# Advisory Board > On-call crisis and resilience advisors providing tactical, operational, and strategic support to organisations during serious incidents. *This content is available in full at: https://www.fixinc.io/advisory-board* ## Overview The Advisory Board is an on-call crisis and resilience service designed to support organisations through high-pressure events. Four senior advisors provide input across tactical, operational, and strategic response domains, helping decision-makers navigate complex situations. The board operates remotely and can be activated from anywhere in the world. A dedicated facilitator coordinates engagement, ensuring structured information flow, disciplined decision-making, and continuity of support throughout the incident lifecycle. For related resilience capabilities and disciplines: - [Disciplines](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines.md): All specialised resilience and continuity services - [Technology - F24](https://docs.fixinc.io/technology/f24.md): Incident activation and notification platform used to coordinate Advisory Board response ## Purpose and Rationale High-intensity incidents can strain even experienced teams. Under stress, decision quality may degrade, and critical factors can be overlooked. The Advisory Board provides a second opinion, structured thinking, and disciplined support so organisations can: - Reduce the likelihood and impact of misjudgements during crisis response - Access specialised crisis, continuity, and emergency expertise in real time - Strengthen tactical, operational, and strategic decision-making under pressure - Move more quickly back to business-as-usual operations The service complements existing crisis management and continuity structures, not replaces them. It assumes the organisation has some internal capability and uses the board to enhance rigour, coverage, and confidence. For broader crisis planning and documentation support: - [Crisis Management Plan](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/crisis-management-plan.md): Development of structured crisis documentation and response frameworks - [Business Continuity Plan Development](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/business-continuity-plan.md): Planning for continuation of critical business functions ## How the Advisory Board Works ### Technology and Activation The Advisory Board relies on dedicated tooling to support fast, controlled activations and efficient collaboration. Core elements include: - A Fixinc client portal with an "Activate Board" function - A dedicated contact number and email channel for activation requests F24 as the activation engine, used to: - Trigger alarms to the facilitator and advisors - Distribute incident details and documents - Support structured event tracking and post-incident summaries When an organisation activates the board, the system captures: - Location of the incident - Incident type and high-level description - Additional context and supporting details - Names and roles of internal team members involved - Relevant documentation and response plans This information is used by the facilitator and advisors to prepare initial assessments and recommended actions before live meetings begin. Technology reference: - [F24](https://docs.fixinc.io/technology/f24.md): Overview of the incident notification and response platform used within the Advisory Board service ### Roster and Coverage Advisors are rostered to provide coverage across relevant time zones and disciplines. For each advisory discipline, there are primary contacts and at least two backup consultants to minimise gaps due to availability or concurrent events. This structure is intended to: - Maintain rapid activation and engagement times - Provide depth of expertise across resilience domains - Support multiple, concurrent incidents if required ## Incident Lifecycle and Support Activities The Advisory Board follows a structured five-step activation and support model. This provides clarity, reduces confusion, and maintains control from initial activation through to closure. ### 1. Activate Organisations can initiate an activation via: - The Fixinc client portal (using the "Activate Board" function) - A dedicated phone number for urgent requests - A dedicated email address monitored by the facilitation team The portal prompts the client to supply structured information, including: - Incident location and type - Key contextual details and immediate concerns - Team members participating in the response - Documents such as existing plans, checklists, or briefings Once the activation is confirmed, an automated, high-priority alarm is sent to the facilitator. This marks the formal start of the engagement and time tracking under the subscription. ### 2. Confirmation The facilitator contacts the client to verify incident details and confirm the activation parameters. After confirmation: - Time is tracked against the client's active subscription allocation, visible in real time via the portal - Advisors are notified using F24 via phone, SMS, email, and push notifications Relevant advisors review: - Initial incident information - Existing organisational plans and documents already stored with Fixinc - Any new documents uploaded during activation Advisors prepare preliminary actions, considerations, and questions for a structured situation report (SITREP) meeting. ### 3. Collaborate Where