Whether it is for proactive problem handling or reactive problem activities, this activity ensures that monitoring, analysis, and notification mechanisms are implemented to detect problems. Once detected, problems are fully recorded and linked to the associated incident(s). Incidents provide the primary source for problem detection; the activity includes further ways to identify problems:

• notification from suppliers
• feedback from the service desk or technical support groups
• proactive approaches like trend analysis.

Problem detection and logging can include both automated and manual activities. The result of this activity is the formal creation of a problem, with the relevant details captured in a problem record.