Backdoors and Breaches

Cyber Incident Response Game

It's Finally Here!

About the Game

Backdoors & Breaches is an incident response card game that transforms traditional tabletop exercises into an engaging, team-based experience rooted in real-world cyber incidents.

In collaboration with Black Hills Information Security, NRECA worked with a small subcommittee of members to develop a Backdoors and Breaches custom card deck specifically for the electric cooperative community, focused on real-world incidents co-ops have faced and highlighting the NRECA Cyber Goals directly into game-play. The result is something we are incredibly proud of.

The game is discussion-driven, collaborative and realistic, providing a low-pressure environment to practice incident response, strengthen communication, and build confidence across teams. The integration aligns incident response activities with the 20 Cyber Goals, making training more practical, relevant, and easier to apply across co-op environments.




Receive Your Free Game Bundle Now!

Offer available until June 18, 2027, or while supplies last.

We gave away over 1,000 decks at this year's Co-op Cyber Tech conference, and we were excited to get them into more of our co-op members' hands.

Using the code below, you can receive a free bundle, including:

  • A Core Deck
  • A Electric Co-op Deck
  • One Die
 

Simply:

  1. Go to the Backdoors and Breaches Website
  2. Add all 3 items to your cart
  3. Enter the provided code
  4. Submit your free order

Note: Add all three items to your cart before checking out. The code is valid for a one-time use only, so if you don’t include everything in your initial order, you’ll need to purchase additional items separately.

This offer is available until June 18, 2027, or while supplies last, whichever comes first. If there is strong interest, we can explore making more decks available in the future, but we’ll need to hear that from you. Please contact our team at membersecurity@nreca.coop to express interest.

Be sure your co-op is participating in the NRECA Co-op Cyber Goals Program in addition to using the Game, since they work together to help advance cybersecurity at your organization.

Questions?

Contact our cybersecurity team at: membersecurity@nreca.coop

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Acknowledgments

NRECA would like to extend a huge thank you to the following individuals who dedicated their time and effort to building this deck specifically for co-ops and helping strengthen cybersecurity across the cooperative space:

  • Shira Dankner, Director of Security Services, Ninestar Connect
  • Ben Galvacky, Information Security Manager, Delaware Electric Co-op
  • Cole Oursler, Information Services Manager, Mountain View Electric Association Inc.
  • Hoot Royer, Director of Information Technology, Upshur-Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation

Also, an honorable mention to the entire Cybersecurity Member Advisory Group (CS MAG) for their support.

This effort to gamify cybersecurity and encourage open discussions across teams and leadership is a big step forward. We appreciate everyone involved.

 

"Side Quest" Option

For a faster play game when teams do not have time for a full Backdoors and Breaches game, we have created the “Gauntlet."

Using your Backdoors and Breaches game:
  • Pull a single card from your Electric Co-op Deck
  • Spend 15 minutes discussing the scenario as a team
  • Use the bottom of the card to reference the 3 to 4 most relevant Co-op Cyber Goals
  • Leverage the Goals summary documents available in the Co-op Cyber Goals program
It’s a simple way to drive meaningful conversations and keep cybersecurity top of mind without requiring a full game session.

Official launch of the “Gauntlet” will be coming soon, including detailed instructions and guidance. Stay tuned!