Glossary of Key Terms
Controlled Engagement
The strategic decision to allow an adversary limited access or to engage with decoy assets. This enables defenders to gather intelligence on attacker behaviors while limiting exposure to critical systems.
Crisis Narrative Management
The proactive process of controlling the flow of information during a crisis to shape perceptions, maintain credibility, and ensure stakeholders understand the actions being taken. Owning the narrative prevents misinformation and reinforces trust.
Crisis Playbook
A structured operational guide that outlines pre-defined actions for various disruption scenarios. Playbooks are designed to ensure swift and consistent responses by providing actionable guidance during high-stress situations.
Decision Support System (DSS)
A technology that helps leaders evaluate potential actions during a crisis by providing consolidated metrics and predictive insights. DSS tools support informed, strategic decision-making under high pressure.
Distributed Accountability
An approach that empowers leaders at all levels of an organization to make independent decisions within their areas of authority during crises. It reduces bottlenecks caused by centralized decision-making, allowing for quicker, more effective responses.
Dynamic Feedback Loop
A continuous cycle of receiving, analyzing, and acting upon real-time information during a crisis. It allows for ongoing adjustments to strategies based on evolving circumstances, enabling agile responses.
Escalation Protocol
Pre-determined procedures that outline when and how an issue should be escalated during a crisis, including who should be informed, what approvals are needed, and how the escalation is communicated across teams.
Governance Automation
The use of automated workflows to streamline governance processes, particularly during a crisis. This technology ensures that regulatory compliance, communication protocols, and critical governance actions are executed consistently and efficiently.
Hierarchical Lag
A delay caused by centralized, top-down decision-making structures. In times of crisis, hierarchical lag can prevent timely responses, making organizations vulnerable to rapidly evolving threats.
Iterative Response
A crisis response strategy that focuses on taking incremental actions, learning from each step, and adjusting as new information emerges. It’s key to maintaining agility during unpredictable situations.
Local Empowerment
Granting decision-making power to regional or functional teams during a disruption. It ensures faster response times by enabling those closest to the issue to take action without waiting for higher-level approvals.
Operational Resilience
The ability of an organization to maintain and recover critical operations during and after disruptions. It involves not only continuity planning but also a proactive approach to adapting and thriving amidst changing conditions.
Pre-Defined Scenario
A detailed outline of potential disruption types and their impacts, used within crisis playbooks to prepare organizations for various crisis situations, such as cyberattacks, operational failures, or geopolitical events.
Pre-Emptive Messaging
Crafted communication that anticipates stakeholder concerns before they escalate. It involves proactive outreach during a crisis to address potential questions or fears, thereby preventing misinformation from spreading.
Real-Time Decision-Making
The process of making informed decisions promptly during a disruption, based on the best available data. This approach prioritizes acting swiftly while adjusting iteratively as new information becomes available.
Resilient Governance
A leadership framework designed to respond dynamically to continuous disruptions, turning challenges into strategic opportunities rather than merely maintaining compliance. It emphasizes adaptability, real-time decision-making, and distributed authority.
Scenario Definitions and Risk Mapping
The process of identifying potential crisis scenarios and assessing the associated risks to the organization. This helps prioritize response efforts and focus on the most critical areas during a disruption.
Strategic Transparency
The practice of sharing targeted, actionable information with stakeholders to enable effective decision-making while safeguarding critical details that could increase risks. It’s about maintaining trust without exposing vulnerabilities.
Structured Autonomy
A governance approach that grants decision-making power at various levels within an organization while maintaining a clear framework of authority. It ensures that actions align with overall governance objectives, even during crises.
Threat Intelligence Platform
A technology that gathers, analyzes, and provides actionable information about potential threats. These platforms support decision-makers during disruptions by integrating data from internal, partner, and third-party sources.