Availability management AVMT

Ensuring services deliver agreed levels of availability to meet the current and future needs of the business.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

There is an updated version of this skill for SFIA 9.
Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (new levels).
New levels have been added at level 3.
Readability improvements have been made to level 4.
You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping are not impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

defining and agreeing availability targets
disaster recovery planning and testing
ensuring services can collect data required to measure availability
monitoring, analysing and reporting on service availability
implementing availability management practices, including those for cloud-based services
maintaining and improving the availability of services
controlling and managing service availability to deliver agreed levels of availability in a cost-effective manner.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...

Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.

Where higher levels are not defined...

Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities

Where higher levels are not defined...

You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Click to learn why SFIA skills are not defined at all 7 levels.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

Level 1

Level 1 - Follow: Essence of the level: Performs routine tasks under close supervision, follows instructions, and requires guidance to complete their work. Learns and applies basic skills and knowledge.

Level 2

Level 2 - Assist: Essence of the level: Provides assistance to others, works under routine supervision, and uses their discretion to address routine problems. Actively learns through training and on-the-job experiences.

Availability management: Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Performs defined availability management tasks, such as routine monitoring and data collection.

Tests disaster recovery procedures under direction and contributes to the documentation of recovery plans.

Assists with the operation of availability management tools and processes.

Monitors service components against agreed performance standards and reports any deviations.

Availability management: Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Analyses service and component availability, reliability, maintainability and serviceability.

Contributes to the availability management process and its operation.

Monitors and maintains services and components to ensure ongoing compliance with agreed performance targets and service levels.

Implements disaster recovery arrangements and documents recovery procedures. Conducts testing of recovery procedures.

Availability management: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Provides advice and guidance on the planning, design and improvement of service and component availability.

Investigates all breaches of availability targets and service non-availability and initiates remedial activities.

Develops plans for disaster recovery together with supporting processes.

Manages the testing of disaster recovery plans.

Availability management: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Sets policy and develops strategies, plans and processes to ensure services deliver agreed levels of availability.

Develops and implements new availability tools and techniques.

Level 7

Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise: Essence of the level: Operates at the highest organisational level, determines overall organisational vision and strategy, and assumes accountability for overall success.

New level