Business Continuity Exercise & Crisis Exercise Protocol – Exercise Plan, Scenario and Action Log | Word/PDF/Excel

Continuity Exercise & Crisis Exercise Protocol is a professional digital template package for businesses and organizations that want to conduct a simulated disruption exercise, test backup procedures, and follow up on what needs to be improved. You get an exercise plan, scenario and injection cards, decision log, observation and evaluation protocol, action plan, and Excel register. 15 files in Word, PDF, and Excel.

What is a continuity exercise?

A continuity exercise tests how an organization can act when a critical process is disrupted, for example during a fictitious system outage, temporary loss of premises, or absence of a key function. During a so-called desktop exercise or table-top exercise, participants make simulated decisions without having to shut down real systems. The exercise provides a basis for developing backup procedures and clarifying roles. It does not in itself mean that the organization has proven that it can handle a real crisis.

All Files in the Package

Excel Register – Nine Tabs for Exercise and Follow-up

Overview, Exercises, Scenarios, Injection, Decisions, Observations, Actions, Objective Assessment, and Read Me. The overview counts registered exercises, completed exercises, observations, verified actions, and assessed objectives. An item must have an ID to be counted. In the action tab, the time status is shown based on the registered deadline; the status “Completed” does not automatically mean “Verified”. Exercise results must always be assessed by a person.

How to Use the Templates

1. Define a controlled exercise framework and select which backup procedures are to be tested.
2. Establish measurable exercise objectives, roles, stop signal, and assessment criteria.
3. Create a fictitious scenario and review all injections in advance.
4. Conduct the exercise with a clear label “EXERCISE – NOT A REAL EVENT”.
5. Record actual observations and simulated decisions.
6. Assess the objectives with documented evidence and record improvement actions.
7. Follow up on the actions and conduct a retest if necessary.

How Does the Package Differ from a Continuity Plan?

A continuity plan with BIA describes, among other things, business-critical processes and planned backup procedures. This exercise package, however, is designed to plan and document the exercise itself, the observations, and the follow-up work. For a real test of backup, there is a specific package for backup and restore testing. For fire protection and evacuation contexts, the specific evacuation exercise package may be more suitable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is This a Ready-Made Crisis Plan?

No. The package contains tools for planning and evaluating an exercise, not a complete crisis plan or a general analysis of all the organization's risks.

Can We Use the Documents for a Desktop Exercise?

Yes. A common setup is a controlled discussion exercise with fictitious injections, where participants test decision paths and backup procedures without affecting real operations.

Are the PDF Files Editable Forms?

The PDF files are searchable and printable, but no interactive PDF forms are included. Edit the Word files in a compatible word processing program.

Does Excel Automatically Show Whether the Exercise Was Approved?

No. Excel helps with administration and compilation. The actual fulfillment of the exercise objectives must be assessed against predetermined criteria with documented evidence.

Can the Package Meet DORA, NIS2, or ISO Requirements?

Not automatically. Such requirements depend on the organization, sector, applicable regulations, agreements, and actual procedures. The templates have not been reviewed or certified according to these regulatory frameworks.

What Is Included in English?

An English User Guide in Word and PDF describing how the Swedish templates are used. The five working templates are not included as English translations.

Safety, Scope, and Sources

Conduct exercises in a safe manner: avoid real alarms, external messages, and impact on live systems without specific mandate and risk management. Handle personal data according to the organization's responsibility and applicable regulations. The templates are voluntary methodological aids, not government-approved forms or a guarantee of regulatory compliance.

Methodological sources: Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency – Exercise Guidance, Swedish National Agency for Education – Practice Scenarios, ISO 22398:2013 – Guidelines for Exercises (Overview). The sources do not mean that the organizations have reviewed or recommended this product. Version 1.0, methodological review October 29, 2026. AI-assisted source control; no external legal review or certification.