IT Service Level Agreement: Definition & Sample

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An IT service level agreement (SLA) is a written contract between a business and its IT provider that sets expectations around the level of service the customer can expect. This can include terms dealing with uptime, customer service response time, scheduled maintenance, and more.

An IT service legal agreement also spells out what can happen if there's an issue with your IT system. These legal documents are critical to establishing a successful relationship and engagement with your IT service provider.

Common Sections in IT Service Level Agreements

Below is a list of common sections included in IT Service Level Agreements. These sections are linked to the below sample agreement for you to explore.

IT Service Level Agreement Sample

Client Service Level Agreement

Section 1: Definitions

This service level agreement (the “ Client SLA ”) shall be used to describe Client’s responsibilities with respect to service availability and resolving incidents. Any capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement.

For purposes of this Client SLA, the following definitions shall be used:

“ Business Hours ” means 9:00:00AM UTC-3 to 17:00:00PM UTC-3 from Monday through Friday, without exception (including local, national, or international holidays).

“ VV Initial Response ” means a verbal, written, or electronic response to an Initial Notice, in each case non-automatic, from Client to Airfox regarding a reported or discovered Error that details its Severity Level and provides a general approach for next steps.

“ VV Final Resolution ” means a permanent fix to the Error to bring VV Services functionality back into a resolve state.

“ VV Services ” means the Client System, including the CDC and any other Client service that connects to or integrates with the VV API or the Airfox Mobile Wallet.

“ VV Temporary Resolution ” means a temporary fix or patch to the Error to bring VV Services functionality back to a resolved state until a Final Resolution is available.

Section 2: Service Availability

Client will provide Airfox with access to the VV Services seven (7) days per week, twenty-four

hours per day, excluding VV Scheduled Downtime.

Section 3: Scheduled Downtime

Client shall perform periodic maintenance on the VV Services for purposes of system upgrades, maintenance, and backup procedures. When commercially reasonable, Client will perform such maintenance without disrupting access to the VV Services. Where access needs to be disrupted (“ VV Scheduled Downtime ”), Client shall: (i) where possible, perform such maintenance during low usage periods; (ii) where possible, provide reasonable advance notice to Airfox of the VV Scheduled Downtime; (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to limit the amount of VV Scheduled Downtime. VV Scheduled Downtime shall not exceed four (4) hours per month.

Section 4: Client IT Support

Client will use commercially treasonable efforts to provide Airfox with:

all necessary resources to support the VV Services with respect to the VV API; and

e-mail support to assist in identifying and resolving errors with respect to the VV API.

Section 5: Incident Management

Airfox and Client acknowledge and agree that there may be defects in the VV Services or defects in features within the Airfox Mobile Wallet that directly impact the performance of the VV API and prevent it from performing as accepted (“each a VV Error ”). Errors may include operation and functionality defects, security defects, viruses and bugs. When Client initially detects, or when Airfox initially reports to Client, an Error, (“ VV Initial Notice ”) Client will promptly classify the Error in accordance with the severity levels set forth in Table A1 below (each a “ Severity Level ”). Client may modify the classification after the Initial Response if appropriate.

– Severity Level Guidelines

VV Severity Level

A critical problem in which the VV Services (i) are down, inoperable, inaccessible, or unavailable, (ii) otherwise materially cease operation, or

(iii) perform or fail to perform so as to prevent useful work from being done.

A problem in which the VV Services and the hosting environment (i) are severely limited or major functions are performing improperly, and the situation is significantly impacting certain portions of Users’ operations or productivity, or (ii) have been interrupted but recovered, and there is high risk of recurrence.

A minor or cosmetic problem with the VV Services that (i) is an irritant, affects non-essential functions, or has minimal operations impact, (ii) is localized or has isolated impact, (iii) is a nuisance, (iv) results in visual errors, or (v) is otherwise not Severity 1 or Severity 2, but represents a failure of VV Services to conform to specifications.

If Initial Notice occurs during Business Hours , Client will provide Airfox with VV Initial Responses, Temporary Resolutions, and Final Resolutions within the timeframes provided in Table B1 below.

Table B1 – Incident Response for Initial Notices within Business Hours

VV Severity Level

VV Initial Response

VV Temporary Resolution

VV Final Resolution

If Initial Notice occurs outside of Business Hours , Client will provide Airfox with Initial Responses, Temporary Resolutions, and Final Resolutions within the timeframes provided in Table B2 below.

Table B2 – Incident Response for Initial Notices outside of Business Hours

VV Severity Level

VV Initial Response

VV Temporary Resolution

VV Final Resolution

Reference:
Security Exchange Commission - Edgar Database, EX-10.4 11 airfox_ex10z4.htm CLIENT SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT, Viewed September 23, 2021, View Source on SEC.

Who Helps With IT Service Level Agreements?

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Meet some of our IT Service Level Agreement Lawyers

Joshua S.

Managing Partner Free Consultation Member Since:
September 14, 2023

Joshua S.

Managing Partner Free Consultation New York, New York 18 Yrs Experience Licensed in NY Boston University

Joshua is an experienced attorney with deep expertise in finance, corporate, and business law. He offers practical legal solutions and personal service. As Managing Partner of Soloway Group PC, he advises startups, growing companies and investment funds on key issues, from formation to fundraising, stock issuances, trademarks and general business. He started out structuring funds and transactions at PwC before launching his own firm in 2009. He has been a partner in several New York law firms and has founded several companies including a banking firm, a real estate business, and a Cleantech company. Joshua has also served as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of several companies in the tech, real estate, consulting, and sustainability industries. Prior to law school he was an early employee at a SoftBank-backed startup until it’s acquisition. Over the years, Joshua has helped many clients to launch, finance and grow successfully.

Sarah F.

Junior Partner Free Consultation Member Since:
September 15, 2023

Sarah F.

Junior Partner Free Consultation Raleigh, NC 5 Yrs Experience Licensed in NC, WY Campbell Law School

Sarah brings together her accounting and legal background to help solve client problems. Sarah couples her broad, general commercial legal background with our client’s international and business problems to arrive at elegant solutions that work for their business.

Sarina G.

Free Consultation Member Since:
September 14, 2023

Sarina G.

Free Consultation Columbus, Ohio 5 Yrs Experience Licensed in OH Capital University Law School

Hi, I'm Sarina. Thank you for taking the time to read my bio! In 2019, I graduated summa cum laude from Capital University Law School. While in law school, I was a staff member and editor on the Capital University Law Review. I was also involved in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and Operation Legal Help Ohio, a program which provides legal assistance to veterans. One of the highlights of my law school experience was my externship with Judge Jeffrey Sutton in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. After law school and passing the Ohio bar exam, I worked for two years as an associate at an AmLaw 100 law firm, where my practice focused on corporate, healthcare, and regulatory law. I then took an in-house position at one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the USA, where I oversaw corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, contracts negotiations, intellectual property, and other general corporate matters. Specifically, I am proficient in business law, navigating due diligence during acquisitions, contract drafting and review, and providing effective advice in the nuanced field of regulatory law. I prioritize responsiveness and thoroughness. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions!