Saving Lives Around the Table: Firefighters’ Insights on Tabletops

No ratings

Presented at The GrrCON Cyber Security Summit and Hacker Conference 2024 by

John Hollenberger

It’s 2:00 AM on Friday. The phone buzzes and you need to respond. Sound familiar? You are likely thinking that the SOC just called with a cybersecurity incident and that it is your turn to be on call. But actually, it is the volunteer firefighters’ phone with a reported fire in the neighborhood. Whether a firefighter or a cybersecurity first responder experience that middle of the night alert for the latest incident. Both professional and volunteer firefighters spend significant parts of their conducting scenario-based training to prepare for emergencies of all shapes and sizes, from fires, to floods, to windstorms, and even terroristic activities. This training helps to prepare the firefighters for any emergency at any time. Cybersecurity and information technology personnel must also conduct frequent tabletop exercises and training scenarios to prepare for the worst-case scenario within their organization. Every cybersecurity exercise relies on key factors that the presenter will focus on, including: – When and how often tabletop exercises should be performed. – Who is in charge of the tabletop and the facilitators’ role. – What to include in the tabletop exercise and how to make it realistic. – Who should be involved in the exercise. – And more… Participants will have an engaging conversation and see firsthand how they are the firefighters of the cyber world.