Strategy templates define the complete structure of your client Reports. Every Report you create is an instance of a strategy template, which means the template controls what Assessment items exist, how parts are configured, what columns appear, and what default content is included.
Understanding how templates work is important because changes you make at the template level affect your Reports in different ways depending on what you're changing.
How template updates flow to Reports
Not all template changes work the same way. There are three categories:
Assessment item changes update automatically. When you add items, edit options, change risks or solutions, or modify tags, those changes update all client Reports immediately, including existing drafts. This is one of the biggest benefits of using Strategy Overview. Refine your assessment methodology once, and every client Report reflects those improvements.
Structural changes update with control. Changes to report structure (which parts to include, column layouts, dashboard configurations) apply to new Reports automatically. For existing draft Reports, you push these updates manually using the Apply changes to all drafts button when you're ready.
Text customizations stay local. Changes to template text (Executive Summary content, Cover Page text) don't overwrite text you've already customized in existing client Reports. This protects the custom content you've written for specific clients.
This design means your Assessment methodology stays consistent across all clients while giving you control over when structural changes apply and protecting client-specific content.
The Strategy Overview template
The platform includes a pre-built Strategy Overview template with 100+ Assessment items covering infrastructure, security, software, collaboration tools, and vertical-specific topics. It's been refined since 2009 and used for thousands of Assessments by MSPs of all sizes.
Use this template to:
Conduct quarterly TSMs with managed clients
Perform paid technology assessments for prospects
Evaluate new client environments during onboarding
Create consistent strategic planning conversations across your client base
Why one template works best
We recommend maintaining a single primary template rather than creating multiple versions:
Consistency across clients. Your team follows the same Assessment methodology regardless of client size or industry. This creates predictable processes and reduces training complexity.
Easier updates. Changes to your methodology only need to happen once. When you refine an item or add new technology categories, every client benefits immediately.
Comparable data. Health Scores and technology maturity comparisons work across your entire client base when everyone uses the same Assessment framework.
Less maintenance. Multiple templates create version control problems and duplicate effort when making improvements.
Use tags instead of multiple templates
Not every Assessment item applies to every client. Tags let you show or hide specific items based on client characteristics without creating separate templates.
The Strategy Overview template includes tags for maturity progression:
1. Fundamentals: essential managed IT services for new clients
2. Operating: deeper hardening for stable client environments
3. Scaling: growth-oriented optimization for mature clients
And category tags:
Efficiency: operational efficiency and productivity items
Prospect: discovery items for the sales process
Security: cybersecurity-related items
Vertical: industry-specific items
These are a starting point. You can create your own tags, rename existing ones, or build a tagging system that fits how your team works. Filter by tags during Assessments to focus on what matters for each specific client or review type. This lets you run a comprehensive 100+ item Assessment for mature clients or a focused 30-item Assessment for new clients, all from the same template.
How unanswered items work
You don't need to answer every item on every Assessment. Unanswered items don't negatively impact Health Scoring and can be hidden from Reports and client views.
This means you can skip items that don't apply to a specific client, leave items unanswered until you gather the necessary information, focus on the most relevant areas during each review cycle, and build out comprehensive Assessments over time rather than all at once.
Items marked as "Hidden" or left unanswered won't appear in client-facing Reports or dashboards.
Best practices
Start with the provided template. Don't spend time rebuilding from scratch. Every item represents a technology issue that has impacted real MSP clients.
Customize over time. Make adjustments as you use the template rather than trying to perfect it before your first Assessment.
Use tags strategically. Create filtered views for different client types or review scenarios instead of creating new templates.
Focus on what matters. Answer the items relevant to each client and hide the rest.
You can download the latest version of the Strategy Overview template from the Marketplace (see the Marketplace article for details).