What is Standard operating procedure (SOP)?
Operations, IT, cybersecurity. A plain-English definition for Australian business owners.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a documented, step-by-step description of how a recurring task is done in a specific business — precise enough that a competent person can execute the task consistently without asking the person who normally does it.
SOPs turn individual know-how into organisational capability: they shorten onboarding, reduce key person risk, make quality auditable, and are the raw material for automation, since a process must be defined before it can be systematised. The test of a good SOP is simple — someone unfamiliar with the task can follow it and get the standard result.
In a connected back office this sits with the Operations hub, where Valont runs it support, cybersecurity and cloud systems for Australian SMEs as one team. The full definition set is on the glossary.
Talk to an Advisor
General information, not advice. For how this applies to your business, talk it through with a Trusted Advisor or start with the Business Health Check.