What is an SOP?

An SOP is a Standard Operating Procedure. It originates from manufacturing environments where standardisation of processes and procedures is used.

FAQ · What Is an SOP?

An SOP, or standard operating procedure, is a written instruction that sets out the exact steps for carrying out a specific task so the result is the same every time, whoever performs it.

In an IT context, an SOP removes guesswork from tasks that are repeated often or that carry security risk if done inconsistently — onboarding a new employee, verifying a backup, provisioning a laptop, or responding to an incident.

What a good SOP contains

A clear scope — exactly which task it covers and when it applies.
Numbered steps written specifically enough that a new team member can follow them without asking for help.
A named owner responsible for keeping the document accurate.
A record of when it was last reviewed and against what system version.

Why it matters for IT specifically

Technology tasks such as revoking access when someone leaves, or confirming a backup actually restores, have real security and continuity consequences if skipped or done differently by different people. An SOP makes the correct outcome the default rather than something that depends on who happens to be on duty.

Frequently asked questions

What is an SOP?

An SOP (standard operating procedure) is a written set of steps for completing a specific task consistently, regardless of who carries it out. In IT, common examples include staff onboarding and offboarding, backup verification, device provisioning and incident response — tasks where doing things the same way every time reduces security risk and downtime.

Is an SOP the same as a policy?

No. A policy states a rule or requirement — for example, that all laptops must be encrypted. An SOP explains the exact steps taken to meet that requirement, such as how encryption is enabled and verified during device provisioning. Policies say what must happen; SOPs describe how it happens in practice.

Who writes IT SOPs?

Typically the IT team or managed service provider closest to the task writes the first draft, since they know the practical steps involved. It should then be reviewed by whoever owns the risk it addresses — for example, management reviews the offboarding SOP because it protects against unauthorised access after a departure.

Where should SOPs be stored?

SOPs should live in one shared, version-controlled location that every relevant person can access, such as a SharePoint document library, rather than in individual inboxes, desktops or a single person's notes. Centralised storage is what allows an SOP to survive staff changes, which is the whole point of having one.

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What is an SOP? Good question! An SOP is a Standard Operating Procedure. It originates from manufacturing environments where standardisation of processes and procedures is used as a key element of ensuring product quality and consistency. In the same way, at CCS we have SOPs in place for the work we do for our clients. From something as straightforward as creating a new email account to configuring an entire server and network. SOPs are one of the many behind-the-scenes ways in which we ensure our customer service remains first-class. Contact Fresh Mango for more information.