Threat actors don’t wait for a convenient time to attack your company. They attack when it suits them, and when they can find any small opening. Being prepared for different types of attacks helps companies prepare for their response before the attack happens. 

More and more companies are testing their incident response plans by conducting tabletop exercises. They are very powerful and informative. A tabletop is most effective when executives attend and participate, and when no one in the company is prepared for the simulated scenario.

Responding to a cyber incident is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. No two incidents or responses are exactly the same. Different people on the incident response team have different roles depending on the type of the incident. Running through different scenarios and determining who will take the lead on certain parts of the incident and having a game plan in place means that you will be more prepared if or when an attack occurs.

Attacks won’t stop just so you can find the time to schedule a tabletop drill. Don’t wait: complete your incident response plan and test it with a tabletop exercise now.

Photo of Linn Foster Freedman Linn Foster Freedman

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on…

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.