Recommended Technology Program (RTP)
Derive More Value, Maintain Cybersecurity Posture and Improve Productivity
ITVantix clients are able to derive more value and productivity from their technology investments by following ITVantix’s proven IT management strategy. One component of that strategy is our Recommended Technology Platform which defines ‘Supported’ and ‘Approved’ technologies. The platform provides clarity between ITVantix and our clients to ensure that we mutually understand the investments that will help deliver on better integration, increased staff productivity, more timely support, and optimal security.
As our name and slogan implies, ITVantix partners with you our client, where WE MANAGE TECHNOLOGY to deliver The Best IT Experience in North America, and we both have roles and responsibilities to deliver on that promise. The ITVantix Recommended Technology Platform outlines parts of the partnership and expectations for client investments into their technology. While there are thousands of variables that enable network technology to work effectively, there are some basic guidelines that can mitigate against known issues, enable employee productivity, and ensure a faster return to production in the event of an outage.
Click on each of the categories below to learn more…
MAXX Care (IT Specific)
Power Requirements
Every supported device must be protected by an Uninterruptable Power Supply ("UPS") or otherwise known as a "Battery Backup". Manufacturer: CyberPower, APC, Tripp Lite Age: Less than 3 years Requires network connectivity for remote access, alerting and power management Manufacturer: Dell, HP, Eaton Age: Less than 5 years Manufacturer: Consumer grade Age: Greater than 5 years No management capabilities
Firewall / Security Appliance
Every client site must have an approved firewall / security appliance with an active security subscription with available manufacturer support. Manufacturer: Sophos, Fortinet Age: Less than 5 Years old Security Subscription needs to be current. Manufacturer: Fortinet, WatchGuard, Cisco Age: Less than 5 Years old Security Subscription needs to be current. Manufacturer: ISP provided router, Consumer grade router Age: Greater than 5 Years old Does not have IDS\IPS capabilities
Network Switching
Every client site must have approved network switching with remote management capability. Manufacturer: Ubiquiti, Meraki, Cisco, Sophos, Age: Less than 5 years old, 100/1000 or higher Switches need to have the ability to be managed Manufacturer: Dell, HP, Juniper Age: Less than 7 years old, 100/1000 or higher Switches need to have the ability to be managed Manufacturer: Consumer grade Age: Only supports 10/100 No management capabilities
Wireless Access Point(s)
Every client site must have approved wireless access points with remote management capability. Manufacturer: Ubiquiti, Sophos, Meraki Age: Less than 5 years WAP’s need to have the ability to be managed/accessed remotely Manufacturer: Aerohive Age: Less than 5 years WAP’s need to have the ability to be managed/accessed remotely Manufacturer: Consumer Grade Age: Older than 5 years No Management Capabilities
Physical Server
Clients having physical servers, must have a server from an approved manufacturer. The server must have an active support warranty and the server must be less than 7 years old. Manufacturer: Dell, Lenovo, HP Age: Less than 7 years old Production servers need to be under hardware warranty from manufacturer Manufacturer: IBM, Supermicro Age: Less than 7 years old Production servers need to be under hardware warranty from manufacturer Manufacturer: Whitebox, end user assembled Age: Greater than 5 years No hardware warranty
Server Operating System
Clients having physical servers, must have a supported and properly licensed Server Operating System from an approved manufacturer. Manufacturer: Microsoft Server 2016 or higher Age: Still under active support by Microsoft Licensing: SPLA, Volume, Enterprise, non-OEM or other approved Microsoft licensing Manufacturer: Microsoft, Linux Age: Still under active support by Microsoft or labeled as LTS Licensing: Any Manufacturer: AS400 Age: No longer under active support Licensing: Illegitimate licensing
Hypervisor
Clients with Hypervisors, must have a supported version from an approved manufacturer. Manufacturer: Microsoft Hyper-V Age: Supported version from manufacturer, but recommended to stay current for performance & security Manufacturer: VMware, Zen Server Age: Supported version from manufacturer, but recommended to stay current for performance & security Manufacturer: Linux Based Hypervisor
Line of Business Application(s)
All Client Line of business Applications must be a supported version from the software manufacturer and must be fully supported on 'Approved Server or Workstation Operating Systems'. Age: Supported version from manufacturer, and be supported on ‘Approved Server & Workstation Operating Systems’ Must have software maintenance and support contract Age: Supported version from manufacturer Must have software maintenance and support contract Manufacturer: Self-developed software Age: Software that is not approved to run on installed OS
Email & SPAM Filtering
Clients must be using an approved Email platform. Email SPAM Filtering should be enabled. Manufacturer: Email: Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Google Workplace (a.k.a. Gmail) SPAM Filtering: Sophos Email Protection Actively licensed Manufacturer: Microsoft Exchange Server (On Premise) Actively licensed and installed with active support available from Microsoft. Manufacturer: All other (i.e. POP or iMAP) Not actively licensed.
