A RAID log that does the boring bits for you
A RAID log is only useful if you keep it up to date. Pocket PMO's RAID log is auto-suggested from real project signals, drafted by AI, approved by you, and one click away from a board-ready RAID report.
Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies
Four separate first-class objects — not tags on a spreadsheet.
AI-suggested items
Morgan (AI Risk Analyst) proposes risks and assumptions from live signals; you approve.
One-click RAID report
Snapshot report generates the exec-ready RAID narrative in under 10 seconds.
Free online generator
Build a RAID log in the browser and export to PDF or CSV — no sign-up needed.
Templates for every methodology
Agile, waterfall and hybrid — every template has a proper RAID structure.
Audit trail
Every RAID change is versioned. Perfect for governance reviews and audit committees.
What is a RAID log?
A RAID log is the project management record of four things every PM must track:
- Risks — things that might happen and would hurt the project if they did.
- Assumptions — things you've decided to treat as true because you have to move on.
- Issues — things that have happened and are actively hurting the project now.
- Dependencies — things another team, supplier or project must do before you can progress.
The RAID log is the single most important living document on a project. It's where governance lives, where escalation starts, and where board packs come from. If your RAID log is out of date, your project reporting is fiction.
Why most RAID logs fail
- They're spreadsheets. Excel is a great tool but a terrible RAID log — no audit trail, no owner, no linkage to plan or reports.
- They get stale. PMs forget to log new risks in the heat of delivery. By month three the log has aged out of usefulness.
- Risks and issues get muddled. "Might happen" and "is happening" are very different — mixing them destroys prioritisation.
- No linkage to reports. A RAID log that doesn't flow into the status report is just admin.
Pocket PMO fixes all four. Morgan continuously scans live project signals — quiet workstreams, slipping milestones, overdue tasks, budget variance — and proposes new RAID items for your approval. Every accepted item flows straight into the next status report and Snapshot.
RAID log best practice
- Log a risk the moment you feel a wobble. If it doesn't materialise, close it as "not realised" — that's still a signal.
- Score every risk on probability (1–5) and impact (1–5) — the product is your exposure, and it's what your dashboard should sort by.
- Every item has an owner and a review date. A RAID item without an owner is a wish.
- Review the log weekly, at minimum, and at every stage gate.
- Distinguish "issues awaiting action" from "issues in mitigation" — different reporting story.
- Keep dependencies visible in the plan, not just in RAID. A dependency invisible to the schedule is a dependency about to slip.
For a deep dive on what belongs in a board-ready RAID report, see our guide to RAID reporting.
Frequently asked questions
What does RAID stand for?
RAID stands for Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies — the four things every project manager tracks in one integrated log.
Is there a free RAID log template?
Yes. Pocket PMO has a free downloadable RAID log template and a free online RAID log generator that exports to PDF and CSV — no sign-up needed.
How is a RAID log different from a risk register?
A risk register only tracks risks. A RAID log tracks all four — risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies — in one place, which is the standard for professional PM governance.
How often should you update a RAID log?
At an absolute minimum, weekly, and at every stage gate. In practice, log a new item the moment you feel a wobble — Pocket PMO makes this a two-click action.
Can I share the RAID log with a sponsor?
Yes. Snapshot reports include an exec-ready RAID summary with the top open risks, active issues and slipping dependencies. Share by link, PDF or slide export.
See Pocket PMO in action
Try the interactive demo or start a free 15-day trial — cancel anytime.