# Getting started with Plans

> Plans are the schedules behind your recurring compliance tasks. How to read the plan tiles, what active means, the PDCA types, and which frequency to choose.

Source: https://tidalcontrol.com/docs/plans/getting-started

Plans are the schedules that generate your recurring compliance tasks, so that an annual policy review or a quarterly user check happens without anyone remembering to create it. This article covers reading the Plans overview, the frequencies available, and how to tell whether a plan is actually running.

## 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.

![Plans overview](/images/help/plans_overview.png)

**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

Each tile shows the plan's name, its status, how often it runs, and how many controls or assets it covers.

**Information per plan tile:**
- **Plan name and ID** - For example "Plan phase (annually)" with #691
- **Status indicator** - Active (green) or Inactive (gray)  
- **Frequency** - Annually, Semiannually, 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
🔧 9 Controls
```

### Active vs inactive plans

A plan only turns active, and starts generating tasks, once its configuration is complete and it's inside its validity dates.

**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 optimisation
- **Frequency:** Quarterly to annually

> **tip:**

**PDCA benefits**: By organising plans around PDCA you get a complete compliance cycle with clear responsibilities and timing for each phase.

## Understanding frequency options

Frequency decides how often the plan generates its tasks, and it is the setting most worth getting right first.

### Available planning frequencies

Five options are available, from daily operational checks to annual strategic reviews.

**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

Base the frequency on regulatory requirements and risk level, not on what feels easiest to schedule.

**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 organising plans

Search matches plan names, and the Open and Archived tabs separate plans still in use from retired ones.

### Search functionality

1. **Click in search bar** at the top of the Plans page
2. **Type plan name** or part of it
3. **Results filter** automatically while typing
4. **Clear search** to show all plans

### Using sort options

Sort plans by creation date, name, or ID, and combine that with the frequency filters.

**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 organisation

Open plans are part of your active compliance cycle; archive a plan once it should stop generating tasks.

**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

A plan's colour tells you whether it is actually generating tasks, which is not the same as whether it has been configured.

### Status interpretation

Gray covers several distinct causes: incomplete configuration, no scope, or dates outside the validity window. Check which one before assuming it's just unconfigured.

**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')

## Plans versus manual tasks

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
- **Standardised processes** - Same instructions and deadlines every cycle
- **Compliance continuity** - Automatic compliance with periodic requirements
- **Resource planning** - Look ahead to upcoming workload

**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

## Next steps

Now that you know the Plans interface:
- **Identify repetitive compliance** work in your organisation
- **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