EI-301e · Module 2

Threat Wargaming

3 min read

Wargaming is the practice of simulating threat scenarios to test response playbooks and discover gaps in preparation. A threat wargame convenes the response team, presents a realistic threat scenario (based on actual early warning indicators and threat intelligence), and asks them to execute the contingency playbook in a simulated environment. The simulation reveals: whether the playbook is actually executable, where decision bottlenecks exist, which information gaps prevent effective response, and whether the team can coordinate under pressure.

Do This

  • Conduct a wargame for each high-priority threat at least once per year — playbooks that are never tested are theoretical, not operational
  • Use realistic scenarios based on actual threat intelligence — the wargame should feel plausible, not hypothetical
  • Include cross-functional participants: product, engineering, sales, marketing, and leadership — threat response is not a single-team activity
  • Document gaps discovered during the wargame and update the playbook immediately

Avoid This

  • Skip wargaming because "we know what we would do" — untested assumptions fail under pressure
  • Use the same scenario every time — vary the threat specifics to test different aspects of the response
  • Treat the wargame as a pass/fail exercise — every wargame produces learning, and the goal is to identify gaps, not to prove competence

The most valuable wargaming output is not the simulation result — it is the list of improvements to the contingency playbook. Every wargame reveals assumptions that do not hold under pressure, communication paths that are too slow, and decision points that require information the team does not have. These discoveries, incorporated into the playbook, make the next real response more effective. Wargaming is playbook maintenance disguised as a team exercise.