Plans
Getting started with Plans
title: Getting started with Plans description: Introduction and navigation of automatic task planning in Tidal Control sidebar_position: 1
What are Plans?
Plans in Tidal Control automate your compliance work by generating periodically recurring tasks for controls and assets.
Instead of manually creating tasks every month or quarter, a plan automatically sets up the right tasks with predefined deadlines and instructions.
Benefits of automated planning:
- Consistent execution - No forgotten compliance activities
- Predictable workload - Teams know when which tasks are coming
- Standardized processes - Same instructions and deadlines every cycle
- Compliance continuity - Automatic compliance with periodic requirements
- Resource planning - Look ahead to upcoming workload
Plans vs manual tasks
Manual tasks are suitable for:
- Initial implementations
- Ad-hoc measures and controls
- Project specific activities
Plans are ideal for:
- Periodic recurring activities (e.g. user review)
- Annual policy reviews and updates
- Periodic system audits
Navigating the Plans overview page
The Plans page shows all automated compliance cycles in a tile-based overview. Each plan is displayed as a card with essential planning information.
What you see in the overview:
- Plan tiles - Individual cards per compliance cycle
- Status filters - Open vs Archived plans
- Search functionality - Quickly find specific plans
- Sort options - Organize plans as needed
- "Add Plan" button - Create new automated cycle
Understanding plan tiles
Information per plan tile:
- Plan name and ID - For example "Plan phase (annually)" with #691
- Status indicator - Active (green) or Inactive (gray)
- Frequency - Annually, Semi-annually, Quarterly, Monthly, Weekly, Daily
- Description - Brief explanation of plan purpose
- Controls / Assets count - Number of linked items in plan scope
Example plan information:
Plan phase (annually) #691
Status: Active
Frequency: Annually
Description: Set objectives, evaluate risks, and make adjustments for the upcoming year
š§ 9 Controls
Active vs inactive plans
Status recognition:
- Active plans - Green status indicator, automatically generate tasks
- Inactive plans - Gray status indicator, don't create new tasks
When is a plan active?
- Configuration complete - Scope and workflow are set
- Validity period - Within Valid From and Valid To dates
- Controls / Assets linked - At least items assigned to plan scope
- Controls / Assets active - Tasks are only sent for Controls and Assets that are themselves valid.
Plan types and PDCA cycle
Plans in Tidal Control follow the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle by default for systematic compliance management.
Plan phase:
- Goal: Set objectives and evaluate risks
- Activities: Strategic planning, resource allocation
- Frequency: Usually annually
Do phase:
- Goal: Implement planned measures and/or review implemented measures
- Activities: Control implementations, process execution
- Frequency: Monthly to annually
Check phase:
- Goal: Monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness
- Activities: Audits, assessments, performance measurements
- Frequency: Quarterly to annually
Act phase:
- Goal: Corrective measures and improvements
- Activities: Control on operation issue handling, process optimization
- Frequency: Quarterly to annually
PDCA benefits: By organizing plans around PDCA you get a complete compliance cycle with clear responsibilities and timing for each phase.
Understanding frequency options
Available planning frequencies
Daily:
- Use: Operational monitoring, log reviews
- Examples: Security event monitoring, backup verifications
- Considerations: High workload, only for critical processes
Weekly:
- Use: Regular checks, status updates
- Examples: Vulnerability scans, access reviews
- Considerations: Good balance between control and workload
Monthly:
- Use: Periodic assessments, standard reviews
- Examples: Access rights audit, vendor reviews
- Considerations: Popular choice for most compliance activities
Quarterly:
- Use: Strategic reviews, major assessments
- Examples: Risk assessments, control effectiveness reviews
- Considerations: Suitable for extensive evaluations
Annually:
- Use: Strategic planning, major updates
- Examples: Policy reviews, management assessments
- Considerations: For large, strategic compliance activities
Frequency selection strategy
Determine frequency based on:
- Regulatory requirements - How often does regulation require control?
- Risk level - Higher risks require more frequent control
- Resource availability - Can team handle the workload?
- Business impact - What are consequences of missed controls?
Searching and organizing plans
Search functionality
- Click in search bar at the top of the Plans page
- Type plan name or part of it
- Results filter automatically while typing
- Clear search to show all plans
Using sort options
Available sorting methods:
- Newest - Recently created plans first
- Oldest - Longest existing plans first
- Name (A-Z) - Alphabetical order
- Custom ID - Numeric or custom order
Frequency filters:
- Annually - Annual assessments and reviews
- Semiannually - Semi-annual assessments and reviews
- Quarterly - Quarterly compliance or executive activities
- Monthly - Monthly compliance or executive activities
- Weekly - Weekly executive activities
- Daily - Daily executive activities (least used)
Open vs Archived organization
Open plans:
- Actively used - Generate tasks and are executed
- Current compliance cycle - Part of ongoing compliance program
- Archive a Plan - to ensure it no longer creates tasks
Archived plans:
- No longer used - Don't create new tasks anymore
- Historical record - Preserved for audit trail
- For the future - Possible reuse for future cycles
Plan status indicators
Status interpretation
Green status (Active):
- Plan automatically generates tasks according to schedule
- All configuration is complete and valid
- Controls / assets are assigned
- Plan is within validity period (between 'Valid from' and 'Valid to')
Gray status (Inactive):
- Plan doesn't generate tasks
- Configuration possibly incomplete
- No scope items assigned or scope items are themselves not active
- Outside validity period (earlier than 'Valid from' or later than 'Valid to')
Next steps
Now that you know the Plans interface:
- Identify repetitive compliance work in your organization
- Plan your PDCA cycle for systematic compliance approach
- Start with one pilot plan to learn workflow creation
- Monitor task generation and adjust configuration for optimal results
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- Troubleshooting & FAQ