What is meant by "incident resolution"?

Incident resolution refers specifically to the process of restoring service functionality to its normal state after an incident has occurred. This step is critical in incident management because it ensures that systems and services affected by the incident are returned to operational status, allowing users and stakeholders to resume normal activities without disruption.

Restoring service functionality often involves various actions, such as repairing systems, applying patches, or implementing workarounds, depending on the nature of the incident. An effective resolution not only addresses the immediate issue but also aims to minimize future disruptions and enhance overall service reliability.

While identifying the cause of an incident, documenting the incident, and analyzing user feedback are all important components of the incident management process, they do not directly define what incident resolution entails. These activities support the overall incident management lifecycle but occur separately from the actual restoration of services.