What is the primary purpose of tabletop testing?

Tabletop testing is primarily designed to practice coordination and communication among crisis team members in the context of emergency preparedness or incident response. This form of testing involves key stakeholders gathering to discuss and simulate their responses to emergency scenarios. By having participants talk through their roles, responsibilities, and the actions they need to take during a crisis, tabletop exercises enhance teamwork and improve the response plan's effectiveness.

These exercises do not involve actual system performance evaluation or technical reviews of IT systems. Instead, they focus on refining communication channels and clarifying processes in a risk-free environment. This preparation is crucial because effective communication and clearly defined roles can significantly impact the outcome of real-world incidents, ensuring that team members know how to act and respond when an actual crisis occurs.