{"id":4782,"date":"2026-01-19T17:51:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T12:21:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/?p=4782"},"modified":"2026-02-23T15:58:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:28:03","slug":"things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Going on-call for the first time can feel a bit overwhelming, but a little prep work makes it smooth and stress-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>This guide covers five things to set up before you start your first on-call shift.<\/strong> They help you stay on top of your <a href=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/blog\/oncall-schedules-everything-you-need-to-know\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/blog\/oncall-schedules-everything-you-need-to-know\/\">on-call schedule<\/a>, get on-call notifications, and have a <a href=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/glossary\/backup-responder\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/glossary\/backup-responder\/\">backup<\/a> in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end, you&#8217;ll be ready to handle your first on-call shift with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Table of contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<nav aria-label=\"Table of Contents\" class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents\"><ol><li><a class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents__entry\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#1-sync-on-call-schedule-with-personal-calendar\">1. Sync on-call schedule with personal calendar<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents__entry\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#2-download-the-mobile-app\">2. Download the mobile app<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents__entry\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#3-enable-on-call-notifications\">3. Enable on-call notifications<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents__entry\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#4-add-a-backup-responder\">4. Add a backup responder<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents__entry\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#5-add-holiday-calendar\">5. Add holiday calendar<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents__entry\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#you-re-ready-for-your-first-shift\">You&#8217;re ready for your first shift!<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"wp-block-table-of-contents__entry\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#faqs\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-sync-on-call-schedule-with-personal-calendar\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Sync on-call schedule with personal calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"644\" data-attachment-id=\"4784\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5-31-53-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM.png\" data-orig-size=\"2012,1266\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot 2026-01-19 at 5.31.53\u202fPM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM-1024x644.png\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM-1024x644.png\" alt=\"On-call schedule on personal calendar\" class=\"wp-image-4784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM-1024x644.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM-768x483.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM-1536x966.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM-1200x755.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.31.53-PM.png 2012w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">On-call schedule on personal calendar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start by syncing your on-call schedule with your personal calendar (Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook). It&#8217;s quite handy for planning your week without having to open your on-call tool every time you want to check when your shift starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-download-the-mobile-app\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Download the mobile app<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"937\" data-attachment-id=\"4786\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5-35-59-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM.png\" data-orig-size=\"1514,1386\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot 2026-01-19 at 5.35.59\u202fPM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM-1024x937.png\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM-1024x937.png\" alt=\"Spike's mobile app\" class=\"wp-image-4786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM-1024x937.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM-300x275.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM-768x703.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM-1200x1099.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.35.59-PM.png 1514w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"http:\/\/spike.sh\" type=\"link\" id=\"spike.sh\">Spike<\/a>&#8216;s mobile app<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once your schedule is live, it&#8217;s worth downloading the mobile app. <strong>This lets you check your on-call calendar on the go.<\/strong> Also, the mobile app makes it easy to <a href=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/glossary\/acknowledge\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/glossary\/acknowledge\/\">acknowledge<\/a> incidents and update their status while you&#8217;re away from your desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Download Spike&#8217;s mobile app <a href=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/mobile\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/spike.sh\/mobile\">here \u2192<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-enable-on-call-notifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Enable on-call notifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-autoplay=\"true\" data-delay=\"2\" data-effect=\"slide\" style=\"--aspect-ratio:calc(1024 \/ 719)\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"719\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4791\" data-id=\"4791\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1024 \/ 719\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.36.58-PM-1-1024x719.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.36.58-PM-1-1024x719.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.36.58-PM-1-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.36.58-PM-1-768x539.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.36.58-PM-1-1536x1079.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.36.58-PM-1-1200x843.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.36.58-PM-1.png 1632w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"587\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4790\" data-id=\"4790\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1024 \/ 587\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.09-PM-1-1024x587.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.09-PM-1-1024x587.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.09-PM-1-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.09-PM-1-768x440.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.09-PM-1-1536x880.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.09-PM-1-1200x688.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.09-PM-1.png 1612w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll probably want to get notified when your on-call shift starts and ends, so you&#8217;re never caught off guard. Tools like <a href=\"http:\/\/spike.sh\">Spike<\/a> let you configure these notifications on your preferred channels\u2014phone call, SMS, email, WhatsApp, Telegram, Microsoft Teams, or the mobile app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-add-a-backup-responder\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Add a backup responder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"992\" height=\"746\" data-attachment-id=\"4792\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5-37-48-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM.png\" data-orig-size=\"992,746\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot 2026-01-19 at 5.37.48\u202fPM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM.png\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM.png\" alt=\"Escalation policy with backup responder on Spike\" class=\"wp-image-4792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM.png 992w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.37.48-PM-200x150.png?crop=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Escalation policy with backup responder on <a href=\"http:\/\/spike.sh\" type=\"link\" id=\"spike.sh\">Spike<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It often helps to have a backup responder in case you miss an alert or get stuck during an incident.