---
title: "Service Level Objectives | Vulpine Solutions"
description: "Vulpine Solutions service response priorities, support coverage, escalation practices, and response objectives for managed IT clients."
source: https://vulpinemsp.com/trust/service-level/
organization: "Vulpine Solutions, LLC"
retrieved: 2026-09-21
---

# Service level objectives

What to expect when you need help: how we prioritize requests, when we aim to respond, and how critical issues are escalated.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Not every IT request carries the same urgency. A server outage affecting an entire office needs a different response than a new-user request scheduled for next week.

We assign priorities based on business impact and urgency, then use those priorities to set response expectations and escalation. Severity is assigned by Vulpine after consulting with the client.

## Priority and response objectives

### P1: Critical / service not available

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A major outage or active security incident that prevents the business, a location, or a critical system from operating. Examples include widespread network or server outages, confirmed ransomware, or loss of access to a critical production system for most users.

**Coverage:** Business hours (24x7 response for P1 incidents (critical outage) available as a paid add-on).

**Initial response objective:** Within 2 business hours.

### P2: Significant degradation

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A significant problem affecting a large number of users or a business-critical function, but the organization can still operate in a limited capacity.

**Coverage:** Business hours.

**Initial response objective:** Within 4 business hours.

### P3: Limited degradation

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A limited number of users or functions are affected and the business process can continue, typically with a reasonable workaround.

**Coverage:** Business hours.

**Initial response objective:** Within 8 business hours.

### P4: Small service degradation

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A normal support issue affecting a single user, where the business process can continue without material impact.

**Coverage:** Business hours.

**Initial response objective:** Within 2 business days.

### P5: Long-term project / preventative maintenance

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Planned work that does not interrupt current operations, such as scheduled changes, routine administration, new-user preparation, or project tasks that can be scheduled.

**Coverage:** Business hours.

**Initial response objective:** Within 4 business days.

## Support hours

- **Business hours:** Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM-5:30 PM Eastern Time (ET), excluding observed holidays.
- **After hours:** support requested outside business hours is provided on a case-by-case basis, subject to technician availability, and is billed on a time and materials basis at the applicable rates and multipliers.
- **24x7 response for P1 incidents (critical outage):** available as an optional paid add-on for $35 per user / month, with a $350 per site / month minimum. When purchased, it provides an after-hours response objective of two (2) hours for P1 incidents only. It is intended for active critical incidents, not routine requests that can wait until the next business day.

## How to request support

Submit support requests through the client support portal, support email, or published support phone number. Response objectives begin when the request reaches one of Vulpine's monitored support channels. Requests submitted any other way may be delayed.

For a suspected P1 issue, call rather than relying only on email so we can confirm the incident has been received and prioritized correctly. If you have purchased the 24x7 response for P1 incidents (critical outage) add-on, use the designated emergency contact method.

## Response vs. resolution

**Response objectives are targets, not guarantees, and resolution times are not guaranteed.** The response objective is how quickly we aim to acknowledge the issue and begin appropriate action. Resolution time depends on the cause, complexity, vendor involvement, replacement hardware, third-party availability, and whether a safe workaround exists.

No specific uptime percentage is guaranteed unless expressly agreed in writing. We continue working and communicating according to the severity of the incident rather than treating the first response as completion of the obligation.

## Escalation

Issues are escalated based on severity, elapsed time, technical complexity, and business impact. Critical incidents are escalated immediately. Other requests move to deeper technical or vendor involvement when the issue requires it or is not progressing as expected.

When another provider owns part of the affected system, Vulpine coordinates with that provider for covered vendors rather than simply handing the problem back to the client.

## Planned maintenance

We perform routine maintenance with the goal of minimizing disruption to normal business operations. Work expected to cause a meaningful outage is scheduled outside normal business hours when practical and coordinated in advance when client involvement or downtime is required.

Emergency maintenance needed to address an active security risk or service failure may need to occur without the normal notice period.

## What the response objectives do not cover

- Scheduled projects, onboarding, migrations, and other work with an agreed project timeline.
- Delays caused by third-party vendors, carriers, cloud providers, or unavailable replacement hardware.
- Systems or services outside Vulpine's management or agreed scope.
- Client-requested delays or situations where required access, approval, or information is unavailable.
- Events beyond reasonable operational control.

## Plain-English summary

This page is a plain-English summary of our normal service-response practices. It is not a contract. The Master Services Agreement controls, followed by the Services Guide, and then the signed Quote for client-specific commercial terms.

## Request an IT assessment

Ask us directly how this applies to your office before you sign anything.

- [(727) 312-9686](tel:+17273129686)
- [contact@vulpinemsp.com](mailto:contact@vulpinemsp.com)

[Request an IT assessment](https://vulpinemsp.com/contact/)

We respond within one business day to schedule the 30-minute discovery call.

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**Vulpine Solutions, LLC** - Veteran-owned managed IT and cybersecurity provider based in Riverview, Florida, serving medical practices and professional services firms across the greater Tampa Bay area, with remote support nationwide.

Phone: (727) 312-9686 · Email: contact@vulpinemsp.com · Web: https://vulpinemsp.com/

Canonical HTML version of this page: https://vulpinemsp.com/trust/service-level/
