Prerequisites

At least one scenario template
Participant roles defined (Settings → Participants & Roles)
Room under completed-exercise cap if applicable

Completed exercise limits: Starter 3 · Plus 10 · Pro 20

Step 1: Create exercise

Scenarios → Run on a template, or Exercises → New exercise
Choose template (tabs: Your scenarios / CTEP / Breachday; search and filter by focus)
Set room password (8–128 characters) and confirm
Plus/Pro: optionally check Remove this exercise from Breachday after the run (auto-deletes session data after org retention window; template stays) Plus Pro
Click Start exercise → session created in Lobby → /exercises/[id]

The exercise lobby: share the room code and password, open the lobby, then Start exercise.

Step 2: Prepare lobby (facilitator)

Action	Details
Open lobby	Off by default. Turn on so participants can join
Copy join link	`/join/{roomCode}` — share with participants
Copy password	Share separately from link
Manage participants & roles	Remove participants/roles; add org roles not yet in session
Delete exercise	Only while in Lobby (does not delete scenario template)

Step 3: Start live exercise

Click Start exercise → status Live (ACTIVE) → facilitator routed to facilitation view.

Exercise lifecycle

Exercise status flow

  LOBBY ──Start──▶ ACTIVE ◀──▶ PAUSED
                      │
                  Complete
                      │
                      ▼
                  COMPLETED

Status	UI label	Meaning
LOBBY	Lobby	Waiting room; participants can join if lobby is open
ACTIVE	Live	Exercise running
PAUSED	Paused	Timer frozen; participants wait
COMPLETED	Ended	Exercise finished; report available

There is no "draft" or "scheduled" exercise state — create the session when ready to run.

After the exercise ends, the exercise page shows View report & wrap-up — see Reports & hotwash.

Deleting exercises

Lobby: Deletes session only; template kept
Completed: Deletes session and report together

Running an exercise