Now, if this sounds like you, you probably have been using the terms runbook vs. playbook to refer to this source of information. However, while runbooks and playbooks are valuable resources for streamlining incident lifecycle processes within an organization, they are not interchangeable terms.
In these articles, we'll dive deeper into the meaning, differences, and common uses of runbooks vs. playbooks, and include some practical examples. This guide is the first installment in our series of articles exploring runbooks vs. playbooks.
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Runbooks are detailed guides or documentation containing step-by-step instructions to complete complex tasks. They are commonly used in IT companies and departments to ensure the efficient and error-free execution of routine tasks or critical operations processes, such as security breaches. They help security teams carry out tasks consistently and effectively.
Playbooks are general or broader documents that outline the workflows and policies of your organization. If runbooks are the specific how-to manuals for incidents or common tasks, then playbooks are the comprehensive rulebooks that govern the what, why, and how of your organization's operations. In essence, runbooks are parts or sections contained within playbooks.
In incident management and response, runbooks provide a structured and systematic approach for handling and resolving incidents. These incidents include technical issues, outages, security breaches, and other disruptions of normal operations.
Runbooks include detailed instructions, step-by-step procedures, checklists, and decision trees that guide responders through the incident resolution process. They may also contain relevant contact information, escalation paths, and communication templates to keep stakeholders informed.
Instead of waiting for incidents to occur, runbooks provide proactive ways to identify and resolve them before they spiral. Initially, runbooks aid in issue identification and classification by offering diagnostic criteria. They guide you through initial triage and isolation steps.
Many operational tasks in IT, manufacturing, and other sectors require periodic maintenance. Runbooks provide structured instructions for routine maintenance activities, such as software updates, equipment inspections, or facility checks.
Runbooks often start with planning and scheduling information. They outline when and how to perform routine tasks. This ensures you conduct essential activities at appropriate intervals to prevent system failures and reduce downtime. They also contain step-by-step instructions for executing routine maintenance tasks. This is crucial for equipment inspections, software updates, or backups that require operational excellence.
Playbooks are used to automate complex, repetitive workflows. They define the sequence of actions your incident response plan should execute and orchestrate them. Imagine you have a magical wand (your playbook) that you wave and computers start doing things on their own. It's like having a wizard's spellbook, but instead of turning frogs into princes, you're turning manual tasks into automated wonders. Need to create a bunch of virtual machines? Your playbook knows the right spells to make it happen.
Now, imagine you're not just casting one spell but a whole bunch of them. That's where orchestration comes in. Your playbook isn't just a single spell; it's a whole spellbook filled with enchantments! When you need to do many things simultaneously, like setting up servers, installing software, and configuring security, your playbook orchestrates the whole performance.
Playbooks consider different types of security incidents, like a hacker trying to break in, a virus spreading, or data being stolen. Each type of incident has its section in the playbook. They also tell people in your organization their roles during a security incident. After you resolve the incident, the playbook helps you learn from it and develop a consistent response plan.
A playbook is like a rulebook for your organization. This rulebook contains all the best ways to do things, such as how your customer service teams should handle inquiries, how to develop products, or how to manage projects. Inside the playbook, you outline the winning moves or the best practices. These are the steps and methods that have proven to work well in the past. The playbook also ensures that everyone on the team plays by the same rules. This consistency is important because it means that no matter who does a task, they will do it in the best way.
That's where StatusPal comes in. StatusPal offers powerful yet simpler tools for businesses to ensure everyone knows what to do when there's a problem. So whether it's a runbook for step-by-step instructions or a playbook for the overall strategy, combining them with StatusPal can make incident communication easier and help keep your organization running smoothly.
With a business playbook, your team stays aligned, and you can hold your people accountable. The stability and predictability this gives you allow you to scale your organization successfully.
? We literally wrote the book on business playbooks. And in only 140 pages, it provides a step-by-step guide for building your very own playbook. Get your copy of The Business Playbook.
A business playbook contains all your company's processes, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Also called a company playbook, this manual outlines how your business does what it does, down to each role, responsibility, business strategy, and differentiator.
The business playbook includes your orientation and company welcome content, all necessary onboarding policies and procedures that would be part of an employee handbook, an overview of everyone in the business and what they do, plus all the related documented training for each role and responsibility.
Think of it this way. When you buy a new car, you get a giant user manual. And this manual teaches you everything you've ever wanted to know (and maybe a few things you never needed to know) about your new investment.
Your playbook is that user manual for your business! It outlines all your company's tribal knowledge and makes it so anyone on your team can complete any task. But most importantly, it keeps your business running smoothly.
Regardless of size or industry, every business needs a business playbook to run smoothly and scale successfully. And it should be filled with all your documented processes, policies, and procedures.
Of course, you need a roster filled with top talent. But you also need all your top plays documented, so your processes and policies exist outside your head. And anyone can run them. That way, what your business does is scalable beyond just you.
But, without a playbook, you run the risk of your business looking less like a championship sports team and more like your kindergartner's soccer team. Everyone running after the ball and crashing into each other, trying to win.
For example, imagine you're out sick this week. And none of your responsibilities are documented (or your team doesn't know where that documentation is). That means your responsibilities don't happen.
Or, it means the rest of your team guesses how they do things - and they'll likely make a mistake. And while making a mistake on, say, a social post might not be a big deal, a mistake in payroll might cause big problems.
Trainual keeps your playbook in one centralized place so everyone on your team can access the plays they need when they need them. Plus, it gives you a jump-start on documenting your top plays with over 100 (and counting) world-class SOP templates.
So, we put in the grunt work and built the outline of all the most popular business policies and processes for you. Or, for more niche SOPs, we leaned on top industry leaders to make sure we got those right too!
That way, no matter what policies, processes, or procedures your business needs, we got you covered. And all you have to do is customize them to fit your business' needs - and you get it done in half the time.
For one, this will keep building your business playbook from feeling overwhelming. But it will also ensure your playbook is filled with only the best and most up-to-date information. I mean, seriously, who knows how to do something better than the person who actually does it?
? Tip: With Trainual's subject owner feature, you can easily assign content to the people in charge of each procedure or policy. That way, they're held accountable for documenting and updating their pieces. And you can be sure that your playbook actually gets filled with your top plays!
That's because even if you don't have a single process or policy documented (yet), you already have them built out. Our proof? Your business already operates. And you're already shipping your process or delivering your service.
By asking your team directly about what processes they own, you'll make sure nothing gets forgotten. After each interview, have them send their notes, the recording, or however they capture the conversation to you. That way, you can just gather all the information in one place.
Once you have all the information in one place, edit it so anyone can understand it. So, no jargon, no skipping steps, and no assuming prior knowledge. Fill in every gap you can think of in simple, conversational language. But with that being said, don't be afraid to cut duplicate steps.
As you go through processes, some of your team members might do the same role. But they'll likely each do the role a little differently. One of them will do it best, most efficiently, and most effectively. Only edit this version and put it in your playbook. That way, you can standardize the process so it delivers more consistent results moving forward.
Then, organize the edited information in a way that makes sense. Here at Trainual, we like to organize processes and policies by the departments that need them. Meaning, we have one collection of processes that everyone needs and another that only one team needs.
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