Runbooks are detailed guides for routine operational tasks and incident handling, while playbooks are strategic documents outlining actions and responses for specific scenarios or events.
Both serve vital roles in maintaining operational efficiency and preparedness within an organization.
What’s a runbook?
A runbook is a document or set of documents that provide detailed instructions or guidelines on how to carry out specific operational processes or tasks within an organization. It serves as a reference guide for handling routine operations, troubleshooting, maintenance procedures, and responding to incidents or emergencies.
When should you write a runbook?
Runbooks ensure consistency in operations by offering standardized procedures for various tasks. They help teams follow predefined steps, reducing errors and ensuring reliability in operations.
They serve as a knowledge repository, capturing the collective expertise of a team or organization. New team members can refer to runbooks to understand how operations are performed.
Runbooks streamline processes, enabling quicker response times and reducing downtime during incidents or when performing routine tasks.
Runbooks should ideally be created before the need arises. They act as proactive measures to ensure that when a task needs to be performed or an incident occurs, there’s a structured, documented process readily available.
Difference between a runbook and a playbook:
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Runbook: Focuses on the operational aspects, detailing step-by-step procedures for routine operations, maintenance tasks, and incident response. It’s more procedural and instructional in nature.
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Playbook: Typically associated with specific scenarios or events such as cybersecurity incidents, disaster recovery, or business continuity. Playbooks contain predefined strategies, actions, and steps to handle these scenarios effectively. They are more strategic in nature and encompass a broader range of actions and decision-making processes.
However, playbooks are best for documenting large processes, while runbooks are best for specific tasks. For example, your manager may use a playbook to delegate incident response responsibilities to another senior leader, while a manager may send a few runbooks to their team that help with their everyday duties.