<\/strong> A Subject Matter Expert (SME) makes a great backup responder, but if you don\u2019t have one on your team yet, you can just add a fellow engineer as backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"5-add-holiday-calendar\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Add holiday calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"475\" data-attachment-id=\"4794\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5-38-27-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM.png\" data-orig-size=\"1710,794\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot 2026-01-19 at 5.38.27\u202fPM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM-1024x475.png\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM-1024x475.png\" alt=\"Holiday calendar linked to on-call schedules on Spike\" class=\"wp-image-4794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM-1024x475.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM-300x139.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM-768x357.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM-1536x713.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM-1200x557.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-19-at-5.38.27-PM.png 1710w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Holiday calendar linked to on-call schedules on <a href=\"http:\/\/spike.sh\" type=\"link\" id=\"spike.sh\">Spike<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider linking your holiday calendar to your on-call schedule so holidays appear alongside your shifts. This gives you a visual reference when planning your schedule and makes it easy to spot conflicts early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"you-re-ready-for-your-first-shift\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">You&#8217;re ready for your first shift!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With your schedule synced, app downloaded, notifications enabled, and a backup in place, you&#8217;re all set for your first on-call shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These simple configurations make quite a difference in your day-to-day life on-call. <strong>They keep you organized, informed, and supported so you can focus on resolving incidents.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go ahead with your first shift. You&#8217;ll figure out what else you need as you go, but for now, you&#8217;re ready. Good luck!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"faqs\"><strong>Can I sync multiple on-call schedules to my calendar?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, most tools give you a separate link for each schedule. Just add them to your calendar, and they&#8217;ll show up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Should I review recent incidents before my first shift?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It often helps to go through recent incidents. They give you a sense of what&#8217;s common and how your team typically responds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What&#8217;s the difference between primary and backup responders?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary responder is the one who gets alerted first when an incident occurs. The backup responder is someone who gets notified if the primary doesn&#8217;t respond within a set time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide walks you through five setup steps before your first on-call shift begins. From calendar integration to on-call notification and backup coverage, these configurations help you stay informed, organized, and supported when incidents strike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":263547072,"featured_media":4821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_import_markdown_pro_load_document_selector":0,"_import_markdown_pro_submit_text_textarea":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvYmxvZy5zcGlrZS5zaFwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDFcL0Jhc2ljcy1vZi1JbmNpZGVudC1NYW5hZ2VtZW50LTEtMTAyNHg1NTUucG5nIiwidHh0IjoiNSB0aGluZ3MgdG8gZG8gYmVmb3JlIHlvdSBnbyBvbi1jYWxsIGZvciB0aGUgZmlyc3QgdGltZSIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiaGlnaHdheSIsImZvbnQiOiIiLCJibG9nX2lkIjoyMzMxMzg5MDB9.LtsXPchf5LOY-qOvvRGn9lq__tmp0nazeZPnQ72rjvkMQ"},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[1467],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Going on-call for the first time? Learn 5 simple setup steps to stay organized, get notified on time, and handle incidents with confidence.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Going on-call for the first time? Learn 5 simple setup steps to stay organized, get notified on time, and handle incidents with confidence.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Spike&#039;s blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-19T12:21:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-23T10:28:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1040\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"564\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sreekar\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sreekar\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sreekar\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eb31f40342cbe6a94ef67a1c0bf20923\"},\"headline\":\"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-19T12:21:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-23T10:28:03+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":559,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Guides\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/\",\"name\":\"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-19T12:21:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-23T10:28:03+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eb31f40342cbe6a94ef67a1c0bf20923\"},\"description\":\"Going on-call for the first time? Learn 5 simple setup steps to stay organized, get notified on time, and handle incidents with confidence.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png\",\"width\":1040,\"height\":564},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/\",\"name\":\"Spike&#039;s blog\",\"description\":\"Learnings and opinions in a changing world\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eb31f40342cbe6a94ef67a1c0bf20923\",\"name\":\"Sreekar\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cb2a2f53f3fd9e9619b7d3aaca20588e6101b5d239f52e0137823bd5d6cd0941?s=96&d=robohash&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cb2a2f53f3fd9e9619b7d3aaca20588e6101b5d239f52e0137823bd5d6cd0941?s=96&d=robohash&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cb2a2f53f3fd9e9619b7d3aaca20588e6101b5d239f52e0137823bd5d6cd0941?s=96&d=robohash&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sreekar\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spike.sh\\\/author\\\/sreekar98\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time","description":"Going on-call for the first time? Learn 5 simple setup steps to stay organized, get notified on time, and handle incidents with confidence.