Cybercrime has exploded in recent years. Is your organization ready to manage a crisis and communicate in a way that protects stakeholder trust? I hope so, because your organization’s reputation and business continuity are at stake.
Preparation is key in crisis management. Even a challenging situation becomes easier to handle if you’ve considered various scenarios in advance, thought about how to respond, and, ideally, practiced handling a crisis in a simulation.
How does a simulation proceed?
The exercise begins with a brief introduction reviewing the basics of cyber crisis management. Participants are also introduced to the simulation platform and its materials.
The simulation itself lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. It progresses faster than a real-life situation, requiring participants to act quickly and adaptively. Beforehand, it’s beneficial for everyone to reflect on their potential role and strengths in a cyber crisis. From the beginning, participants must understand how they factor into the bigger picture.
During the simulation, the key is for participants to collaboratively determine what needs to be done in each situation and why. This allows the organization to test how well it can organize in the face of a data breach and how effectively it communicates with stakeholders. The team also gains experience working together and building mutual trust under pressure.
Truth is stranger than fiction
In real-life crisis communication scenarios, we’ve often found that truth is stranger than fiction. Even the hypothetical events in simulations that seem far-fetched are not. We have seen all this - and much more - occur in real life.
Every crisis simulation is tailored to fit the client’s reality and daily operations as closely as possible. Additionally, the moderators adapt the scenario as it progresses.
Even so, participants sometimes struggle to take the simulation events seriously. It’s easy to dismiss the exercise as "just a game." However, the greatest benefit comes from fully immersing oneself in the scenario. Even if a twist feels implausible, it’s essential not to waste time questioning its realism. Accepting the situation and unexpected developments is crucial to managing crises effectively in real life.
An intense simulation can break a sweat
First-time participants may be surprised by the intensity of a simulation exercise. The drill mimics a real emergency, and like a genuine crisis, it can evoke a wide range of emotions.
During the simulation, participants often experience an adrenaline rush, which heightens alertness and focus. Stress levels may rise as decisions must be made quickly, often with incomplete information. This can manifest physically as an increased heart rate and sweating.
Challenges can also bring uncertainty or frustration—especially if mistakes are made. On the other hand, participants may enter a "flow state," where they are completely absorbed in the task. This can lead to positive excitement, enthusiasm, and energy.
Relief is a common emotion at the end of the exercise, especially if the situation has been successfully resolved. Participants may feel proud of their performance and the team’s shared achievements—or reflect on areas for improvement.
In simulation exercises, all emotions are valid, and recognizing them is one of the key lessons of the exercise. After participating, you’ll better understand your reactions under pressure and in a crisis. A crisis simulation offers a safe space to practice one of the most crucial aspects of organizational success.
Simulations reveal strengths and areas of improvement
After the simulation, the moderators and participants engage in a debriefing session to thoroughly review the key takeaways and findings. Open discussions aim to boost participants’ confidence and foster stronger cohesion within the crisis team. A successful cyber crisis simulation yields valuable insights and concrete areas for improvement, both personally and organizationally.
For participants, the exercise aims to improve their ability to identify and anticipate cyber crises. They learn practical skills and strategies for managing cyber crises, and ideally, individuals form a cohesive crisis team committed to unified practices.
For organizations, a cyber crisis simulation can be invaluable. The exercise may highlight operational weaknesses, providing an opportunity to strengthen cybersecurity mechanisms before a real attack occurs. In the event of an actual cyber crisis, the hope is that a well-prepared crisis team can manage the situation without it ever escalating into damaging public scrutiny. Stakeholder trust will remain intact, and the organization’s reputation will remain unharmed.
At Netprofile, we aim to enhance client resilience through our H72 crisis management model and accompanying cyber crisis simulations. We encourage clients to experiment, act without fear of mistakes, and learn. Under NIS2 regulations, crisis simulations are also becoming a mandatory part of cybersecurity preparedness for many.
If you believe your organization could benefit from a cyber crisis simulation, contact us! Let’s design an exercise that helps ensure business continuity, even in challenging situations.
