Crisis Management | CM

[CM] Definition of an Incident Simulation Exercise

Written by Moh Heng Goh | May 8, 2025 4:46:41 PM

Definition of an Incident Simulation Exercise

An Incident Crisis Management Simulation Exercise is a targeted, scenario-based drill designed to test an organisation’s response to a specific, predefined incident (e.g., cyberattack, natural disaster, PR scandal) by simulating realistic conditions, decision-making processes, and operational actions.

Unlike full-scale simulations, it focuses on a single incident type to evaluate preparedness, identify gaps, and refine protocols for that threat.

 

Pre-reading for Participants Attending Module 4 of the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer Course

Key Characteristics

  1. Incident-Specific

    • Centres on one type of crisis (e.g., active shooter, data breach, supply chain disruption).

    • Example: Simulating a ransomware attack to test IT recovery and legal compliance.

  2. Controlled but Realistic

    • Uses predefined injects (e.g., "Hackers demand Bitcoin in 24 hours") but may include unexpected twists (e.g., "Employees leak internal panic on social media").

    • Balances structure with improvisation to mimic real-world unpredictability.

  3. Time-Bound

    • Typically shorter than full-scale exercises (e.g., 2–4 hours), focusing on rapid response.

  4. Multi-Department Involvement

    • Engages relevant teams only (e.g., IT + Legal + PR for a cyber incident).

    • May exclude non-critical stakeholders to maintain focus.

Purpose & Objectives

  • Validate incident-specific protocols (e.g., breach notification procedures).

  • Test coordination between teams handling the incident.

  • Identify weaknesses in tools, communication, or decision-making.

  • Train employees on their roles for high-likelihood threats.

Types of Incident Simulations

 

Type Example Scenario
Operational Incident Factory fire evacuation + supply chain halt.
Cybersecurity Incident Phishing attack leading to data exfiltration.
Reputational Incident Viral social media backlash over a product defect.
Regulatory Incident Simulated audit uncovers compliance failures.

How It Differs from Other Exercises

 

Feature Incident Simulation Full-Scale Simulation Partial Simulation
Scope Single incident Cross-organization crisis One function/team
Complexity Moderate (focused chaos) High (multi-threat, multi-team) Low (controlled environment)
Duration Hours Hours to days Minutes to hours

Example: Data Breach Incident Simulation

Objective
  • Test the 72-hour response to a breached customer database.
Injects

  • T+0: SOC detects unauthorised access.

  • T+30 mins: Hackers post stolen data online.

  • T+2 hours: Media requests a statement; GDPR clock starts.

Teams Tested
  • IT Security, Legal, PR,  Customer Support.

Outcome Metrics

  • Time to detect/contain the incident.

  • Accuracy of communication (internal/external).

  • Compliance with deadlines (e.g., 72-hour GDPR notification).

Incident simulations are cost-effective ways to prep for high-priority threats. 

 

Types of Crisis Management Exercises
Design and Develop Crisis Management Exercises

More Information About Crisis Management Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the  CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].

Please feel free to send us a note if you have any questions.
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