Cyber Summit 2023 Workshops

Gamifying cybersecurity incident response: Unleashing the potential of tabletop exercises with ‘Back Doors and Breaches’

Led by:
Donald Ashdown, Information Security Analyst, University of Alberta
Kevin Paul, Director of Cybersecurity Operations, Cybera

Tuesday, November 7, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Evolving cyber threats have challenged organizations to enhance their incident response capabilities. Traditional tabletop exercises have long been relied upon to prepare teams; however, they often fall short in capturing the dynamic nature of real-world cyber incidents.

This presentation introduces a new perspective on conducting tabletop exercises through the "Back Doors and Breaches" cybersecurity incident response card game. The session highlights the numerous advantages to incorporating this form of training, while also discussing the collaborative approaches to cyber security to help support the broader community.

This session will demonstrate how gamifying incident response improves team communication and rapid decision-making while elevating problem-solving skills. Participants are encouraged to think creatively, gaining novel insights into how to address intricate cybersecurity challenges. By immersing teams in simulations mirroring real-world scenarios, organizations can elevate their cyber readiness, empowering them to proactively counter ever-evolving cyber threats.