> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.msportal.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Standards Settings
> Define your recommended technology stack and track tool deployment across client companies
Standards Settings (formerly Tool Stack Settings) let you define the categories and tools that make up your recommended technology stack. Once configured, you can track which tools are deployed at each company and generate planner items for missing deployments.
This settings page was previously called **Tool Stack** and lived at `/settings/tool-stack`. It now lives at `/settings/standards`. The old URL still works and redirects.
## Accessing Standards Settings
1. Click **Settings** in the sidebar
2. Under the **MSP Tools** group, select **Standards**
## Categories
Categories are groups of related tools (e.g., "Endpoint Protection", "Backup", "Monitoring"). Each category contains one or more tool items.
### Creating a Category
Use the **+ Add Category** button at the top of the page.
Click the category name to edit it inline (e.g., "Endpoint Protection").
Click the category settings to set:
* **Description** - What this category covers
* **Icon** - Visual icon for the category
* **Planner Type** - Link to a planner item type so missing tools automatically create planner tasks
* **Require one of group** - Optional toggle that turns the entire category into a single "any one of these is fine" check
### Category Options
| Setting | Description |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name** | Category name, editable inline |
| **Description** | Brief explanation of what tools belong in this category |
| **Icon** | Visual icon displayed next to the category |
| **Planner Type** | Links the category to a planner item type for automatic task creation |
| **Require one of group** | When on, the category counts as one required check satisfied by any deployed item. See below. |
### Require One of Group
Turn this toggle on when the items in a category are alternatives rather than a checklist. A "Backup" category listing Datto, Cove, and Veeam is the canonical example: any one of them satisfies the requirement, and the company shouldn't be penalized for the two it isn't using.
**What happens when you turn it on:**
* The category counts as one required check in compliance scoring instead of one check per item.
* Every item in the category is automatically flipped to **Optional** (server-side and in the UI), and the per-item Required switch is disabled.
* Items in the category render with a "Group" pill instead of "Required" or "Optional" so the row indicators stay consistent with the group rule.
* New items added to the category default to Optional.
* The compliance matrix on the Standards page shows a "1 of N" badge on the category header.
* The Client Health Standards dimension treats the category as one required check rather than scoring each item separately.
**What happens when you turn it off:**
* Items keep their current Optional state. They are not auto-flipped back to Required, since the original Required state was lost when the toggle was first enabled. Set Required individually on the items you want to count as required checks.
Use Require one of group for vendor-alternative categories (Backup, EDR, password managers). Leave it off for categories where every listed item is its own required check (Email Security, Antivirus, MFA).
## Tool Items
Each category contains tool items representing specific products or services.
### Adding a Tool Item
Click a category to expand it.
Use the **+ Add Item** button within the category.
Fill in the tool details: name, vendor, default price, and whether it's required.
### Tool Item Options
| Setting | Description |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name** | Tool name (e.g., "SentinelOne", "Acronis Backup") |
| **Vendor** | Optional vendor name |
| **Default Price** | Default monthly price per unit |
| **Required** | Whether this tool is required for full compliance. Required tools affect the Standards health dimension score. Disabled when the parent category has **Require one of group** turned on. |
| **Description** | Optional description of the tool |
Mark tools as **Required** to include them in health score calculations. Companies missing required tools will receive lower Standards dimension scores. In **Require one of group** categories the per-item Required setting is ignored: any deployed item satisfies the group check.
### Drag and Drop Reordering
Both categories and items can be reordered by drag and drop. Use the grip handle on the left side of each row. Reorders persist immediately and roll back automatically if the save fails.
## Syncing to Companies
After configuring your standards, you need to sync them to your companies so you can start tracking deployments.
### Sync All Companies
The **Sync All** button creates tracking records for every active company. This is useful during initial setup or when adding new categories.
Click the **Sync All Companies** button in the header.
A dialog explains:
* All active companies will receive the standards
* Existing deployment statuses will not be overwritten
* The sync runs as a background task
Click **Confirm** to start the sync. Progress is shown in the header.
Syncing creates planner items for companies missing required tools (if the category is linked to a planner type). This can generate a large number of planner items across your tenant.
## Deleting Categories and Items
When deleting a category or tool item that has linked planner items, you will be asked to type the name to confirm deletion. This prevents accidental removal of items that have active tracking data.
Deleting a tool item removes its tracking records and any linked planner items across all companies.
## Auto-Save
Changes to category names, descriptions, icons, and tool item fields are saved automatically with a short delay. You do not need to click a save button for inline edits.
## Permissions
| Permission | Access Level |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `read_settings_tool_stack` | View standards configuration |
| `manage_settings_tool_stack` | Create, edit, and delete categories and items |
Permission keys still use the legacy `tool_stack` name internally. They control access to the renamed Standards settings page. No action is required when assigning roles.
## Related Resources
Track tool deployments across your client base
Overview of all MSP Tools features