The terms 'Policies,' 'Procedures,' and 'Playbooks' are often used to establish guidelines and standard practices. They're related but serve different purposes. Here's how they work and interact.

1. Policies

A Policy is a high-level statement that guides decision-making by setting out what an organization plans to achieve. It provides a framework for the consistent decision-making and deployment of strategies. It's the "what" and "why."

The Incident Response Policy describes how the organization manages cybersecurity incidents and the high-level process it follows.

2. Procedures

A Procedure describes the specific methods employed to express policies in action in the day-to-day operations of the organization. It's the "how" to implement the policy.

For instance, based on the Data Security Policy above, a procedure might detail steps on how to handle and store sensitive information, how to use secure networks, encryption methods, and what security software to use.

3. Playbooks

A Playbook is a step-by-step guide that details the practical steps to follow in a particular situation. While a procedure is a general guideline on how to perform a process, a playbook provides a much more detailed, situation-specific breakdown. 

For example, a Cybersecurity Incident Response Playbook would include specific steps to take when a data breach is detected, like who to notify, how to document the breach, and how to recover the system.

How They Interact

Policies, procedures, playbooks, and technical documentation are interconnected and built upon each other. 

• A policy outlines the goal.
• The procedure provides a broad method to achieve that goal.
• The playbook offers a more detailed plan, applicable to a specific scenario within the realm of the procedure.
• The technical documentation should contain a description and reference to inform and prioritize events and situations

‍Consider a firefighting analogy:

• Policies are like the fire department's mission statement. They outline the broad intention to protect lives, property, and the environment by responding to fires and emergencies.
• Procedures are the fire department's standard operating procedures for responding to a fire alarm: dispatching units, arriving at the scene, connecting the fire hose, etc. It lays out the steps firefighters take to tackle the fire.
• Playbooks are similar to a special guide that firefighters use when dealing with unique types of fire emergencies. For example, it details the precise response required for a chemical fire, an electrical fire, or a forest fire. Each type of fire demands a different approach to minimize damage and ensure safety.
• The technical documentation is like the blueprints of the building that's on fire. They provide crucial information about the layout, the materials used, potential hazards, etc. Firefighters would reference these blueprints to prioritize efforts, understand the risks, and strategize the firefighting operation.

Understanding these elements and how they interact is key to managing operations and responding effectively to specific situations. Together, they provide a comprehensive guide for both day-to-day operations and exceptional events, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness.

To Policy or Not

There's a balance to implementing policies and procedures - waiting until there is a direct need or laying the groundwork for a defined future. Waiting can introduce some long term side effects, though.

Let’s Wait Approach

• Flexible - Fewer policies can mean quicker decisions and room for creativity
• Fewer Resources - Crafting and upholding policies takes time and effort
• Natural Growth - Letting team practices evolve naturally feels more genuine
• Avoids Over-complication - Too many rules can bog down a small team

Long Term Challenges

• Bad Habits - Without set rules, unwanted behaviors might become the norm
• Inconsistencies - Without guidelines, practices can vary causing inefficiency and risk
• Security Concerns - Without tech and data guidelines, there's a higher risk of issues
• Slow Reactions - Without a policy on hand for sudden problems, resolving them takes longer
• Higher Future Costs - Fixing issues from missing policies often costs more than setting them up early
• Growing Pains - Introducing policies later in a company’s life can be trickier than starting with them
• Trust Issues - Clients and stakeholders might lose confidence without clear policies
• Legal Hurdles - Skipping needed policies might lead to legal issues

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