The phrase “tabletop exercise” was used during today’s episode of the Dr. Heather Morrison Show, and I was curious to know what it means.

According to the U.S. National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers & Studies, 

Discussion-based exercise where personnel meet in a classroom setting or breakout groups and are presented with a scenario to validate the content of plans, procedures, policies, cooperative agreements or other information for managing an incident.

In other words, it’s a “practice run,” but not in the field.

It’s one of a number of “discussion-based exercises” in the emergency measures field that includes seminars, workshops, games, and drills.