Objectives
The objectives for GridEx IV were:
· Exercise incident response plans;
· Expand local and regional response;
· Engage critical interdependencies;
· Improve communication;
· Gather lessons learned; and
· Engage senior leadership.
Exercise Construct
GridEx IV included a grid-focused operational exercise for participants across North America and a tabletop discussion for executives and senior government leaders. Over the course of two days, the majority of participants took part in the exercise from their workplaces, where they received scenario injects that detailed simulated different cyber and physical threats. Based on the provided information, participants responded with simulated internal and external crisis response and information sharing activities. An exercise control cell, based in the Washington, D.C. area, managed simulated news reports, monitored the exercise, and gathered lessons learned.
Previous GridEx Participation
GridEx IV was the largest cyber and physical security exercise of its kind, involving more than 6,500 participants from 450 industry and government organizations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tabletop discussion involved senior leaders from the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, cross-sector partners and U.S. government executives. Lessons learned from the exercise are available in a public report, below.
