official data
CISA and FBI: OT/IT outage playbook for communicating under pressure
On 2 September 2026, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published “Communicating Under Pressure: Best Practices for Service Providers,” developed by CISA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and international partners. The guidance covers planning and executing clear, timely, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications during information-technology and operational-technology (OT) outages — whether caused by cyber threat actors, human error, equipment failure, or natural hazards. CISA states that outages can create disruption and societal panic, and that outages at one organization may cascade across interconnected systems, increasing uncertainty and alarm. The product emphasizes clarity, accountability, and transparency, and ties to CISA’s CI Fortify guidance for isolating and recovering vital OT systems and assuming telecommunications may be disrupted, requiring backup communications.
Key facts
- Publication
- September 2, 2026 — Communicating Under Pressure: Best Practices for Service Providers
- Authors
- CISA, FBI, and international partners
- Scope
- Communications during IT and OT outages — cyber, human error, equipment failure, or natural hazards
- Risk framing
- Outages can create disruption and societal panic; cascades across interconnected systems increase uncertainty
- Related guidance
- Ties to CISA CI Fortify — isolate/recover vital OT; assume telecom disruption; require backup communications
Note
Official product: CISA resource page dated 2 September 2026. Doom Signals does not invent outage statistics or attribute specific incidents to this playbook; the note tracks the published guidance itself.
- Product: Communicating Under Pressure (CISA/FBI), Sep 2, 2026
- Place pin: Washington, D.C. (CISA headquarters context)
Why it matters
Brand-new 2 September 2026 CISA/FBI joint product on crisis communications for IT/OT outages — a same-day official cyber and critical-infrastructure standards drop for the AI / cyber rail.
Sources
Official data. Not a forecast.