BCDR Tabletop AAR Template

What is a BCDR Tabletop AAR?

A Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Tabletop After-Action Report (AAR) documents the outcomes of tabletop exercises. It captures lessons learned, identifies gaps, and creates remediation plans for audit-ready evidence.

Tabletop exercises simulate disaster scenarios without real disruption. AARs ensure exercises produce actionable improvements and demonstrate compliance to auditors, regulators, and stakeholders.

Why AARs Matter for Compliance

BCDR tabletop exercises fail to deliver value without thorough AARs. Auditors require evidence that exercises identify issues and drive remediation. AARs transform exercises into compliance artifacts that prove your BCDR program works.

Without AARs, organizations repeat mistakes, fail audits, and risk operational disruptions during real incidents.

AAR Template Structure

Executive Summary

Exercise Date: [Date]
Scenario: [Brief description, e.g., “Ransomware attack encrypting primary data center”]
Participants: [List roles, e.g., IT Manager, BC Coordinator, Executive Team]
Overall Assessment: [Pass/Fail rating with justification]

Key Findings:

• [Bullet point summary of major issues and successes]
• [Quantitative metrics, e.g., “Response time: 45 minutes (target: 30 minutes)”]

Exercise Overview

Objectives:

• Test incident response plan effectiveness
• Validate communication protocols
• Assess recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO)
• Identify gaps in resources or procedures

Scenario Details:

• Trigger Event: [e.g., “Malware detected on file server at 9:00 AM”]
• Scope: [Systems affected, e.g., “Primary database, email, customer portal”]
• Assumptions: [e.g., “No physical damage, key personnel available”]

Timeline:

• 9:00 AM: Incident detected via SIEM alert
• 9:15 AM: Incident response team assembled
• 9:45 AM: Decision to isolate affected systems
• 10:30 AM: Recovery procedures initiated
• 11:30 AM: Services restored

Detailed Findings

Strengths

Areas for Improvement

Remediation Plan

Immediate Actions (Next 30 Days)

Short-Term Improvements (3-6 Months)

Long-Term Enhancements (6-12 Months)

Participant Feedback

Quantitative Ratings (1-5 Scale)

Qualitative Feedback

• “Exercise revealed our backup procedures aren’t as robust as we thought.”
• “Team performed well under pressure, but we need better documentation.”
• “Vendor response times were a surprise—need to renegotiate SLAs.”
• “Good cross-functional participation; helped build relationships.”

Lessons Learned

What Went Well

• Incident detection and initial triage were effective
• Decision-making followed established protocols
• Team demonstrated good collaboration across departments

What Didn’t Go Well

• Delayed team assembly due to outdated contact lists
• Unfamiliarity with backup access procedures
• Lack of predefined communication templates for stakeholders

Key Takeaways

• Regular contact list maintenance is critical
• Backup procedures need hands-on testing, not just documentation
• External communication planning requires more attention
• Exercises should include vendor participation

Appendices

Appendix A: Exercise Agenda

1. Welcome and objectives (15 min)
2. Scenario briefing (15 min)
3. Initial response discussion (30 min)
4. Recovery planning (45 min)
5. Stakeholder communication (30 min)
6. Debrief and lessons learned (30 min)

Appendix B: Participant List

• John Smith, IT Manager
• Jane Doe, BC Coordinator
• Bob Johnson, Executive Sponsor
• Alice Brown, Communications Lead
• [Additional participants]

Appendix C: Supporting Documents

• Incident Response Plan v2.1
• Business Continuity Strategy
• Contact List (pre-exercise)
• Exercise Scenario Document
• Meeting Notes and Transcripts

How to Use This Template

Step 1: Customize for Your Exercise

Replace placeholders with your specific scenario, participants, and findings. Add organization-specific sections if needed.

Step 2: Gather Data During Exercise

Assign note-takers for timeline tracking, decisions, and issues. Collect feedback immediately after.

Step 3: Complete Within 48 Hours

Draft the AAR while details are fresh. Include all participants in review for accuracy.

Step 4: Distribute and Track

Share with executive sponsors, implement remediation plans, and track progress quarterly.

Step 5: Prepare for Audits

Store AARs in your compliance evidence library. Reference them in SOC 2 or ISO 27001 submissions.

Common AAR Mistakes

Organizations undermine tabletop value by:

• Skipping AARs: Exercises become pointless without documentation
• Being too vague: Include specific actions, owners, and timelines
• Ignoring feedback: Quantitative ratings without qualitative insights
• Not tracking remediation: AARs must drive real improvements
• Poor distribution: Limit to exercise participants; share broadly

Next Steps

Need help with BCDR tabletop exercises? Bell Tower designs scenarios, facilitates exercises, and produces audit-ready AARs.

• Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCDR)
• SOC 2 Readiness Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after an exercise should I complete the AAR?
Within 48 hours while details are fresh. Delay reduces accuracy and actionability.

Who should participate in tabletop exercises?
Include IT, business leaders, communications, legal, and external stakeholders. 8-12 participants ideal.

How often should we conduct tabletop exercises?
Annually minimum, quarterly for high-risk organizations. Align with compliance requirements.

What makes a good exercise scenario?
Realistic threats based on your risk assessment. Include technical failures, cyber attacks, natural disasters.

How do AARs support compliance?
They provide evidence of testing and improvement. Reference in SOC 2 CC9.1 or ISO 27001 A.17.1.3 submissions.