Testing and Maintaining Readiness

Regular testing ensures incident response capabilities remain effective as organizations evolve. Tabletop exercises test decision-making and communication without system impact. Technical drills verify containment and recovery procedures. Red team exercises provide realistic breach scenarios testing full response capabilities. Each test type provides different insights into readiness gaps.

Testing schedules balance thoroughness with operational impact. Annual comprehensive exercises test full capabilities, while quarterly focused drills maintain specific skills. Surprise tests evaluate real readiness versus rehearsed responses. Post-test analysis drives continuous improvement in response capabilities.