In the world of cyber crisis preparedness, organizations are constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance their resilience. One such solution is a crisis simulator, a powerful platform that allows organizations to measure and improve their teams' knowledge, skills, and judgment. We’ll explore the fascinating journey of a proof-of-concept (POC) project where a user created a custom simulation loosely based on the Hollywood blockbuster Armageddon – using the Immersive Labs Crisis Simulator (Crisis Sim).Crisis Sim goes beyond traditional tabletop exercises to prepare organizations using dynamic crisis scenarios, engaging storylines, and contextual media to embed learning and build muscle memory.The surprising journeyEmbarking on a unique endeavor, the user, not even a Crisis Simulator customer (yet), expressed their desire to create a custom crisis simulation. Although it was an unconventional request for a POC, the prospect found it more manageable than creating a typical tabletop simulation using popular slide software. Thankfully, the intuitive nature and user-friendly interface of the Crisis Simulator allowed them to grasp the platform's functionality with minimal guidance. And so they set off on their venture to craft their scenario, drawing inspiration from the thrilling storyline of Armageddon.
“Armageddon is a science fiction disaster film that follows a group of blue-collar deep-core drillers sent by NASA to stop and deflect a gigantic asteroid on a collision course with Earth.”
© 1998 Touchstone Pictures
The power of storytellingOne of the crucial elements in creating an engaging crisis simulation is developing a captivating story. The challenge lies in aligning the story with the desired learning outcomes and objectives – with many customers needing help with content creation. However, in this case, the prospect established a compelling narrative from Armageddon. Using a well-known Hollywood film provided instant familiarity and facilitated the construction of different decision paths and branching narratives.Expanding horizonsThe idea to create a custom simulation stemmed from the organization’s executives; they wanted to see if Crisis Sim could expand to provide value across the organization. After completing the exercise, the project leader received plenty of positive feedback from the executive team. The engaging nature of the simulation made the story easy to follow while also delivering on practical matters, like measuring the impact of their decisions. The project's success also led to discussions about incorporating the Crisis Simulator into other aspects of the organization's security and general operations.Seamless adoptionSurprisingly, the support provided during the proof-of-concept involved little hand-holding. The customer independently crafted the entire “Armageddon” scenario. This self-sufficiency is a testament to the platform's user-friendly nature and intuitive design. The ability to create scenarios with multiple roles, decision points, and decision paths demonstrated that Crisis Sim empowers users to unlock their creativity and design engaging simulations without extensive assistance.Embracing versatilityDuring the proof-of-concept, the customer gained experience using various modes of the Crisis Simulator, including presentation mode, single-player mode, and drill mode. These different delivery methods helped the prospect cater to diverse learning preferences while demonstrating the platform's capabilities to engage users across multiple formats. The customer utilized drill mode extensively to assign roles and injects to individuals for an interactive and collaborative crisis response experience.https://www.immersivelabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Modes.pngDriving engagement and valueThe feedback from the Immersive team highlighted the platform's ability to increase the frequency of exercising and applauded the streamlined onboarding process. With Crisis Simulator's user-friendly interface, organizations can quickly ramp up their crisis preparedness initiatives, eliminating the need for a lengthy learning curve. The customer's journey exemplifies how Crisis Sim’s ease of use enables organizations to unlock their potential, drive engagement, and achieve tangible value from the beginning.ConclusionCreating custom crisis simulations opens up a world of possibilities for organizations seeking to enhance their crisis preparedness. The Armageddon-inspired proof-of-concept demonstrated the user-friendly nature of the Immersive Lab Crisis Simulator, empowering users to construct engaging scenarios and drive collaboration across business units. By leveraging storytelling, versatile delivery modes, and intuitive design, Crisis Sim enables organizations to unlock their creativity, measure their readiness, and build resilience against evolving cyber threats. With Crisis Sim, the power to simulate and prepare for the next asteroid heading towards Earth, or any crisis, lies in the hands of the users themselves.To find out more, click here.