appropriate, the facilitator arranges virtual group conferences to support structured collaboration. These meetings: - Can occur 24/7, with no hard limit on the number of sessions - Form the primary communication channel between Fixinc and the client - May include some or all of the advisors depending on incident needs During these calls, advisors: - Present pre-prepared advice and options - Support decision-making on immediate and medium-term actions - Help maintain consistent situational awareness across stakeholders The facilitator and advisors remain available throughout the activation via: - A direct phone line - A standing virtual meeting link for ongoing coordination Organisations may use the board for focused second opinions--for example, to review a public statement or validate a decision--without requiring full, prolonged engagement. ### 4. Ongoing Support Some incidents extend over days, weeks, or months. When incidents are prolonged or complex: - The board can continue support on an hourly basis once subscription hours are fully used - Clients are notified when their included hours are exhausted - Support is paused until the organisation confirms continuation on an hourly fee model Not all events require full board engagement. In those cases: - The facilitator may recommend ongoing support from a single, relevant advisor - That advisor can continue working with the organisation for an extended period On-site support may be provided in selected circumstances, subject to agreement and logistics. Ongoing hourly support is: - Tracked and calculated monthly - Invoiced based on agreed hourly rates, which may vary by advisor or engagement type ### 5. Closure The decision to close an incident rests with the client. As closure is approached: - The facilitator confirms that the organisation is comfortable standing down advisory support - Advisors may recommend early stand-down if their continued involvement is no longer adding material value Subscribers receive a post-incident summary through F24, which outlines: - Major advisory actions - Guidance provided to the organisation during the incident - Key factors and decisions made over the course of the event For Platinum subscribers, additional feedback is provided on: - How the organisation responded to the incident - Potential improvements in process, structure, or preparation Fixinc is able to manage multiple simultaneous activations for different clients, or multiple incidents related to a single organisation, using the same structured approach and tooling. ## Coverage Across Tactical, Operational, and Strategic Levels The Advisory Board model is structured around three primary layers of corporate resilience: **1. Business as usual (BAU) restoration** The ultimate objective is to return to stable BAU operations as efficiently as possible. Advisors support prioritisation of activities that enable safe, sustainable restoration of services and functions. **2. Planning activities** Advisors emphasise pre-incident planning as a key enabler of effective response. This includes: - Documented crisis and continuity frameworks - Clear roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths - Training and exercises to familiarise teams with their roles Related planning services: - [Business Continuity](https://docs.fixinc.io/service/business-continuity.md): Planning for maintaining critical functions - [Scenario Exercises](https://docs.fixinc.io/service/scenario-exercise.md): Structured simulations to validate response and decision-making **3. Incident response** During active events, advisors help organisations: - Structure incident command and coordination - Align internal teams on objectives and priorities - Manage complex stakeholder, regulatory, or public expectations Relevant supporting services: - [Incident Management](https://docs.fixinc.io/service/Incident-Management.md): Core incident management capabilities and structures - [Emergency Management](https://docs.fixinc.io/service/Emergency-Management.md): Support for emergency response environments and teams Across these layers, each advisor brings specialised skills in disciplines such as crisis management, business continuity, IT disaster recovery, emergency management, and incident communications. ## Activation and Response Timeframes The Advisory Board provides controlled, predictable response timelines. Typical expectations include: - Activation of the board (via portal or contact channels) in under 30 seconds once a decision is made - Contact with the facilitator within approximately one hour of confirmed activation, subject to subscription specifics and agreed service level expectations - Virtual meetings with relevant advisors within a defined timeframe (often within 12 hours), aligned with the subscription tier's maximum board activation time These timelines balance speed with sufficient time for advisors to review documentation and prepare initial recommendations. ## Subscription Tiers and Inclusions The Advisory Board is offered via three primary subscription levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each tier includes baseline capabilities and defined entitlements, with increasing support and maintenance features at higher levels. ### Shared Core Inclusions All tiers include: - Access to a board facilitator - Eligibility for ongoing hourly advisory support (beyond included hours) - Engagement with up to four