Workflow Builder

The Workflow Builder lets you create custom workflows from scratch. Use it when you need specific control over your remediation plans or when AI generation isn't suitable for your use case.

When to Use Manual Building

Choose manual building when:

You have a specific process to follow
AI generation doesn't fit your needs
Creating a template for reuse
Building complex or unique workflows
Combining multiple types of work

Starting a New Workflow

Open Workflow Builder

Navigate to Workflows and click "New Workflow" or "Create Workflow."

Enter Basic Information

Name your workflow
Add a description
Set priority
Choose target due date

Add Tasks

Begin adding the tasks that make up your workflow.

Set Dependencies

Connect tasks to define the workflow order.

Assign and Save

Set owners and save your workflow.

Workflow Properties

Required Fields

Field	Description
Name	Clear, descriptive workflow title
Description	What this workflow accomplishes
Priority	Critical, High, Medium, or Low

Optional Fields

Field	Description
Due Date	Target completion date
Owner	Primary responsible person
Linked Gaps	Compliance gaps addressed
Linked Risks	Risks being mitigated
Tags	Custom labels for organization

Adding Tasks

Task Creation

For each task, provide:

Field	Required	Description
Title	Yes	What needs to be done
Description	No	Additional details
Assignee	No	Who will do this
Due Date	No	When it's due
Priority	No	Task priority
Type	No	Task type (action, review, approval)

Task Types

Type	Purpose
Action	Work to be performed
Review	Peer or team review
Approval	Management sign-off
Documentation	Create/update documents
Verification	Confirm completion

Good task titles are specific and actionable: "Draft access control section 3.2" is better than "Work on access control."

Setting Dependencies

What Are Dependencies?

Dependencies define which tasks must complete before others can start:

Task B depends on Task A = Task A must finish first
Multiple dependencies = All must complete

Creating Dependencies

Select a Task

Click the task that depends on another.

Click "Add Dependency"

Opens the dependency selector.

Choose Predecessor

Select the task(s) that must complete first.

Confirm

Dependency is created and shown visually.

Visual Dependencies

On the canvas:

Lines connect dependent tasks
Arrows show direction (from predecessor to dependent)
Blocked tasks show their dependencies

Dependency Patterns

Pattern	When to Use
Sequential	A → B → C (strict order)
Parallel	A and B can happen simultaneously
Converging	C depends on both A and B
Diverging	A leads to both B and C

Building Effective Workflows

Start with Milestones

Identify major phases or checkpoints
Create milestone tasks
Build detail tasks within each phase
Connect phases with dependencies

Example Structure

Phase 1: Research
├── Task: Review current state
├── Task: Identify requirements
└── Milestone: Research complete

Phase 2: Development
├── Task: Draft solution
├── Task: Peer review
└── Milestone: Development complete

Phase 3: Implementation
├── Task: Deploy changes
├── Task: Verify success
└── Milestone: Implementation complete

Common Patterns

Policy Update Workflow

Review current policy gaps
Research best practices
Draft updates
Internal review
Legal/compliance review
Management approval
Publish and communicate

Control Implementation

Define requirements
Design solution
Develop/configure
Test in non-production
Security review
Deploy to production
Document evidence

Audit Preparation

Identify scope
Gather evidence
Conduct self-assessment
Address findings
Final review
Package for auditors

Using Templates

Accessing Templates

In the Builder, click "Use Template"
Browse available templates
Select appropriate template
Customize for your needs

Available Templates

Template	Use Case
Policy Update	Revising any policy document
Control Implementation	Deploying new controls
Vendor Assessment	Third-party security review
Incident Response	Handling security incidents
Audit Prep	Preparing for compliance audits

Creating Templates

Save your workflow as a template:

Build and customize your workflow
Click "Save as Template"
Name and describe the template
Template is available for future use

Templates save time on repetitive workflows. Create templates for processes you'll repeat.

Canvas Builder Tools

Adding Tasks

Click "Add Task" button
Or drag from task palette
Or right-click on canvas

Connecting Tasks

Drag from one task's edge to another
Or use "Add Dependency" from task menu
Lines appear showing connections

Moving Tasks

Drag tasks to reposition on canvas
Layout is visual only
Doesn't affect dependencies

Deleting Tasks

Select task and press Delete
Or right-click and choose "Delete"
Dependencies are removed

Auto Layout

Click "Auto Layout" to:

Organize tasks by dependencies
Align tasks in logical flow
Clean up messy layouts

Bulk Task Creation

Import from List

If you have tasks in a list:

Click "Import Tasks"
Paste or type task list (one per line)
Tasks are created without dependencies
Add dependencies manually

Copy from Another Workflow

Open source workflow
Select tasks to copy
Click "Copy Tasks"
Open target workflow
Click "Paste Tasks"
Adjust as needed

Validating Workflows

Before Saving

The builder checks for:

Circular dependencies (A → B → A)
Orphaned tasks (no path to completion)
Missing required fields
Logical issues

Warning Indicators

Warning	Meaning
🔴 Error	Must fix before saving
🟡 Warning	Should review, can save
🔵 Info	Suggestion for improvement

Common Issues

Issue	Solution
Circular dependency	Break the cycle, reorganize flow
No start task	Add a task with no predecessors
Orphaned task	Connect to the workflow
Unassigned tasks	Assign owners or mark as pending