Identify Incident Severity
This task is all about determining how serious the incident is. It sets the tone for the urgency of the rest of the process. How soon should the team jump into action? Evaluating why the incident matters can be tricky. It's all about being alert to the fine details.
Challenges include distinguishing between urgent and less urgent matters. What's needed? A thorough criteria checklist and an experienced eye! An accurate and realistic severity assessment ensures efficient allocation of resources and prioritizes response efforts.
-
11 - Critical
-
22 - High
-
33 - Medium
-
44 - Low
-
55 - Informational
-
1Check for data breach
-
2Evaluate system downtime
-
3Assess impact on customers
-
4Look for legal implications
-
5Analyze resource availability
Notify Response Team
Once severity is established, it's time to spread the word to the response team. They need to be in the loop ASAP! Quick communication can make a world of difference in response time and ultimately, resolution success.
What if someone can’t be reached? Consider creating a communication plan with times and alternate contacts. This task is the bridge to action, ensuring that everyone knows their role.
-
1Email
-
2Phone Call
-
3Text Message
-
4Slack
-
5Teams
Incident Alert: Required Immediate Attention!
Gather Incident Details
Here’s where you go hunting for complete and accurate details. What happened? Why did it happen? The depth of your understanding impacts the subsequent steps dramatically. Comprehensive details help strategize effectively for resolution.
Is there too much data piling up? Organize and summarize it. Resources? Got to be ready with access logs, surveillance tools, and more!
-
1Review system logs
-
2Interview employees
-
3Analyze error messages
-
4Examine security reports
-
5Request additional data if necessary
Document Initial Findings
Once information is gathered, it's time to document your initial impressions. What have you uncovered thus far? Early documentation is essential for clarity and serves as the backbone of the final report.
Beware of missing details! What tools help? Consider unified storage platforms where updates are consistently saved.
-
11 - Draft
-
22 - In Review
-
33 - Approved
-
44 - Completed
-
55 - Archived
Draft Communication Message
Shape your message with precision to ensure the right information gets across. Communication is about aiming it just right—concise yet complete, timely yet considered.
Struggling to fit it all in? Use templates! A consistent format helps, and feedback is your best friend when refining messages.
-
1Header
-
2Body Text
-
3Incident ID
-
4Action Items
-
5Closing Notes
Approval: Communication Message
-
Draft Communication MessageWill be submitted
Distribute Communication Internally
Time to send your message circulating within your organization. Who needs to be informed from the inside? It's about building transparency and alignment within the team, ensuring that everyone is aware of the ongoing incident.
Challenge: avoiding redundant messaging. Use group mailing lists and keep distribution organized.
-
1Management
-
2Technical Team
-
3Help Desk
-
4Compliance Team
-
5Security Team
Internal Alert: Incident Update
Notify Affected Stakeholders
Now that internal teams are informed, the focus shifts to communicating with those affected externally. Honesty and crisp timelines are key. This task reduces confusion and maintains trust.
Aspect to manage: differing stakeholder needs. Customizing messages while keeping facts straight is vital.
-
1Business Partners
-
2Customers
-
3Vendors
-
4Regulatory Agencies
-
5Public Media
Monitor Incident Resolution
Keeping a close eye on resolution progress is crucial. Are we on track? Monitoring ensures issues are addressed and any arising mishaps are quickly set right.
Common challenge: losing track. Have real-time dashboards to the rescue!
-
1Jira
-
2Asana
-
3ServiceNow
-
4Trello
-
5Slack
Update Documentation
Reflect recent events in the documentation. Keep it updated! Lacking up-to-date records can compromise future analysis and learning opportunities. Make your ongoing narrative clear and reliable.
Losing track? Set deadlines for updates!
-
1Cross-check with logs
-
2Confirm timeline accuracy
-
3Verify communication history
-
4Update impacted areas
-
5Check resource allocation
Conduct Post-Incident Review
Complete the cycle with a reflective review. What worked? What didn’t? A comprehensive review fosters growth, instilling learning that minimizes future mishaps.
Overwhelmed with data? Structure your review findings into actionable insights.
-
1Gather team feedback
-
2Identify root causes
-
3Evaluate response effectiveness
-
4Record key learnings
-
5Recommend improvements
The post Incident Communication Flow Chart Template for DORA first appeared on Process Street.