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This system explains how you start using a scenario-based approach to managing threats. You use this for more effective risk management and subsequent decision-making.

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1. What is scenario-based threat management

Threat management is an approach organizations leverage to identify potential threats early and prepare for them.

Scenario-based threat management is much more dynamic, designed to prepare organizations through realistic scenarios.

This system introduces the core principles and benefits of scenario-based threat management, setting the foundation for the entire training.

2. Why is this important

The importance lies in being proactive.

By modeling out possible threats and their impacts, organizations can start to develop robust strategies to mitigate risks before they manifest.

Giving the advantage to mitigate something in early stages, when the cost to mitigate might be much lower.

3. Making Benefits Tangible

Here’s some examples from teams that implemented this approach:

● Enhanced Decision-Making: By simulating different threat scenarios they are able to better understand potential risks and impacts. The comprehensive understanding enables their decision-makers to make more informed decisions during actual crises. Reducing the likelihood of hasty or uninformed choices that make situations more difficult.

● Effective Risk Mitigation: Through scenario-based threat management it allowed organizations to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in their current systems and processes as early as possible. Addressing weaknesses in advance allows organizations to implement measures to reduce the likelihood and impact of potential threats.

● Improved Crisis Response: Practicing responses to various scenarios trains teams with skills and knowledge needed to act during real emergencies. This readiness ensures that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities.

4. What does the Process look like

To start leveraging scenario-based threat management, there's a practical system we recommend you to follow:

1. Identification: Identify your initial list of stakeholders, building it into a stakeholder matrix. This allows you to understand Influence & Interest. Depending on who's making the matrix, different people or teams might be included. This is prioritizing your capability.
2. Understand: You want to understand what stakeholders need/want to know in order to make decisions. With what information and what format. Preferably through interviews, sometimes we have questionnaires - if we can't talk to them we just do a guesstimate.
3. Design: Have some examples ready that you can realistically produce. Sketch our examples together with your key stakeholders. You can for example leverage the Venation scenario structure. Identify which internal functions can help you produce consistently. This gives you a leg-up for brand alignment.
4. Build: Identify tools your team is using internally. Notably, the tools where the entire team tracks progress in. Your design needs to be realized in a way to align it with the strategic objectives and where you can generate data.