Kill Switch
An immediate toggle that halts an automation or feature without redeploying code.
A kill switch is a fast off-switch for an automation or feature. It lets teams stop execution without deploying code when risk or incidents arise.
It is used during regressions, bad data incidents, or vendor outages. Toggling the switch halts actions while you investigate.
Kill switches live in configs, admin panels, or feature flag systems. They reduce blast radius, speed incident response, and keep ops safe when unexpected behavior appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a kill switch cover?
High-risk actions—writes to core systems, customer comms, payments. Keep scopes tight and documented.
Who can flip the switch?
Designated owners with audit logging. Limit access to on-call/ops leads and require authentication.
How do I implement a kill switch?
Use a feature flag or config check at entry points. Ensure it is checked before critical actions execute.
Should kill switches be reversible quickly?
Yes. Make them toggles with clear state. Test both activation and restoration paths.
How do I avoid false positives?
Require a short reason/comment, notify stakeholders on activation, and monitor effects. Keep well-defined criteria for use.
Do kill switches need monitoring?
Yes—alert when toggled, and track time spent in the off state. Document incidents tied to usage.
Can kill switches be time-bound?
Set expirations or reminders to re-enable. Avoid leaving features off unintentionally.
How do kill switches interact with SLAs?
Pausing features can affect SLAs; communicate status and expected restoration timelines to stakeholders.
Should every feature have a kill switch?
Prioritize high-impact automations. Low-risk, read-only features may not need one.
Agentic AI
An AI approach where models autonomously plan next steps, choose tools, and iterate toward an objective within guardrails.
Agentic Workflow
A sequence where an AI agent plans, executes tool calls, evaluates results, and loops until success criteria are met.
Agent Handoff
A pattern where one AI agent passes context and state to another specialized agent to keep multi-step automation modular.
Ship glossary-backed automations
Bring your terms into GrowthAX delivery—map them to owners, SLAs, and instrumentation so your automations launch with shared language.
Plan Your First 90 Days