What is a common characteristic of a major incident?

A major incident typically occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, which is why timing is often a surprise. These incidents can severely impact services or operations, making them critical to address quickly. The nature of a major incident dictates that it often arises without forewarning, necessitating immediate and effective responses from incident management teams.

It's important to understand that major incidents can disrupt normal operations significantly, and their unanticipated timing underscores the need for well-prepared teams who can react swiftly. This characteristic is central to how organizations develop their incident response strategies, ensuring that they are ready to address unforeseen challenges quickly and efficiently.

In contrast, incidents that are always planned, do not require collaboration across different teams, or can be resolved without urgency do not align with the typical nature and criticality of major incidents. Such attributes would diminish the importance and urgency that define a major incident and its response.