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time","og_description":"Going on-call for the first time? Learn 5 simple setup steps to stay organized, get notified on time, and handle incidents with confidence.","og_url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/","og_site_name":"Spike&#039;s blog","article_published_time":"2026-01-19T12:21:24+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-23T10:28:03+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1040,"height":564,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Sreekar","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sreekar","Estimated reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/"},"author":{"name":"Sreekar","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/#\/schema\/person\/eb31f40342cbe6a94ef67a1c0bf20923"},"headline":"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time","datePublished":"2026-01-19T12:21:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-23T10:28:03+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/"},"wordCount":559,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png","articleSection":["Guides"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/","name":"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png","datePublished":"2026-01-19T12:21:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-23T10:28:03+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/#\/schema\/person\/eb31f40342cbe6a94ef67a1c0bf20923"},"description":"Going on-call for the first time? Learn 5 simple setup steps to stay organized, get notified on time, and handle incidents with confidence.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png","width":1040,"height":564},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/things-to-do-before-you-go-oncall\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 things to do before you go on-call for the first time"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/","name":"Spike&#039;s blog","description":"Learnings and opinions in a changing world","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/#\/schema\/person\/eb31f40342cbe6a94ef67a1c0bf20923","name":"Sreekar","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb2a2f53f3fd9e9619b7d3aaca20588e6101b5d239f52e0137823bd5d6cd0941?s=96&d=robohash&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb2a2f53f3fd9e9619b7d3aaca20588e6101b5d239f52e0137823bd5d6cd0941?s=96&d=robohash&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb2a2f53f3fd9e9619b7d3aaca20588e6101b5d239f52e0137823bd5d6cd0941?s=96&d=robohash&r=g","caption":"Sreekar"},"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/author\/sreekar98\/"}]}},"modified_by":"Sreekar","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfMe4Q-1f8","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4830,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/oncall-handoff-best-practices\/","url_meta":{"origin":4782,"position":0},"title":"Handoff best practices for on-call teams","author":"Sreekar","date":"21st January, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This guide explores handoff best practices for on-call teams, covering when to schedule handoffs, what to discuss during handoffs, and how to notify your team.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guides&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guides","link":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/category\/guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4999,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/offbeat-oncall-rotations\/","url_meta":{"origin":4782,"position":1},"title":"5 Offbeat on-call rotations that work","author":"Sreekar","date":"12th February, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This guide breaks down 5 offbeat on-call rotations to help you solve specific coverage challenges and find a rhythm that fits your team.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guides&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guides","link":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/category\/guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-5.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-5.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-5.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-5.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-5.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-5.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4955,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/weekly-vs-splitweek-oncall-rotations\/","url_meta":{"origin":4782,"position":2},"title":"Weekly vs. split-week on-call rotations: A guide to finding the right rhythm","author":"Sreekar","date":"6th February, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Choosing between weekly and split-week on-call rotations? This guide compares both across three key criteria to help you pick the one that fits your team.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guides&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guides","link":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/category\/guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-1-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4759,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/getting-started-with-oncall\/","url_meta":{"origin":4782,"position":3},"title":"Getting started with on-call","author":"Sreekar","date":"15th January, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This guide helps you make key decisions while setting up your first on-call schedule: who to include, which rotation to pick, when to hand off shifts, and whether you need 24\/7 coverage. Finally, you'll have a working schedule your team can rely on.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guides&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guides","link":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/category\/guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OpsGenie-Shutdown_-Everything-You-Need-To-Know.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OpsGenie-Shutdown_-Everything-You-Need-To-Know.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OpsGenie-Shutdown_-Everything-You-Need-To-Know.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OpsGenie-Shutdown_-Everything-You-Need-To-Know.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OpsGenie-Shutdown_-Everything-You-Need-To-Know.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OpsGenie-Shutdown_-Everything-You-Need-To-Know.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5011,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/follow-the-sun-and-other-oncall-models\/","url_meta":{"origin":4782,"position":4},"title":"Follow-the-sun and other on-call models","author":"Sreekar","date":"12th February, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Some teams need on-call models that go beyond standard rotations. Learn how follow-the-sun and other on-call models work, when to use them, and what challenges to expect.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guides&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guides","link":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/category\/guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-6.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-6.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-6.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-6.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4866,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/who-should-be-oncall\/","url_meta":{"origin":4782,"position":5},"title":"Who should be on-call","author":"Sreekar","date":"29th January, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This guide helps you decide who joins the on-call rotation. Do you need technical experts, or can anyone do it? We explore the specific foundations that need to be in place before you add someone to the schedule.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guides&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guides","link":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/category\/guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-2-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-2-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-2-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-2-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-2-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basics-of-Incident-Management-2-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/263547072"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4782"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5171,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4782\/revisions\/5171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spike.sh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}