What is a cybersecurity tabletop exercise?

A cybersecurity tabletop exercise is a discussion-based simulation where your team walks through a realistic cyber incident scenario. Participants discuss how they would detect, respond to, and recover from the incident without actually executing technical tasks. It tests your incident response plan, identifies gaps in procedures, improves team coordination, and meets compliance requirements like SOC2 and HIPAA.

Are tabletop exercises required for SOC2 compliance?

Yes, SOC2 compliance requires regular testing of incident response procedures. Tabletop exercises satisfy the CC7.1 and CC7.2 control requirements for detecting, responding to, and managing security incidents. The simulator generates compliance-ready reports that document the exercise, participant responses, identified gaps, and remediation plans that auditors expect to see.

Can I use this for HIPAA compliance?

Yes. HIPAA Security Rule § 164.308(a)(6) requires security incident procedures, and § 164.308(a)(8) requires periodic evaluation of security measures. Tabletop exercises satisfy the evaluation standard by testing incident response capabilities. The healthcare scenario specifically addresses HIPAA requirements including PHI breach response, patient safety priorities, OCR notification requirements, and HITECH Act breach reporting.

How long does a tabletop exercise take?

Our tabletop exercises are designed for 90-120 minutes. The financial services scenario takes 90 minutes with 60 questions. The ransomware scenario requires 90 minutes for 54 questions. The healthcare scenario is 120 minutes with 60 questions covering clinical safety.

What is NIST SP 800-84?

NIST Special Publication 800-84 is the federal government's official guide to test, training, and exercise programs for IT plans and capabilities. Published in 2006, it defines tabletop exercises as discussion-based scenarios where personnel discuss their roles during emergencies. SP 800-84 serves as the foundational methodology for incident response testing across government agencies.

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