Must-have IT management software RFP template for startups in 2025

For startups, IT isn’t usually its own department — it’s the founder, the COO, or maybe one ops hire handling laptops, SaaS accounts, and provisioning. But as headcount grows, spreadsheets and ad hoc processes create major risks: lost devices, shadow IT, security gaps, and hours wasted on manual onboarding.

The right IT management platform should give lean teams control without complexity. It should unify identity, devices, and inventory in one system, automate onboarding/offboarding, enforce basic security (MFA, encryption, patching), and integrate with HR so every change in the employee record flows everywhere.

This guide shows the critical areas startups should evaluate in an IT management RFP, what best-in-class looks like, and the RFP questions to ask vendors. Plus, we’ll give you a downloadable guide so you can start evaluating IT management software ASAP.

1. Identity and access management

Startups juggle dozens of SaaS apps. Without automation, new hires wait days for access while ex-employees keep lingering accounts. A modern IT system should provide SSO, MFA, and automated provisioning/deprovisioning tied directly to HR data. 

Rippling’s IAM provisions 800+ apps instantly, enforces MFA by role, and revokes access the moment someone leaves.

RFP questions to ask

• Do you support SSO, MFA, and SCIM provisioning across major SaaS apps?

• How many pre-built app integrations do you provide out of the box?

• Can access rules be based on attributes like role, manager, or location?

• Does deprovisioning include license reclamation and file ownership transfer?

• Can managers request or approve access changes without IT tickets?

2. Device management

Every startup laptop is a security liability if it’s unencrypted or unpatched. Device management should enforce encryption, OS patching, and endpoint protection automatically, and enable remote wipe for lost/stolen devices. 

Rippling MDM manages Mac, Windows, iOS, and iPadOS devices in one system, with zero-touch deployment and built-in endpoint protection.

RFP questions to ask

• Do you support Mac, Windows, and mobile devices in one platform?

• Can you enforce encryption, OS patching, and endpoint protection automatically?

• Do you provide zero-touch provisioning for new laptops?

• How fast can lost devices be locked or wiped remotely?

• Can device compliance be tied to app access (e.g., block if unencrypted)?

3. Inventory management

Spreadsheets don’t cut it for tracking devices. Startups need visibility into who has which laptop, whether it’s compliant, and where it is. 

Rippling inventory management ties every device to the employee record, automates shipping and returns from global warehouses, and tracks compliance in real time.

RFP questions to ask

• Can devices be purchased, stored, and shipped directly through your platform?

• Do you provide global warehouses and shipping for new hires?

• How are device returns handled during offboarding?

• Do you track compliance status (encryption, OS version) in the inventory dashboard?

• Can inventory reporting be exported for finance or audits?

4. Automation and compliance

Startups can’t afford IT busywork. The right system should automate onboarding and offboarding end-to-end: provision apps, ship laptops, apply policies, revoke access, and log every step. 

It should also surface compliance risks — like unencrypted laptops — before they become incidents. Rippling automates lifecycle workflows tied to HR data and generates audit-ready logs for SOC 2 and ISO compliance.

RFP questions to ask

• Do workflows trigger automatically when employees are hired, promoted, or terminated?

• Can we customize onboarding/offboarding flows without coding?

• Do you surface compliance alerts (unencrypted device, missing MFA) in real time?

• Are all IT actions logged immutably for audit purposes?

• What certifications do you hold (SOC 2, ISO 27001)?

5. Reporting and visibility

Founders and ops leaders need quick answers: how many laptops are overdue for patching, which contractors still have access, where spend is going. IT management software should provide dashboards and exports that non-technical users can run. 

Rippling gives real-time reports across identity, devices, and inventory — all tied to the employee record.

RFP questions to ask

• What standard reports are included (device compliance, app usage, access logs)?

• Can non-technical users build and schedule custom reports?

• Can data be segmented by team, location, or employment type?

• Do you support exports to CSV, Excel, or BI tools?

• How do you enforce row-level security in shared reports?

How Rippling helps startups

Rippling IT unifies identity, devices, and inventory in one system built on the employee record. That means when you hire someone, they’re provisioned with every app, account, and device they need automatically. When they leave, access is revoked, laptops are returned, and audit logs are generated — all without IT intervention.

For lean startup teams, this saves hours per hire and dramatically reduces risk. Security is enforced by default: MFA, encryption, and patching policies apply across devices; non-compliant devices are flagged instantly. Rippling’s Device Store and warehouses ship pre-configured laptops globally, while inventory dashboards show where every asset is, who it belongs to, and whether it’s compliant.

With Rippling IT, startups can:

• Provision and deprovision apps automatically with SSO and SCIM

• Enforce MFA, encryption, and patching on every device

• Ship and retrieve laptops globally without spreadsheets

• Automate onboarding and offboarding tied directly to HR data

• Generate real-time reports for compliance and audits

Rippling RFP for IT management software for startups example

Ready to evaluate vendors?