Free tool
Incident update generator
Fill in a few details and get a clear, calm status page update for any stage of an incident. Free, no sign-up, nothing leaves your browser.
Tip: use our incident communication templates for email and social, and the maintenance announcement templates for planned work.
Examples
Incident update examples for each stage
Investigating
Login failures for some users
We're investigating reports that some users can't log in. We'll post an update within 30 minutes.
Identified
Login failures for some users
We've identified the cause: a configuration change to our authentication service. We're rolling it back now. Next update within 30 minutes.
Monitoring
Login failures for some users
A fix has been applied and logins are succeeding again. We're monitoring to make sure the issue doesn't return.
Resolved
Login failures for some users
This incident has been resolved. Logins have been working normally since 14:20 UTC. Thanks for your patience.
Best practices
How to write a good incident update
- Lead with impact. Say what users will notice before anything else.
- Be specific. Name the service, region or feature. “Some users can't log in” beats “issues”.
- Promise the next update. Give a time and keep it, even if there's no news.
- Skip blame and guesses. Share the cause only once you know it.
- Close the loop. Post a resolved update, and a postmortem for major incidents — see our postmortem template.
Incident update FAQ
What should an incident update include?
What is affected, what users will notice, what you are doing about it, and when the next update will come. Skip internal jargon, blame and guesses about the cause.
How often should I post incident updates?
Post the first update within about 10 minutes of confirming an issue, then every 30–60 minutes until it is resolved, even if nothing has changed.
What are the stages of an incident update?
Most status pages use four: Investigating (you know something is wrong), Identified (you know the cause), Monitoring (a fix is in place) and Resolved (service is back to normal).
Does this generator use AI?
No. It fills proven templates with your details, entirely in your browser. Statusentry's AI writing assistant can then refine your own drafts inside the app.
Post updates where customers look.
Publish incidents on a hosted status page and notify subscribers by email, Slack and webhook. Start free.