About this template
An Exception Request Form is a critical governance document used when employees or teams need permission to bypass standard security policies, software protocols, or operational workflows to achieve a specific business goal. Instead of operating in a gray area, this form ensures transparency by formally documenting why the exception is needed, what risks are involved, and how long the deviation will last.
This template captures comprehensive details from the requester—including their contact information, the exact security policy or process involved, start and end dates for the exception, a valid business justification, the potential impact if denied, and a mitigation or maintenance plan. A dedicated review section allows department heads or IT administrators to log their decision, add comments, and record formal sign-off.
By centralizing exception requests, organizations maintain clear audit trails while giving teams the flexibility required to solve unique operational hurdles safely and efficiently.
Key features
- Standardize policy and security exception requests in one place.
- Capture complete justifications, timelines, and impact analyses.
- Include dedicated fields for risk assessment and maintenance plans.
- Streamline review cycles with built-in status and approver notes.
- Deploy instantly to Google Workspace for immediate team use.
Use cases
Requesting temporary approval to use unauthorized software or tools f…
Requesting temporary approval to use unauthorized software or tools for a client project.
Bypassing standard network security rules for external testing or dev…
Bypassing standard network security rules for external testing or development.
Obtaining sign-off for temporary deviations from internal compliance …
Obtaining sign-off for temporary deviations from internal compliance frameworks.
Documenting infrastructure workarounds required to meet tight project…
Documenting infrastructure workarounds required to meet tight project deadlines.
What this form collects
- Request Number (Short answer)Enter the tracking or ticket number if applicable.
- Request Date (Date)Select today's date.
- Requester's Full Name (Short answer)Enter your first and last name.
- Requester Position / Title (Short answer)Enter your current job title.
- Requester Phone Number (Short answer)Enter a direct phone number where you can be reached.
- Requester Email (Short answer)Enter your company email address.
- Security Policy or Standard (Short answer)Specify the exact policy, guideline, or protocol your request pertains to.
- Exception Type (Multiple choice)Select the category that best describes your request.
- Exception Start Date (Date)When do you need this exception to take effect?
- Exception End Date (Date)When should this exception expire?
- Valid Reason for Exception (Paragraph)Provide a detailed business justification explaining why this exception is necessary.
- Denial Impact Statement (Paragraph)What will be the impact on business operations or project delivery if this request is denied?
- Risk and Maintenance Plan (Paragraph)Describe how you plan to monitor risks and bring operations back into compliance before or by the end date.
- Supporting Documentation (Paragraph)Please paste a link to your file (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) or describe the document you wish to attach.
- Request Status (Multiple choice)Select the current status of this request.
- Approver's Name (Short answer)Enter the full name of the reviewing approver.
- Approver Position / Title (Short answer)Enter the job title of the approver.
- Approver Comments (Paragraph)Provide any conditions, notes, or reasons for approval/denial.
- Approval Date (Date)Select the date the decision was made.
FAQ
What is an exception request form used for?
It is used by employees to formally request permission to deviate from established company policies, security guidelines, or operational workflows, ensuring all risks are evaluated and approved by management.
Who should review and approve these requests?
Typically, requests are reviewed by IT security teams, compliance officers, or department managers who understand the policy implications and potential risks.
Can I customize this template for our company policies?
Yes! Once you convert this template into Google Forms using Doc2Form, you can easily add, remove, or modify questions to match your organization's specific approval requirements.
How do I track approvals using this form?
All submissions automatically populate a linked Google Sheet, allowing your review team to sort requests, update statuses, and log approver comments in real time.
Get this form in your Google Drive
Save a copy to your Google Drive with one click (uses 1 credit). Or build from a PDF or description in the app.