advisors per activation - Defined annual call-out allowances - Included active support hours per subscription period - Maximum response time expectations - Maximum board activation time for full advisor engagement - Access to key maintenance and documentation features (with variations by tier) The exact numeric entitlements differ by tier and are typically documented in the client's agreement and portal. ### Silver Silver is suited to smaller teams with comparatively low risk profiles. It typically includes: - Access to a board facilitator for structured incident coordination - Eligibility for ongoing hourly support at agreed rates once included hours are used - Maximum of four advisors per activation - One included annual call-out - A modest annual no-call-out discount - A set number of included active support hours per year - Maximum response and activation timeframes appropriate to lower-frequency incidents Maintenance inclusions: - Assurance documentation - Secure documentation storage - F24 response processing Silver is intended for organisations that expect relatively infrequent activations but still want structured support when serious incidents occur. ### Gold Gold is designed for larger organisations with more considerable risk exposure. It builds on Silver by adding: - Increased number of annual call-outs - Higher no-call-out discount level - Additional included hours of active support time - Reduced maximum board activation time (faster access to full advisory coverage) - Access to the Fixinc client portal - An annual maturity questionnaire to benchmark and monitor resilience capabilities Gold is suitable for organisations that: - Have greater operational complexity - Face more frequent or high-impact incident scenarios - Require broader or more frequent advisory support ### Platinum Platinum is intended for large enterprises with significant and regular threat exposure. It extends Gold with: - A higher no-call-out discount - Further increased included hours of active support - Shorter maximum board activation time for full advisor engagement Additional maintenance and improvement services: - Annual program review by advisors - Post-incident reviews following activations - A dedicated account manager for continuity of understanding and relationship management Platinum is suitable for enterprises that: - Operate critical infrastructure or essential services - Have complex regulatory or stakeholder expectations - Encounter frequent disruptions or have elevated risk profiles across multiple domains ## Maintenance, Documentation, and Assurance In addition to incident-specific support, the Advisory Board model includes a range of ongoing maintenance and assurance components, varying by subscription level. Key elements include: **Assurance documentation** Clients can access a formal assurance document that: - Confirms coverage periods and subscription status - Describes disciplines and types of support covered by the Advisory Board - Outlines activation service level expectations and associated technology solutions - Records status of post-incident reviews and annual reviews (where applicable) - Is signed and dated by Fixinc, including relevant contact details This documentation is suitable for sharing with stakeholders such as: - Senior leadership and boards - Major customers and partners - Insurers and underwriters **Secure document storage** Response plans, templates, and other critical documentation can be securely stored and accessed by advisors during an activation to ensure recommendations are aligned with organisational policies and context. **F24 response processing** Events and advisory activities are managed and logged within F24, supporting structured record-keeping and enabling consistent post-incident analysis. **Client portal access (Gold and above)** The portal provides real-time visibility into: - Activation status and time usage - Documentation availability - Key configuration and contact details **Annual maturity questionnaire and reviews** For higher tiers, Fixinc periodically assesses resilience maturity, providing insights into strengths, gaps, and trends. Annual program reviews and post-incident reviews help refine organisational readiness and response over time. ## Determining Fit for Your Organisation The Advisory Board is primarily intended for organisations that: - Operate in environments where incidents can significantly impact safety, operations, or reputation - Need structured, senior-level input during crises but may not maintain equivalent internal capacity at all times - Want to complement existing crisis and continuity frameworks with external, independent expertise - Require evidence of structured external support for stakeholders such as boards, regulators, or insurance providers Organisations are encouraged to consider: - Likely incident types and frequency - Internal team experience and available leadership during off-hours - Complexity of stakeholder landscapes - Regulatory or contractual expectations for incident management and resilience For a direct discussion on applicability to a particular context: - [Contact Fixinc](https://docs.fixinc.io/contact.md): Enquiries and discussions about Advisory Board suitability and options --- **View this page online:** https://www.fixinc.io/advisory-board For program inquiries: [Contact Fixinc](https://www.fixinc.io/contact) | info@fixinc.org | +64 800 349 462