REL12-BP01: Use playbooks to investigate failures

Develop and maintain standardized playbooks that guide teams through systematic investigation of failures. These playbooks ensure consistent, thorough analysis and faster resolution of incidents by providing step-by-step procedures, decision trees, and escalation paths.

Implementation Steps

1. Create Incident Response Playbooks

Develop standardized procedures for different types of incidents and failure scenarios.

2. Implement Automated Diagnostics

Build automated tools that gather relevant information and perform initial analysis.

3. Establish Decision Trees

Create decision trees that guide responders through systematic troubleshooting.

4. Define Escalation Procedures

Establish clear escalation paths and communication protocols.

5. Maintain and Update Playbooks

Regularly review and update playbooks based on lessons learned and system changes.

Detailed Implementation

AWS Services

Primary Services

AWS Systems Manager: Automated command execution and operational procedures
Amazon CloudWatch: Metrics collection and analysis for diagnostics
Amazon CloudWatch Logs: Log aggregation and analysis
AWS Lambda: Event-driven automation for playbook execution

Supporting Services

Amazon S3: Storage for playbook documentation and execution results
Amazon SNS: Notifications for playbook execution status
AWS Step Functions: Complex playbook workflow orchestration
Amazon EventBridge: Event-driven playbook triggering

Benefits

Consistent Investigation: Standardized procedures ensure thorough analysis
Faster Resolution: Automated diagnostics reduce mean time to resolution
Knowledge Retention: Playbooks capture institutional knowledge
Reduced Human Error: Systematic approach minimizes mistakes
Continuous Improvement: Playbooks evolve based on lessons learned