Board directors in Asia-Pacific can now get a real sense of a cyberattack by going through a simulation of a real crisis to better prepare for and respond to one in future.
The new programme, described as “simulation in a box”, is an experiential training module for entire boards of directors, who often have to guide a company’s management to navigate through a cyber crisis.
Unveiled last week, the training workshop is offered by SID Board Academy, the board training arm of the Singapore Institute of Directors, and cybersecurity firm Ensign InfoSecurity. This Cyber Incident Management Simulation for Boards seeks to build the practical skills needed to respond to major cyber incidents.
The goal is to train 3,500 company directors by 2030 in cyber incident management across the region. The programme builds on existing efforts to raise awareness and build knowledge among board directors.
The 90-minute programme uses a realistic cyber wargaming exercise to place directors under pressure as they navigate the full lifecycle of a ransomware attack.
Participants are required to make interconnected, high-stakes decisions from the initial disruption and containment stage to disclosure, recovery, and consequence management.
The simulation is led by experienced incident responders from Ensign InfoSecurity, giving participants access to insights shaped by real-world cyber incidents.
Cyber incidents are pushing boards to make decisions about security, operational continuity, financial impact, and legal exposure in real-time, said Lim Minhan, executive vice-president of consulting at Ensign InfoSecurity.
“This programme is designed to help boards build practical experience and decision-making skills needed to lead through cyber crises with clarity and confidence,” he added.
The programme comes amid growing regulatory expectations across the region. In Singapore, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information plans to make cybersecurity training mandatory for board members of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) organisations from the first quarter of 2026.
SID Board Academy said the simulation will be offered to company boards in Singapore and across the region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Australia.
Priority sectors include energy, banking and finance, and healthcare. The programme follows a structured format, but can also be tailored to the needs of different boards and regulatory environments.
During its pre-launch phase, 100 board members in Singapore and Thailand had already signed up for the training.
