and SOC
- Combined multi-level exercise
- Delivered on-site or remotely
Prerequisites
- A sponsor and planning contact
- Existing incident response or crisis plan (if any)
- Participant availability for the session
Frequently asked questions
Is a tabletop exercise proactive or reactive?
Proactive. Although the scenario simulates an incident, the purpose is to prepare and improve before a real one occurs.
Do we need an incident response plan first?
No. If you do not have one, the exercise will reveal what the plan needs to contain. If you do, the exercise tests it.
Does it involve touching our systems?
No. Tabletop exercises are discussion-based. No systems are tested or changed.
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