Access and identity
Who can reach what, from where.
One self-hosted platform for the tools every small business needs
ITbox is our own IT platform: VPN, file sharing, identity, wiki, chat, video, calendar, a phone system and backups, running on a server you control instead of a stack of per-seat subscriptions.
Replace the pile of logins
Most small businesses accumulate a VPN app here, a file-sharing subscription there, a separate chat and video tool, a calendar somewhere else and often a phone system too. ITbox puts them behind one login, on modest hardware, and once it is set up it does not need deep technical knowledge to run.
One server, not a stack
Many modules in a single self-hosted platform instead of a separate SaaS bill for each.
Modular
Turn on the modules your business needs. Nothing speculative runs in the background.
You own the data
Everything runs on your own server, or one we manage for you, not on a third party's cloud.
3-Year Total Cost of Ownership Comparison
Comparing commercial cloud SaaS subscriptions against one private self-hosted server for a 15-user team.
Labelled as calculated on our 3-Year Total Cost of Ownership page:
| Cost & Horizon Comparison | Commercial SaaS Stack (15 Users) | ITbox Self-Hosted Model |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | ~$900 / month | $0 per-seat licenses |
| 3-Year Total Cost | $32,400 / 3 years | $8,000–$9,500 / 3 years |
| 3-Year Net Savings | — | Saving over $22,000 |
| Break-Even Horizon | Perpetual subscription overhead | Break-even 5–8 months |
Eleven modules, in four groups
Files, storage and backups
Where your data lives and how it is protected.
Knowledge and collaboration
How the team shares what it knows.
Team Wiki & Docs
Centralize company knowledge, SOPs, and project documentation.
Internal Team Chat
Fast, private workplace communication on your own server.
Video Calls
Frictionless, private video meetings directly in your browser.
Calendar & Contacts
Centralized scheduling and shared company address books.
Calling and device control
The office phone and the machines on the desks.
Honest comparisons & cost analysis
Understand where commercial SaaS makes sense and where on-premise ITbox saves thousands. Compare ITbox vs SaaS subscriptions and ITbox vs Microsoft 365 on data ownership.
ITbox setup 8-16 hours, $1,200-$2,400.
ITbox vs. SaaS subscription stacks
An honest breakdown of where commercial cloud software excels, and where an on-premise flat-cost ITbox saves thousands annually.
ITbox vs. Microsoft 365 on data ownership
A frank look at physical data custody, Canadian data residency, and keeping business files safe on local Calgary hardware.
3-year total cost of ownership analysis
A transparent 36-month cost comparison of modest hardware and hourly setup vs compounding per-seat monthly SaaS invoices.
Easy to set up, easy for anyone to run
Built for businesses without an IT department.
One panel, plain language
Adding an employee, granting VPN access or resetting a password is a button in a single admin panel, not a config file or a command line.
Feels like apps people already use
Chat, calendar and video calls look and behave like the consumer apps your team already knows, so there is nothing new to train anyone on.
A simple portal for every employee
Staff get their own login to the wiki, chat, calendar, their phone setup and the company directory, without ever seeing the admin panel.
One-command install
Setup is a single installer that puts Docker in place, creates your admin account and starts everything. Modules are then switched on from a built-in Module Store.
Open source, no per-seat fees
ITbox is free, open-source software with no vendor lock-in. You pay only if you want us to handle setup, upgrades or support.
Runs on hardware you already have, or a cheap one to buy
ITbox is not built for data-centre hardware. It is designed to run comfortably on a low-power mini PC, an old office desktop or a small VPS. Only storage scales with your business, since it depends on how much you back up and share.
Minimum
A small team getting started with VPN, file share, chat and wiki
- CPU: 2 cores
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 60 GB, plus space for your files
Recommended
The full module set with everyday video calls, up to about 25 people
- CPU: 4 cores
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 250 GB SSD, plus space for your files
Architecture & In-Depth Guide
Want to understand the engineering choices and Docker container stack behind ITbox?
Why We Built ITbox: A Self-Hosted IT Platform for Small Business
Explore how small businesses can achieve complete digital sovereignty, private local file storage, and encrypted remote access without paying compounding SaaS subscriptions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an IT department to run ITbox?
No. Day-to-day tasks such as adding a user or resetting a password happen in one admin panel. Anyone comfortable with email and a web browser can manage it, and we can handle installation, upgrades and support if you prefer.
What hardware does ITbox need?
It is designed for modest hardware: a low-power mini PC, an old office desktop or a small VPS. The minimum is 2 cores, 4 GB of RAM and 60 GB of storage, and storage is the only thing that grows with your business.
Is ITbox free?
ITbox is open-source software with no per-seat fees. YYCIT charges for the work you ask us to do, such as setup, upgrades and support, at the same hourly rate ($115 to $150/hr) as our other services.
Where does my data live?
On a server you control, or one we manage for you, rather than in a third party's cloud. Backups can go to the box's own storage or to an Amazon S3 bucket you choose.
Ready to take control of your office IT tools?
Describe your setup and what is bothering you. You get a straight answer on scope and cost, not a sales script.