Run exercises to enhance your response readiness

Test your response readiness through live simulations that expose weaknesses in your incident handling procedures.
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Security Incident Response Testing

Build trust in your defences through hands-on security testing

Don’t wait for a real attack to test your defences. Our incident response exercises replicate targeted threats to assess how well your detection, containment, and escalation processes work. These tests are customised to reflect your specific risks and team maturity, giving you practical insights that can immediately enhance your readiness.

  • Simulate high-impact threats in a controlled environment
  • Validate team decision-making, tooling, and escalation plans
  • Pinpoint areas to strengthen before a real breach occurs
Service detail

Details that drive readiness and improvement

We translate test results into actionable insights—helping improve your tooling, processes, and team response across detection, escalation, and remediation.

Actionable results, not just scores.

Testing that informs what to fix – and how fast. We give you clear insights into performance, risk and roadmap – grounded in standards and realistic for your teams.

  • Maturity breakdown by control area
  • Realistic milestones and improvement timelines
  • Clear linkage to frameworks like ISO, NIST or Essential Eight
Our delivery process

How testing is planned and delivered

We partner with your team to create meaningful test scenarios, ensuring they reflect your real-world risk profile and deliver clear, actionable outcomes.
Select threats, systems and participants
We identify likely attack paths and assign participant roles to ensure the exercise accurately mirrors your risk landscape.
Facilitate and observe in real time
Our consultants facilitate the session by encouraging responses across both technical and governance areas.
Debrief, analyse and recommend
Our report outlines key findings, strengths and improvement areas to enhance your organisation’s ability to respond effectively to incidents.
Benefits

Why work with us

With deep experience and tested frameworks, we focus on what matters—helping you strengthen resilience with practical advice and outcomes that stick.
One team from start to finish
You’ll collaborate directly with the specialists doing the work—not just sales reps or project managers—ensuring consistency and transparency.
Built for your business
Each exercise is built around your unique environment—customised by technical scope, audience, and business context. No boilerplate.
Trusted by critical sectors
From government to critical infrastructure, we help build incident response plans that are robust, defensible and ready when needed.
What comes next

Expand your security coverage

Whether you’re aiming to improve incident response or align with ISM, we’re here to support every phase. From exercises and reviews to executive coaching, we help you build readiness across the board.

  • Conduct practical simulations to test your incident response plan
  • Review your security controls against NZISM or other key frameworks
  • Deliver tailored education sessions for leaders and technical teams
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Web Filter, CASB & DLP (Cloud Access Security Broker & Data Loss Prevention)
Monitor and manage how users interact with cloud, web, and AI platforms — including movement of sensitive data.
Web Application Penetration Testing
Uncover hidden flaws in your web apps — from session handling to access controls — through in-depth security reviews.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

From risk assessment to rapid response - we’re with you every step of the way.

Can Cythera help optimise our incident response plan post-assessment?

Yes. Every Cythera-led exercise includes a post-engagement report with actionable insights to improve your incident response and align with best-practice standards.

How is a tabletop cyber exercise different from live simulation?

Tabletop exercises walk teams through a hypothetical cyber incident to clarify roles and strategy. In contrast, live-play scenarios replicate real-time attacks to test actual systems, tools, and response readiness under pressure.

How often should we test our cyber incident response plan?

Tabletop exercises should be held annually or after significant changes to systems, teams, or your risk landscape. Cythera helps Australian organisations rehearse their response in realistic scenarios to improve readiness and resilience.

What is incident response testing and why is it important?

Incident response testing simulates cyberattacks to assess how well your team and processes can detect, respond, and recover. It's critical for identifying gaps, improving readiness, and ensuring you can minimise damage during a real incident.

Who should be part of a full incident response simulation?

Incident response simulations often include personnel from IT, cybersecurity, legal, HR, communications, and senior leadership. Exercises are customised to reflect your internal structure and decision-making roles.

Contact us

Talk to an expert

Please call our office number during normal business hours or submit a form below
Where to find us
If you experience a security breach outside normal working hours, please complete the form and we will respond as soon as possible.