Cyber Crisis in the Boardroom: Real-Time Governance and Decision-Making Under Fire

Cyber incidents no longer represent isolated technology failures; they are enterprise-wide crises that test board oversight, executive alignment, and the ability to make high-stakes decisions under pressure.

This immersive program, developed in partnership with Scott Insurance and Thrive as event sponsors and Cyber Crisis Simulation Leaders , places directors and senior executives in a live cyber-crisis simulation, challenging participants to navigate the critical moments that define effective governance: What information does the board need, and when? Where are the thresholds for escalation? How should directors engage with management as the situation evolves in real time?

In a facilitated, table-based exercise led by experienced cyber risk advisors from Scott Insurance and Thrive, participants will work through a rapidly unfolding scenario that mirrors the complexity, ambiguity, and urgency of a real cyber event. The focus is not on technical response, but on board-level judgment, oversight responsibilities, and decision-making discipline.

Following the simulation, participants will engage in peer discussion and expert-led sessions to translate the experience into actionable governance practices. A best practices panel will highlight proven frameworks and key questions boards should be asking, while a NACD-led director panel will provide candid insights from those who have navigated cyber risk at the board level.

You will leave with clear governance frameworks and practical questions you can apply right away in the boardroom to strengthen your ability to oversee cyber risk, guide management, and protect enterprise value when it matters most.

This program represents a first-of-its-kind experience for the NACD Research Triangle Chapter, shifting from traditional content delivery to a fully interactive, boardroom-based learning model.

Designed in direct response to member feedback and the increasing complexity of board oversight, this session moves beyond panel discussion to place participants at the center of a live governance scenario. The format reflects how directors learn best through active engagement, peer exchange, and real-time decision-making.

This approach demonstrates the chapter’s commitment to delivering programming that is relevant and immediately applicable, equipping directors with practical tools, sharper judgment, and greater confidence in navigating high-stakes situations.

By participating in this program, attendees will be able to:

• Clarify the board’s role during a cyber crisis, including oversight responsibilities, decision authority, and appropriate engagement with management.

• Identify critical decision points and escalation thresholds that require board involvement as a cyber incident unfolds.

• Apply practical frameworks to guide boardroom discussions, ensuring focus on enterprise risk, business continuity, and reputational impact.

• Formulate the right questions to ask management in real time, improving the board’s ability to assess response effectiveness without becoming operational.

• Strengthen board–management interaction during crisis conditions, balancing support, challenge, and accountability.

• Evaluate how cyber incidents impact enterprise value, including regulatory exposure, stakeholder trust, and long-term strategic implications.

Cyber Crisis Simulation Leaders

DIRECTOR, CYBERSECURITY ADVISORY SERVICES VIRTUAL CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER (vCISO)

Darren Carroll

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Darren Carroll, a seasoned risk management and information security leader with extensive global experience, is Thrive's Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO)...

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Risk Performance Group Advisor, Scott Insurance

Bennett Whitehouse

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Bennett Whitehouse is a Risk Performance Group Advisor at Scott Insurance, where he has specialized in cyber risk for more than seven years in the firm’s Raleigh office...

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Partner at Investor Relations Advisory Solutions

Jenny Kobin

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Jenny Kobin is a seasoned corporate executive with 30 years of guiding management teams and boards on investor engagement, strategic messaging, capital markets strategy, and crisis communications - both in‑house and as a trusted external advisor...

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Moderator

Risk Advisor, Scott Insurance

Lisa Prather, MBA

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Lisa Prather, MBA, is a Risk Advisor at Scott Insurance, advising mid-market firms on insurance, captives, and risk strategies to reduce costs, improve performance, and strengthen resilience...

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Speakers

Independent Director, Technology Risk Specialist, Former White House and HCA Healthcare CISO

Paul Connelly, NACD.DC

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Paul has more than four decades in senior leadership of cybersecurity and technology strategy and governance at a Fortune 100 company, a big four public accounting firm, and the White House. He currently focuses on teaching cybersecurity at Belmont University and board of directors service.

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