Step 7 — Document Findings, Actions, Outcomes, and Lessons Learned

The troubleshooting process ends with rigorous documentation. Recording the facts creates a reference for future incidents, satisfies audit requirements, and reinforces continuous improvement.

Capture the Essentials

• Incident summary: Describe the symptoms, scope, and impacted services.
• Timeline: Note when the problem was reported, when major milestones occurred, and when the issue was resolved.
• Diagnostic steps: List the tests performed, data collected, and theories evaluated—even those that did not pan out.

Record the Resolution

• Actions taken: Detail the fixes implemented, including configuration changes, hardware replacements, or temporary workarounds.
• Validation results: Document the tests that confirmed restoration and the stakeholders who signed off.
• Preventive measures: Summarize any patches, policy changes, or monitoring enhancements added in Step 6.

Share and Store the Knowledge

• Knowledge base updates: Publish an article, runbook entry, or FAQ that others can follow.
• Team debrief: Highlight what worked well, what slowed the response, and opportunities to streamline next time.
• Ticket closure: Ensure service desk systems, change records, and asset databases reflect the final state.

---

✅ Exam Must-Knows

• Step 7 closes the loop—if it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen.
• Thorough documentation accelerates future troubleshooting and supports compliance.
• Lessons learned should feed back into training, monitoring, and process improvements.

⚡ Memory Hook: Document → Timeline, Actions, Validation, Lessons.