Most companies have a fire drill. But few practice what to do when the “fire” is digital. When an incident hits — ransomware, phishing, or a data leak — the first hour is critical. Yet many teams only realize how unprepared they are during the crisis.
The solution? A simple 1-hour incident simulation.
It’s fast, inexpensive, and gives your team a safe space to practice.
Here’s how to do it
Step 1 — Set the Stage (10 minutes)
Pick a realistic scenario your business might face:
- A phishing email tricked an employee into giving away credentials.
- A critical server is encrypted by ransomware.
- Customer data was accidentally shared publicly.
Tip: Keep it relevant — your team learns best when it feels real.
Step 2 — Define Roles (5 minutes)
Clarify who does what during the incident:
- Incident Lead (keeps track of actions & time).
- Communications Lead (internal + external messages).
- IT/Security (contain & investigate the issue).
- Business Owner (decision-maker: downtime, customer impact, regulators).
Tip: Even a small company should know who calls the shots and who talks to customers.
Step 3 — Run the Simulation (30 minutes)
Play through the incident like it’s happening right now:
- What’s the first thing you do?
- Who gets notified?
- Do you shut down systems?
- How do you explain the situation to employees, customers, or partners?
Tip: Don’t overcomplicate it. The goal is to surface confusion and bottlenecks, not test technical fixes.
Step 4 — Debrief & Capture Lessons (15 minutes)
Ask the team:
- What went well?
- Where did we lose time?
- Did everyone know their role?
- What processes, tools, or contacts were missing?
Tip: End with 2–3 concrete actions (e.g., update contact list, clarify escalation rules, draft a customer message template).
Why This Works
- Builds confidence — your team knows what to expect.
- Reveals gaps — better to discover them in practice, not in crisis.
- Strengthens culture — shows security is everyone’s job.
Final Word
You don’t need a giant budget or an army of consultants to prepare for incidents.
You just need one hour and the willingness to practice.
Because in cybersecurity, how you respond often matters more than what hits you.
