Modernising the War Game: Preparing for Next-Generation Crises

Source: NSB Cyber

From the Battlefield to the Boardroom

For centuries, war games have been used to prepare military leaders for the uncertainty of conflict.

War games were designed to test strategy, coordination, and composure under pressure, long before the first shot was fired. The principle was simple: simulate complexity to reveal weakness.

The same principle applies today, but the battlefield has changed.

Modern organisations are now engaged in their own kind of warfare, facing cyber attackers, operational disruptions, and supply chain failures.

Our crises are digital, fast, and often triggered by forces beyond our control. Yet many still prepare using static workshops and PowerPoint decks. In an era defined by technical interdependence and global connectivity, that approach no longer works.

The Challenge of Modern Crises

The modern enterprise depends on vast networks of systems, partners, and cloud providers. When something breaks, the impact can cascade instantly across technology, people, and reputation. Unlike traditional risks, these crises rarely start inside the organisation.

You might not control the event, but you must control your response.

That requires more than a documented plan. It demands practice, realism, and coordination. The ability to respond under stress cannot be learned in a policy document.

Evolving the War Game

At NSB Cyber, we have seen first-hand how effective exercising transforms crisis response capability.

The organisations that perform best under pressure are the ones that train regularly and realistically. This is why we are modernising the way simulations are delivered.

Instead of relying on static tabletop discussions, we use Crisis Commanded, an Australian-built platform that brings the principles of military wargaming into the digital age.

Realistic, Data-Driven Crisis Simulations

With Crisis Commanded Simulator, NSB Cyber delivers exercises that mirror the complexity of modern threats:

• Scenarios that adapt dynamically to decisions made in real time.

• Multi-stream participation across executive, legal, technical, and communications teams.

• Real-world injects drawn from current cyber, operational, and supply chain incidents.

• Automated reporting that turns every exercise into actionable improvement.

This approach blends our operational experience with a data-driven platform to help organisations train for the crises they are most likely to face.

Why It Matters

Testing your plan is no longer optional.

Frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST CSF, APRA CPS 230, and the AICD Cyber Governance Principles all require organisations and boards to test and demonstrate preparedness.

But compliance is only part of the story.

Modern simulations build confidence, coordination, and speed of decision-making, the real differentiators in a crisis. The threats may be external, but readiness is internal.

That readiness can only be achieved through regular, realistic simulation.

The Takeaway

The traditional tabletop exercise served its purpose in a simpler time.

Today’s interconnected world demands something more sophisticated, more dynamic, and more reflective of the crises organisations actually face.

At NSB Cyber, we bring together real-world incident response experience and the Crisis Commanded platform to help organisations train for the unpredictable.

Modernise your crisis exercise.

Talk to NSB Cyber about running your next simulation through Crisis Commanded, and modernise your crisis preparation to the modern threats you face.

Train for the crises your plan can’t predict. Book your meeting with NSB Cyber today.