Tabletop exercises are invaluable tools for testing security plans, training response teams, and identifying gaps in emergency preparedness without the costs and risks of full-scale simulations. This practical course teaches security professionals how to design, develop, and facilitate effective tabletop exercises that challenge participants' decision-making abilities and coordination skills. Participants will learn to create realistic security scenarios, develop injects that simulate real-world complications, and facilitate discussions that yield meaningful improvements to security plans and procedures. The training emphasizes hands-on exercise development and facilitation practice.
Tabletop Exercises for Security Scenarios
Security Operations and Risk Protection
October 25, 2025
Introduction
Objectives
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Design comprehensive tabletop exercise programs
- Develop realistic security scenarios and injects
- Facilitate engaging and productive exercises
- Evaluate participant performance and plan effectiveness
- Develop after-action reports and improvement plans
- Customize exercises for different security threats
- Manage exercise logistics and participant engagement
- Integrate tabletop exercises with overall training programs
- Measure exercise effectiveness and return on investment
- Create progressive exercise programs that build capabilities
Target Audience
- Security Exercise Coordinators
- Crisis Management Team Leaders
- Business Continuity Planners
- Emergency Response Managers
- Security Training Specialists
- Risk Management Professionals
- Corporate Security Managers
- Facility Security Officers
Methodology
- Hands-on exercise development workshops
- Facilitation practice sessions
- Scenario writing exercises
- Peer feedback and evaluation
- Real exercise observation
- After-action report writing practice
- Progressive exercise program design
Personal Impact
- Enhanced facilitation and presentation skills
- Improved scenario development capabilities
- Stronger analytical and evaluation abilities
- Increased confidence in exercise leadership
- Better group management techniques
- Enhanced creative thinking for scenario design
Organizational Impact
- More effective security plan testing
- Improved team coordination and decision-making
- Reduced costs compared to full-scale exercises
- Enhanced organizational preparedness
- Stronger security culture development
- Better identification of plan gaps and weaknesses
Course Outline
Tabletop Exercise Fundamentals
Core Concepts- Tabletop exercise purpose and benefits
- Exercise types and applications
- Legal and privacy considerations
- Exercise program management framework
- Success criteria and measurement
- Needs assessment methodology
- Objective development techniques
- Stakeholder identification and engagement
- Resource requirements planning
- Timeline and milestone development
Scenario Development
Scenario Design- Threat and hazard analysis
- Realism and plausibility factors
- Progressive complexity design
- Multi-phase scenario development
- Cultural and organizational alignment
- Message inject development
- Media simulation creation
- Supporting documentation preparation
- Visual aid and map development
- Technology and tool integration
Exercise Facilitation Techniques
Facilitation Skills- Group dynamics management
- Time management during exercises
- Participant engagement strategies
- Decision-point introduction
- Conflict resolution techniques
- White cell organization and management
- Inject timing and delivery
- Scenario adaptation during exercise
- Information management
- Safety and confidentiality maintenance
Security Scenario Applications
Physical Security Scenarios- Workplace violence incidents
- Unauthorized access situations
- Protective intelligence events
- Facility breach responses
- Data breach response
- Ransomware attacks
- System compromise incidents
- Business email compromise
Evaluation and Assessment
Performance Measurement- Evaluation criteria development
- Observer training and deployment
- Real-time assessment techniques
- Participant feedback collection
- Gap analysis methodology
- After-action report development
- Improvement plan creation
- Stakeholder briefing preparation
- Exercise documentation standards
Program Management and Improvement
Program Development- Progressive exercise programming
- Budget development and justification
- Resource allocation and management
- Schedule development and maintenance
- Lessons learned integration
- Plan refinement processes
- Training program alignment
- Industry best practice adoption
Ready to Learn More?
Have questions about this course? Get in touch with our training consultants.
Submit Your Enquiry