Security
When to Pause a Protocol
A structured decision framework for protocol operators to define pause authority, escalation paths, and criteria for critical incidents requiring immediate action.
What This Guide Covers
This guide helps protocol organisations clarify their pause logic across technical, governance, and operational layers. Inside:
- How to assign pause authority and document escalation flows
- What evidence is required before halting execution
- When fast paths can be used for urgent decisions
- How to coordinate communication and public response
- What recovery and unpause procedures should include
Why It Matters
Pausing is one of the highest-risk operational actions in decentralised systems. Without structure, it can cause confusion, misalignment, or further risk. This guide supports clear decision-making before incidents unfold.
It also outlines how real-time response infrastructure like Cantina’s MDR service supports evidence validation, triage coordination, and communication during high-impact events.
Who This Is For
Designed for organisations that operate, govern, or maintain live decentralised infrastructure, including:
- Protocol foundations and core contributors
- DAO coordinators and multisig signers
- Incident response and security pods
- Infrastructure and governance operators
Who Made This Guide
Cantina MDR delivers real-time detection, escalation, and response coordination for high-value protocols facing zero-day threats. Our work includes continuous monitoring, threat intelligence, incident command orchestration, and structured containment systems designed to protect protocols when every second counts.
We support protocols and institutions preparing for high-signal integrations and risk reviews, providing structured security audits across code, infrastructure, and operations.
Need Structured Support?
If your organization is preparing for due diligence, integration, or regulated engagement, we can help apply this framework to your architecture and operations. Cantina scopes institutional reviews that cover both code and resilience.