CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages (CTEPs) are a comprehensive set of resources designed to assist stakeholders in conducting their own exercises. Partners can use CTEPs to initiate discussions within their organizations about their ability to address a variety of threat scenarios.
Each package is customizable and includes template exercise objectives, scenarios, and discussion questions as well as a collection of references and resources. Available scenarios cover a broad array of physical security and cybersecurity topics, such as natural disasters, pandemics, civil disturbances, industrial control systems, election security, ransomware, vehicle ramming, insider threats, active assailants, and unmanned aerial systems. CTEPs also provide scenario and module questions to discuss pre-incident information and intelligence sharing, incident response, and post-incident recovery.
With over 100 CTEPs available, stakeholders can easily find resources to meet their specific exercise needs.
Cybersecurity Scenarios
The cybersecurity Situation Manuals (SitMans) cover topics such as industrial control systems (ICS), ransomware, insider threats, phishing, and elections-related cyber threat vectors.
- Local Governments CISA Tabletop Exercise Package (.docx, 3.87 MB)
- Cyber Insider Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.64 MB)
- Early Voting CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.76 MB)
- Elections Vote by Mail CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.76 MB)
- Election Day Voting Machines CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 4.35 MB)
- Industrial Controls CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.74 MB)
- Ransomware CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.74 MB)
- Ransomware Third Party Vendor CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.16 MB)
- Vendor Phishing CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.64 MB)
- Water Systems CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.65 MB)
- Maritime Ports - Ransomware CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.74 MB)
- Maritime Ports - Multi-Jurisdictional Cyber CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 3.74 MB)
- K-12 Schools Cyber CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 4,606 KB)
Physical Security Scenarios
The physical security Situation Manuals (SitMans) cover topics such as active shooters, vehicle ramming, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), and many more. There are also CTEPs that are geared towards specific industries or facilities to allow for discussion of their unique needs.
Active Threat
- Chemical Sector Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 281.21 KB)
- Chemical Sector Active Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 380.86 KB)
- Chemical Sector Domestic Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1.52 MB)
- Chemical Sector Theft & Diversion CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 258 KB)
- Chemical Sector Edged Weapon CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 375.36 KB)
- Chemical Sector IED CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 377.88 KB)
- Chemical Sector VBIED CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 356.33 KB)
- Chemical Sector Vehicle Ramming CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 354.79 KB)
- Chemical Sector Fire as a Weapon CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 378.49 KB)
- Chemical Sector UAS CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1 MB)
- Chemical Sector Civil Unrest CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 353.05 KB)
- Chemical Sector Insider Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 257 KB)
- Supply Chain CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 366.41 KB)
- Supply Chain Border Closure CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 2.41 MB)
- Dams Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 536.74 KB)
- Electricity Substation CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 624.71 KB)
- Food Manufacturing Facility (Processing / Packaging / Production) CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 379.93 KB)
- COVID-19 Insider Threat Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 736.85 KB)
- COVID-19 Insider Threat Sensitive Information CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 735.7 KB)
- Hazardous Materials CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 976.31 KB)
- Potential Civil Unrest CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 272.2 KB)
- National Monuments & Icons CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 351.16 KB)
- Maritime Domestic Terror CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 745 KB)
- Healthcare and Public Health Suicide Bomber CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1.56 MB)
- Healthcare and Public Health Suspicious Package CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 491 KB)
- Healthcare and Public Health VBIED CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 752.81 KB)
- Indoor Performing Arts Theater CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 275.16 KB)
- Cruise Ship Incident CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 277.34 KB)
- Defense Industrial Base CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 768.25 KB)
- Outdoor Events - Edged Weapon CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 281.85 KB)
- Outdoor Events - Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 286.18 KB)
- Outdoor Events - VBIED / Hostage CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 283.89 KB)
- Outdoor Events - Hostage CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 283.95 KB)
- Elementary School Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 296 KB)
- Middle School Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 288 KB)
- High School Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 291 KB)
- K-12 Education Active Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 372.37 KB)
- Higher Education IED Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 389 KB)
- Small-UAS IED Non-Nefarious Activity CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 928 KB)
- Small-UAS IED Nefarious Intent CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 832 KB)
- Small-UAS IED Multi-Option CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 836 KB)
- Small-UAS Stadium Crash CTEP Situation Manual - with videos (.docx 288 KB)
- Multi-Jurisdictional IED Bridge CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 297 KB)
- Freight Rail Explosion CTEP Situation Manual (.docx 544 KB)
- Motor Speedway Civil Unrest Active Threat CTEP Situation Manual - with videos (.docx, 466 KB)
- Small-UAS IED Airport CTEP Situation Manual (.docx 259 KB)
- Music Festival Bombing CTEP Situation Manual - with videos (.docx, 481 KB)
- Music Festival Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual - with videos (.docx 475 KB)
- Crowd Surge CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 281 KB)
- Interfaith Community CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 285 KB)
- Elections Security Active Shooter CTEP Situation Manual (.docx 296 KB)
- Elections Security Civil Unrest CTEP Situation Manual (.docx 293 KB)
Complex Coordinated Attack
- Chemical Sector Complex Coordinated Attack CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 383.44 KB)
- Large-Box Store CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 873.23 KB)
- Dams Adversarial Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 563.45 KB)
- Food and Agriculture Supply CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 443.16 KB)
- Higher Education Active Threat CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 426.01 KB)
- Violent Extremist CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1.84 MB)
- Gaming Industry CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 859.36 KB)
- Faith-Based Organization CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 112 KB)
Natural Disaster
- Hurricane CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1.43 MB)
- Pandemic Virus CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 366.41 KB)
- Severe Flooding CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 2.39 MB)
- Severe Winter Weather CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 2.41 MB)
- Catastrophic Hurricane CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1.43 MB)
- Wildfire CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1.56 MB)
- Pandemic / COVID-19 Recovery CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 133.37 KB)
- Disaster Access Management and Reentry CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 2 MB)
- Tornado CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 283 KB)
Cyber-Physical Convergence Scenarios
Convergence SitMans are those specifically designed to discuss the physical impacts resulting from a cyber threat vector, or cyber impacts resulting from a physical threat vector. While CTEPs within the cyber and physical sections may touch on these subjects, convergence CTEPs are designed to further explore the impacts of convergence and how to enhance one’s resiliency.
- Chemical Sector Cyber Attack CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 1.57 MB)
- Water and Wastewater Systems CTEP Situation Manual (.docx, 364.57 KB)
CTEP Documents
CTEP documentation allows users to leverage pre-built templates to develop a full understanding of roles and responsibilities for exercise planners, facilitators / evaluators, and participants. Additionally, the documentation includes templates for the initial invitation to participants, a slide deck to use for both planning meetings and conduct, a feedback form to distribute to participants post-exercise, and an After Action Report. In conjunction with selecting one of the above situation manuals, your exercise planning team will be able to fully develop your own tabletop exercise and update information sharing processes; emergency response protocols; and recovery plans, policies, and procedures.
- CTEP Fact Sheet (pdf., 299 KB)
- CTEP Welcome Letter (pdf, 119.79KB)
- CTEP Exercise Planner Handbook (pdf, 658.25KB)
- CTEP Facilitator Evaluator Handbook (pdf, 628.7KB)
- CTEP Invitation Letter Template (pdf, 87.32KB)
- CTEP Exercise Brief Slide Deck Template (pdf, 499.42KB)
- CTEP Participant Feedback Template (pdf, 253.27KB)
- CTEP Planner Feedback Form (pdf, 401.38KB)
- CTEP AAR-IP Template (pdf, 449.63KB)