Most IT consultancies deliver projects and move on. The client does not hear from them until something breaks or the next project kicks off. A status page changes that dynamic: it keeps the consultancy's name visible to the client every time the client checks their systems are running, and it demonstrates ongoing commitment to the quality of what was built.
The trust gap in consultancy delivery
When a consultancy delivers a project and goes quiet, the client's natural assumption is that the consultancy has moved on. If something breaks three months later, the client feels abandoned. A status page that updates automatically every hour signals that the consultancy is still watching, even if no one is manually monitoring anything. That perception is enormously valuable in maintaining client relationships.
What to monitor for a client deliverable
For a website project: HTTP check on the main domain, SSL certificate check, DNS check, and an SEO check to catch post-launch performance regressions. For an API or backend service: HTTP check on the health endpoint and TCP checks on relevant ports. For a cloud or infrastructure project: TCP checks on key ports and DNS checks on any custom domains. Document what you are monitoring and why — the documentation is part of the deliverable.
Handing over the status page
When you hand over a project, hand over the status page URL as part of the documentation pack. Show the client how to read the check history bar, explain what each check means, and explain what to do if a check turns red. This handover conversation is also an opportunity to discuss a support retainer or ongoing monitoring agreement.
VP Watchtower as a showcase of your own infrastructure
VantagePoint Networks uses VP Watchtower to demonstrate the monitoring they deliver for clients. The tool runs on VantagePoint's own infrastructure, monitored by its own monitoring stack. This is the definition of eating your own cooking — the consultancy uses the same practices it recommends to clients, and the tool itself is the proof. That is the culture VP Watchtower was built to represent.