Runbooks

From Helix Project Wiki

Creating Runbooks

This page documents the Helix methodology for designing, authoring, and operationalizing AI governance **runbooks** — practical guides that turn safety principles into enforceable, step-by-step execution flows.

What is a Runbook?

A **runbook** is a structured, procedural document that defines:

  • Required roles and permissions
  • Preconditions and risk conditions
  • Decision-making checkpoints
  • Action steps and fallback procedures
  • Logging and audit requirements

Unlike theoretical frameworks, Helix runbooks are designed for **real-world deployment**, often wrapping critical AI processes like:

  • Agent execution
  • Ledger tamazation
  • Irreversible action gating
  • Safety escalation

Helix Runbook Philosophy

Our approach to runbooks includes:

  • Determinism – Clearly defined outcomes, no ambiguity
  • Human-in-the-loop enforcement – Always a path to pause or reverse
  • Cryptographic traceability – All actions leave verifiable trails
  • Composable building blocks – Small, reusable steps linked together
  • Version-controlled – Runbooks are versioned and auditable

Runbooks

Helix Core Ethos – Runbook v1.0

How to Create a Runbook

To write a runbook that aligns with the Helix Core Ethos:

  1. Choose a **high-stakes AI process** (irreversible, autonomous, sensitive)
  2. Identify **all roles involved** (e.g., Requester, Approver, Ops, Auditor)
  3. Define **inputs, validations, and irreversible triggers**
  4. Add **pre-flight safety checks** (thresholds, escalation logic)
  5. Log every major step to an **immutable ledger**
  6. Link to external protocols (e.g., TPAF, AI_Risk_Management)
  7. Save with a clear version (e.g., `Runbook v1.1`) and add to the index below

Template & Structure

To standardize, consider using this template structure:

```mediawiki

[Runbook Title]

Purpose

Scope

Roles and Responsibilities

Preconditions

Steps

Irreversibility Conditions

Escalation Protocol

Logging & Ledger

Version History

Related Pages

Categories

Helix_Core_Ethos

TPAF

AI_Risk_Management

Creating Helix Ethos

Suitability Assessment Markdown Converter