Storage Area Network (SAN) or Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Clients having physical servers, must have a server from an approved manufacturer. The server must have an active support warranty and the server must be less than 7 years old. Manufacturer: Dell PowerVault, Lenovo, Qnap, Datto, Synology Age: Less than 5 years old Production SAN’s need to be under hardware warranty from manufacturer Manufacturer: Dell/EMC, Dell/EqualLogic’s, IBM DS Series, HP Age: Less than 5 years old Production SAN’s need to be under hardware warranty from manufacturer Manufacturer: Consumer grade Age: Greater than 5 years No hardware warranty
Backup, Disaster Recovery & Contingency Planning (BDR)
Clients having physical servers, must have a Backup, Disaster Recovery & Contingency Planning solution from an approved manufacturer. Manufacturer: Axcient or Datto Age: Less than 5 years old Manufacturer: Veeam, USB Thumb Drive, External Hard Drive Age: Less than 5 years old Manufacturer: Consumer grade Age: Greater than 5 years No hardware warranty
Workstation (Desktop / Laptop)
Workstations must be from an approved manufacturer. Workstations should have an active support warranty and the workstation must be less than 5 years old. Manufacturer: ITVantix, HP, Dell, Lenovo Age: Less than 5 years Recommended warranty for at least 3 years, but not required for desktop/laptops. OS under active support by Microsoft. Manufacturer: Microsoft, Apple Age: Less than 5 years Recommended warranty for at least 3 years, but not required for desktop/laptops. OS supported by manufacturer. Manufacturer: Retired desktop machines with unsupported OS or Linux OS Age: Greater than 5 years Machines that are not running Pro or Enterprise Licenses
Workstation Operating System
Workstations must have a supported and properly licensed Operating System from an approved manufacturer. Manufacturer: Microsoft Windows 10 or higher Age: Still under active support by Microsoft Licensing: SPLA, Volume, Enterprise, non-OEM or other approved Microsoft licensing Manufacturer: Microsoft, Linux Age: Still under active support by Microsoft or labeled as LTS Licensing: Any Manufacturer: Other Age: No longer under active support Licensing: Illegitimate licensing
Copier / Printer
Printers / Copiers and other Multifunction Devices (i.e. print/copy/scan/fax) must be from an approved manufacturer and should be actively supported by the manufacture on "Approved Server or Workstation Operating Systems". Manufacturer: Toshiba, Brother, Canon, HP Age: Less than 5 years Actively supported with drivers available for Approved Operating Systems Manufacturer: Lexmark, Dell, Xerox Age: Less than 5 years Actively supported with drivers available for Approved Operating Systems Manufacturer: Linux CUPS or LPD Printers Any Print Device without an actively supported and available driver
Cybersecurity Policy
Clients must be using an approved Endpoint Security product and meet and compliance standard applicable to the Client's business. Manufacturer: Sophos, Huntress, Windows Defender Actively licensed and installed on all endpoints (i.e. Servers, Workstations, Tablets and mobile devices) Actively engaged with an Annual Pen-Testing and Risk Assessment Service Manufacturer: Sentinal One, Bitdefender Actively licensed and installed on all endpoints (i.e. Servers, Workstations, Tablets and mobile devices) Actively engaged with an Annual Pen-Testing and Risk Assessment Service Manufacturer: All other Not actively licensed and installed on all endpoints (i.e. Servers, Workstations, Tablets and mobile devices) Not actively engaged with an Annual Pen-Testing and Risk Assessment Service
MAXX Voice (Phone Specific)
Internet Connectivity
Every voice client must have a reliable cable or fiber broadband internet connection from a reputable Internet Service Provider ("ISP"). Connection Type: Cable or Fiber Broadband, 5oMbps or higher download speed, 10Mbps or higher upload speed Requires remote network access for management; requires at least 1 static IP from the ISP Connection Type: PRI Requires remote network access for management; requires at least 1 static IP from the ISP Connection Type: DSL or POTS
Firewall / Security Appliance
Every client site must have an approved firewall / security appliance with an active security subscription with available manufacturer support. Manufacturer: Sophos, Fortinet Age: Less than 5 Years old Security Subscription needs to be current. Manufacturer: Fortinet, WatchGuard, Cisco Age: Less than 5 Years old Security Subscription needs to be current. Manufacturer: ISP provided router, Consumer grade router Age: Greater than 5 Years old Does not have IDS\IPS capabilities
Phone Endpoint
Voice clients must have a currently supported modern Voice-over-IP ("VoIP") phone endpoint from an Approved manufacturer. Manufacturer: Grandstream, Yealink, Polycom Age: Less than 5 years Phone must be actively supported by the approved manufacturer with current firmware installed Manufacturer: Digium Age: Less than 5 years Phone must be actively supported by the approved manufacturer with current firmware installed Manufacturer: Other Phone is no longer actively supported by manufacture; phone no longer has firmware available to support required features or connect to modern Voice-over-IP ("VoIP") systems
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