Cyber War: One Scenario — built for scenario planning
The Cyber War Scenario Book Executives Are Using in Tabletops
Tabletop exercises work best when everyone walks into the room with the same mental model of what a cyber war could look like. Cyber War: One Scenario is, by design, that shared mental model — a single coordinated scenario readable in one sitting, written by Mark Lynd, who has personally facilitated more than 150 incident response tabletops across Fortune 500, government, healthcare, and education clients. Paperback and eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Kobo. Get the Book →
Quick Answer
Cyber War: One Scenario by Mark Lynd is the cyber war scenario book leadership teams are using as pre-read for cyber tabletop exercises. Written by a facilitator of 150+ tabletops, it is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Kobo.
Last updated: April 2026 · Verified by Mark Lynd, 5x CIO/CISO with 25+ years of experience
Keynote Topics
Why Pair This Book With a Tabletop
Handing leadership a 60-page inject package three days before a tabletop produces unread injects. Handing them Cyber War: One Scenario two weeks out produces a room that already understands lateral movement, OT pivot, and crisis communications — so the exercise itself can focus on decisions, not definitions.
Best for: CISOs and IR leaders planning a leadership tabletop
Duration: Pre-read for tabletop
Decision Points the Scenario Surfaces
Ransom-payment authorization, regulatory notification timing, OT-shutdown calls, crisis-communications sequencing, carrier notification, and the board updates that land before facts are confirmed. Each of these becomes a natural tabletop injection after reading the book.
Best for: Tabletop facilitators seeking injects
Duration: Embedded throughout
Written by a Tabletop Facilitator
The author isn't borrowing the tabletop lens — he runs them. 150+ facilitated exercises shape the scenario's pacing, decision density, and the specific failure modes that matter most in live rooms.
Best for: Facilitators and IR practitioners
Duration: Author's authority
I've run 150 tabletops. The ones that produce change start with a shared story. This book is that story.
— Mark Lynd, 5x CIO/CISO, Head of Executive Advisory & Strategy at Netsync
Why This Scenario Book Works for Leadership Teams
Built by a practitioner. 150+ tabletop exercises informed every decision point.
One-sitting read. Designed so a board member will actually finish it.
Surfaces the hard calls. Ransom, regulatory, OT shutdown, crisis comms.
Current threat modeling. Uses 2025–2026 adversary tradecraft.
Bulk-friendly. Frequently ordered for entire leadership teams as tabletop pre-read.
Speaker Reel
Watch Mark on Stage
A sampling of keynotes, panels, and live broadcast appearances — RSA, Oracle CloudWorld, Dell Technologies World, ESPN College Football Awards, and the Technology Ball.
What Audiences Say
Feedback From Event Hosts and C-Suites
Mark stands apart. His credibility isn’t rooted in a title from years ago — it’s built through the work he’s doing every day in the field. When he speaks about our technology, enterprise buyers pay attention because they know his perspective is grounded in real-world experience.
Shira Rubinoff
CEO, The Cybersphere Group
Mark delivers more than a presentation — he delivers operational insight from the front lines. Instead of theory, he shares what is actually working in real environments. Our audience of CISOs and security leaders left with practical strategies they could begin implementing immediately.
Jo Peterson
CIO, Clarify360
Where Has Mark Spoken?
According to venue records, Mark has delivered keynotes at: RSA Conference · Oracle CloudWorld · Cisco Partner Summit · Dell Technologies World · IBM Think · T-Mobile Events · Gartner Security & Risk · InfoSecurity · ISACA Conferences · ISSA Events · Cloud Security Alliance · CyberSecurity Summit · BSides · FLGISA · MISAC · SMU Cox School of Business · and 100+ more.
How Do You Book Mark Lynd for Your Event?
The booking process is straightforward and typically completes within 3 business days. Mark customizes every keynote to the audience, industry, and event objectives.
- Submit an inquiry. Fill out the contact form with your event date, audience, and objectives. Response within 48 hours.
- 15-minute discovery call. Discuss your event in detail, including audience makeup, key messages, and desired outcomes.
- Proposal & contract. Receive a tailored proposal with format options (keynote, workshop, panel), fee, and travel terms.
- Customization. Mark customizes content to your audience, industry examples, and desired takeaways.
- Expert delivery. Mark brings 25+ years of real-world executive experience to every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this cyber war scenario book replace a tabletop exercise?
Does Mark Lynd also run live tabletop exercises?
Where can I buy the cyber war scenario book?
Are bulk copies available for leadership teams?
Ready to Book Mark?
Mark customizes every keynote to the audience, industry, and event objectives. Contact the booking team to check availability.
Fee range: $12,000 – $30,000+
Formats: In-person, virtual, hybrid
Duration: 30–120 minutes depending on format