Today's cyber threat landscape is more sophisticated, fast-moving, and unpredictable than ever before. Most organizations have developed cybersecurity protocols, built response playbooks, and invested in various tools to stay resilient. Yet, many overlook a crucial element; people readiness. According to recent studies, 80% of cybersecurity leaders lack confidence in their teams’ preparedness to manage a real-world cyber crisis. This gap highlights a fundamental truth: technology alone isn't enough. The individuals on the frontlines and in the boardroom must know how to respond effectively and collaboratively when under pressure.


Enter cyber crisis simulations, the frontier of cybersecurity readiness. These scenario-driven exercises put teams to the test, simulating realistic cyberattacks to challenge decision-making, collaboration, and resilience under pressure. And the results speak for themselves:

  • Organizations that conduct regular simulations resolve breaches 54 five days faster on average.

  • Cost savings from testing and improving response plans total $1.49 million per breach.

  • Simulations build muscle memory, transforming response from reactive to proactive.

 

Why do simulations outperform traditional training methods like certifications or classroom learning? Because they:

  • Mimic real-life crisis scenarios forcing teams to confront uncertainty

  • Benchmark response performance with data-driven insights into decision quality

  • Strengthen collaboration between the internal teams


How do these cyber crisis simulations work? Mastercard and Immersive Labs have joined forces to create a comprehensive cyber crisis exercising solution that blends strategic advisory with cutting-edge simulation technology. Here is a preview of how it works: 

  • Pre-Workshop Preparation: Mastercard Advisors tailor the crisis scenarios to the organization's specific risk landscape and internal structure. Using the latest threat intelligence and operational insights, they design injects that reflect real-world conditions and likely crisis scenarios. 

  • Workshop Facilitation: During the workshop, Advisors observe and assess participants on their crisis response, teamwork, and ability to perform under pressure. Participants respond individually and as a group to scenario injects, with group votes influencing the direction of the exercise. Each inject also prompts discussions on decision-making and role-specific responsibilities.

  • Post-exercise Deliverables: After the crisis exercise, Advisors conduct a debrief session to review key strengths and improvement areas, encouraging participants to reflect on their performance. A detailed report follows, including performance metrics at all levels, potential real-world impact, and lessons learned. The report also benchmarks results against industry standards and provides actionable recommendations to enhance cyber resilience through improved playbooks, communication plans, and targeted training.

To learn more about the strategies, data, and real-world examples that prove the power of proactive preparation, read the report, Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail: Cyber Crisis Exercising for Operational Resilience. This is a joint report between Mastercard and Immersive Labs, the leader in people-centric cyber resilience, helping organizations continuously assess, build, and prove their cyber workforce resilience for teams across the entire organization.

Read the Report