The Case for Dedicated Crisis Channels: Incident Coordination Without the Noise

In the middle of a critical incident, every second counts. Yet too often, organisations scramble to coordinate their response using the same communication platforms they use for day-to-day chat, project updates, and social interaction. The result? Missed messages, siloed conversations, and poor situational awareness.

As we head into 2025, it’s time to rethink crisis coordination. And that starts with having the right dedicated out-of-band communication channels in place.

The Problem with Business-as-Usual Platforms

Microsoft Teams, Slack, and email are excellent tools for collaboration - when things are going well. But they’re not designed for high-pressure scenarios where response teams need to act quickly, share sensitive updates, and escalate to video in seconds.

Common issues include:

• Noise and distraction from unrelated chat threads
• Confusion over who’s involved and what’s happening
• Security risks due to lack of end-to-end encryption or poor access controls
• No clear audit trail for post-incident reviews or regulatory compliance
• Delays in escalation to real-time video or voice coordination

These tools weren’t built for crisis. And when stakes are high - such as in cyber incidents, evacuations, or operational outages - relying on them can make things worse.

Why Dedicated Crisis Channels Work Better

Dedicated crisis coordination spaces, like Sentinel Spaces, provide a secure and structured environment to manage incidents from start to finish. Here’s how they help:

• Keep focus and clarity – All communications, documents, and updates stay in one secure, crisis-specific space
• Instant visibility – See who’s present, active, and responding in real-time
• Secure by design – Encryption, locked rooms, and strict access controls for sensitive data
• Rapid escalation – Move from chat to video with one click, with screen sharing and recordings for auditing
• Built for resilience – Even if core systems go down, your dedicated crisis channels remain operational

Compliance and Auditability

Regulators like the FCA and SEC are increasingly concerned about off-channel communications - and rightly so. Crisis decisions can affect data privacy, financial systems, and public safety. With Sentinel, you can record decisions, preserve evidence, and prove compliance without relying on patchy records or screenshots from personal messaging apps.

More Than Just Messaging

With Sentinel Spaces, you move well beyond chat - you’re accessing a complete crisis response toolbox a, including:

• Configurable alerting and contact directories
• Real-time video conferencing with livestream capabilities
• Secure and fully audited chat for real-time collaboration and decision making
• Secure document storage (even offline)
• Role-based access control
• Support for external stakeholders (e.g. legal, PR, emergency services)

Conclusion: Cut Through the Chaos

Incidents will always be unpredictable - but your communication shouldn’t be. By setting up dedicated, secure crisis coordination channels, your teams can move faster, respond smarter, and recover with confidence.

If you're still relying on business-as-usual tools to manage extraordinary events, it's time to rethink your strategy.

Interested in setting up your organisation’s crisis coordination channels?

Contact Sentinel to see how Spaces and PiNG can support your resilience strategy in 2025.