Enough for a useful consult
- short description of the situation and since when
- whether this is a company, a lab, or a private matter
- what you want from the reply (direction, scope, or “is this worth it”)
- time and access constraints
What consultation does not include
- an immediate phone call or a 24/7 roster
- remote “fix it blind” work without agreed scope
- advice on bypassing third-party controls