Cyber Security Tabletop Exercises: An Overview | David Ogbolumani

Due to the increasing number of sophisticated cyberattacks in 2022, it has become more important that businesses adopt a comprehensive strategy to address their cybersecurity threats. This can be done by developing effective and efficient incident response plans, better known as Cyber Security Tabletop Exercises. One of the most important steps businesses can take to improve their cybersecurity is regularly testing their plans.

In this blog, we will talk about the various steps businesses can take to improve their cyber security by regularly testing their plans.

Malware Attack

A typical type of cyberattack nowadays is a malware attack, usually carried out through simple loopholes in a company's security. For instance, if an employee accidentally downloads a malicious attachment, the hacker can easily find their way into the company's network.

In a tabletop cyberattack simulation, participants are asked to evaluate the possible outcome of a cyber attack. They then have to think about how they will deal with malware that can prevent everyone from accessing the company's computers.

This exercise can also help employees learn how to deal with the consequences of their actions and train others so that they do not make similar mistakes in the future. In addition, stakeholders must consider how they will protect their company from a cyberattack.

Although a malware attack might look like a simple scenario, it can go a long way in opening a cybersecurity Pandora's box for a company. This exercise can help employees develop their skills and knowledge about dealing with the various threats that can affect their company.

Ransomware Attack

A ransomware attack is similar to a malware attack in that it can take on different and more complicated forms.

A ransomware attack can take various forms. It can either prevent an individual from accessing their data or threaten to release it unless a ransom is paid.

A ransomware exercise aims to give participants a deeper understanding of the various decisions that will be made during the attack. For instance, will you pay the ransom or negotiate with the hackers? Also, will you have backups that will render the attackers' threats meaningless?

The goal of a ransomware exercise is to test the skills of the incident response team members. It also allows them to think about the best strategies to prevent attackers from taking over the company's network.

Supply Chain Attack

Like most companies, your organization may rely on third-party vendors and other cloud platforms for its operations.

Since your company has a large number of data sets, you might rely on multiple service providers for its operations. If one of these providers gets breached, what would you do?

This is an important tabletop cyberattack exercise, as it demonstrates how a breach in the third-party vendor's environment can affect a company's operations. The onus is on the vendor, not the employees. Even if your environment was protected, your business would be in trouble if your data was stolen.

After a successful cyber attack exercise, the facilitator will give you an executive summary or evaluation report, which will help you assess the company's overall situation and its cybersecurity-minded staff members. This report also enables you to understand your incident response plan better.

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About David Ogbolumani

David Ogbolumani is a global expert in the field of information technology security. He has over 20 years of experience in managing and assessing risk, developing effective team development strategies, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. He is a dynamic leader who can help bridge the gap between various departments.

David is a highly effective communicator and a public speaker who can help develop effective solutions for various projects. He serves on the academic board of the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Center for Cybersecurity and Forensic Education.

He has a long history of working in the information technology industry and has gained numerous certifications. Some of these include the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Information Systems Manager, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Internal Auditor certifications. He also holds the European and US Certified Information Privacy Professional certificates.

He is knowledgeable about the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which are important to the protection of human rights and privacy in the European Union. The regulations are also applicable to various countries such as Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway.