Critical System Restart Approval

Subject: URGENT: Database Server Failure - Restart Approval Needed Today

Hi [CEO],

I’m writing to escalate a critical situation requiring your approval by end of day.

SITUATION:
Our primary database server has failed and is currently offline. Service disruption began [time] and continues.

IMPACT:

• 100 users unable to access the system
• All transactions and data access halted for affected users
• Revenue impact: [X hours] of downtime = $[estimated impact]
• Reputational risk if outage extends beyond today

ROOT CAUSE:
Database server failure [add specific cause if known - hardware failure, software crash, etc.]. Server requires restart to restore service.

ACTIONS TAKEN:

• Verified server failure through monitoring systems
• Assessed restart procedure and risks
• Confirmed backup systems are current
• Identified restart as quickest path to restoration

OPTIONS FOR RESOLUTION:

Option A: Authorize Immediate Server Restart

• Timeline: Service restored within [15-30 minutes]
• Risk: Minimal - standard restart procedure, backups verified
• Benefit: 100 users back online today, limits customer impact
• Process: [Brief description of restart procedure]

Option B: Wait for Additional Diagnostics

• Timeline: 2-4 hours for full diagnosis, then restart
• Benefit: More information on root cause before restart
• Risk: Extended outage (4-6 hours total), increased customer dissatisfaction
• 100 users remain offline during investigation

RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend Option A (immediate restart) based on:

1. Customer impact: Every hour offline affects 100 users and revenue
2. Risk profile: Restart is standard procedure with verified backups
3. Root cause can be investigated after service restoration

DECISION NEEDED:
Authorization to restart the database server immediately to restore service to 100 affected users.

NEXT STEPS (if approved):

• Immediate: Execute restart procedure
• Within 30 minutes: Verify service restoration
• Today: Confirm all 100 users back online
• This week: Conduct post-mortem to prevent recurrence

Available immediately for discussion.

[Your name]