What type of testing scenario does a multinational bank engage in to evaluate incident response effectiveness with a third-party security company?

The scenario described refers to a tabletop exercise, which is a discussion-based format that allows organizations to simulate their response to a hypothetical incident in a low-pressure environment. During this type of exercise, participants, including representatives from the multinational bank and the third-party security company, gather to discuss how they would respond to a given incident. The focus is on the conversation surrounding procedures, roles, and communication flows without the physical execution of the actual incident response processes.

Tabletop exercises are particularly effective for evaluating the effectiveness of incident response plans because they foster collaboration and encourage participants to think critically about their roles and responsibilities during an incident. This can help identify gaps in the plans, improve coordination among different teams, and enhance overall preparedness.

Unlike live exercises, which involve real-time actions and are conducted in a more dynamic setting, or full-scale exercises that simulate an entire incident with all involved parties acting as they would during a real event, tabletop exercises are more controlled and allow for a broader exploration of strategy and communication without the complexities of a live scenario. Simulations, on the other hand, typically include elements of technology and can involve automated systems or controlled environments but may not focus as heavily on the discussion and evaluation aspects that a tabletop exercise provides.