How to Set Issue Severity

Summary

Issue Severity is used to communicate the urgency of an Issue and to help establish the timing of subsequent actions. It is based on the analyst’s estimation of the potential impact and urgency of the Issue.

DecipherRisk provides four severity levels:

• Critical – There is potentially a significant impact that can occur in the next 12–24 months.
• High – There is potentially a significant impact, but we do not believe it will occur in the next 12–24 months.
• Medium – There is a limited impact that can occur in the next 12–24 months.
• Low – There is a limited impact, but we do not believe it will occur in the next 12–24 months.

Severity ratings can be assigned either using the Severity Wizard or set manually. The Wizard guides you through four impact questions to help assign an initial severity rating, while manual assignment allows flexibility when appropriate. In both cases, documenting rationale ensures transparency and consistency for Triage and ongoing issue management.

Using the Severity Wizard

During Issue Intake or Editing an Existing Issue

1. Click Wizard next to Severity.
2. Answer the four impact questions.
3. Choose Confirm.

Viewing Rationale set in the Severity Wizard

• The Severity Rationale is visible on hover over the underlined severity rating.
• In the Issue Register view, you can also display Severity Rationale by updating the column selections to include it.

Setting Severity Manually

Severity can also be set manually, without using the Wizard.  When setting severity manually, it is recommended to document the rationale directly in the Assumption field of the Issue record to provide context for the assigned rating.

Related Articles

How to Create an Issue and Complete the Intake Process

Pro Tip: Core Workflow Triage  Process

How to Customize, Filter and Sort the Issue Register