Basic crisis response plan elements
A crisis plan prepares your team to respond quickly and minimize harm. Keep it simple, with clear roles and communication lines.
Essential components:
- Incident types and priority levels (e.g., data breach, supply chain failure)
- Crisis response team and roles: leader, communications, operations, legal
- Immediate actions checklist (stopgap measures, containment)
- Communication templates for customers, employees, and media
- Escalation and decision-making rules
Practical steps
- Identify the most likely risks and create quick playbooks for each.
- Assign backups for each role and store contact lists in multiple formats.
- Run tabletop exercises annually to test responsiveness.
Post-crisis activities
Conduct a post-mortem to capture lessons, update the plan, and communicate improvements to stakeholders.
Keep it actionable
A short, practiced plan is more effective than a long manual no one reads. Focus on quick containment, clear communication, and rapid restoration of services.