Getting started with tasks

The Tasks page collects all the compliance work assigned to you, most of which arrives automatically from plans rather than being created by hand. This article covers reading that overview: the status counters, the two task types, and how to filter down to what is yours.

Navigating the Tasks page

The overview opens on the tasks relevant to you, with four status counters above the table.

Opening the Tasks page

Go to the Tasks section via the main menu. You'll arrive at an overview page with all tasks relevant to you.

Understanding status indicators

At the top of the page you see four important status categories:

Not due soon - Gray:

• Active tasks that need to be executed
• Unfinished work
• Main focus for daily work

Due within 14 days - Orange:

• Tasks that expire soon
• Require priority and attention
• Preventive warning for deadlines

Overdue - Red:

• Tasks that have missed their deadline
• Immediate action required
• Impact on compliance status

Closed - Green:

• Completed and approved tasks
• Available for audit and reporting
• Evidence of performed work

What you see in the overview

The tasks overview shows important information per task:

• Status - Visual indicator of task status (orange dot for open)
• Period - Time period in which task falls (e.g. "Year 2025")
• Name - Descriptive title of the task
• Due Date - Deadline for completion (if set)
• Tag - Label for cycle phase for which the task was created (see Plans)
• Assets - Number of linked business assets (📄)
• Controls - Number of linked controls
• Assignee - Assigned person for execution

Understanding task types

Tidal distinguishes different types of tasks:

Execution

When to use: Concrete implementation work Examples:

• "Configure new firewall"
• "Provide employee security training"
• "Test backup procedure" Characteristics: Practical activities that are executed

Assessment

When to use: Evaluation and control work Examples:

• "Assess effectiveness of access controls"
• "Conduct internal audit"
• "Hold management review" Characteristics: Assessment of existing measures and processes

Searching and filtering

Search matches task names, and the filters narrow by status, type, owner, and the control or asset a task belongs to.

Search functionality

Nothing filters until you press Enter; there is no live-as-you-type result.

Using the search bar:

1. Click in the search bar at the top of the overview
2. Type task names or keywords (e.g. "backup", "review", "training")
3. Press 'Enter' and your search results are displayed

Filter options

Use the filter dropdown menus to find specific tasks:

Open vs Closed:

• Open (66) - Active tasks requiring attention
• Closed (0) - Completed tasks for historical overview

Filter by Controls:

• Show tasks linked to specific controls
• Useful for control-based planning

Filter by Assets:

• Show tasks related to specific business assets
• Useful for asset-focused work

Filter by Plans:

• Show tasks generated by specific plans
• Perfect for periodic cycle monitoring

Filter by Assignee:

• Show tasks assigned to specific people
• Essential for personal work lists

Combining multiple filters

You can use different filters simultaneously for very specific results:

• Example: Filter on "Open" + your name + specific Plan to see your active cyclical tasks
• Reset filters: Click away individual filters or refresh the page

Task planning and automation

Most tasks are not created by hand: plans generate them on a schedule, and their due dates are what drive the overdue counters.

Automatic task generation

A plan generating tasks on a schedule is what keeps compliance activities from being forgotten.

Plans generate tasks automatically:

• Monthly cycles - Regular controls and monitoring
• Quarterly reviews - Periodic evaluations
• Annual audits - Compliance assessments
• Ad-hoc triggers - Event-based activities

Benefits of automation:

• Consistency - No forgotten compliance activities
• Efficiency - Less manual planning
• Traceability - Complete audit trail of work
• Compliance - Guaranteed execution of mandatory tasks

Deadline management

Most due dates are set automatically by a plan, and only the first missed deadline gets reported by email.

Understanding due dates:

• Automatically set by Plans according to schedule
• Manually adjustable for specific circumstances
• Reported once in the daily summary email after a deadline has passed
• Dashboard warnings for approaching due dates

What counts as a task

Tasks in Tidal Control are concrete work activities that must be performed for compliance and risk management. The system helps you manage these systematically by:

• Organising work - Collect and prioritise all tasks in one place
• Tracking progress - Monitor status and deadlines per task
• Facilitating collaboration - Team communication and evidence collection
• Supporting compliance - Tasks linked to controls and assets
• Automation - Automatically create periodic tasks via plans

By systematically executing and documenting tasks in Tidal, you gain insight into compliance progress and can demonstrate that controls are effective.

Next steps

Now that you know how to navigate and interpret tasks, you can:

• Compile personal work list with filters
• Set priorities based on deadlines and importance
• Collaborate via conversation features
• Track progress of compliance activities