By
El Copeland
August 21, 2024
•
20 min read
Business
Tutorials

Have you implemented unique colors for your Ticket Statuses in HaloPSA?
Coloring these Statuses adds a great Quality of Life to your Agents working tickets. Often, it is treated as a nice-to-have or “let’s just make it look pretty,” which are fine if it works for you. However, we invite you to imagine instead with us: what if you could leverage symbolic colors that guide an Agent through your defined ticket process. What if you could implement that in a reasonable way?
So, to help lessen that decision fatigue for you since we know you’re busy customizing every other setting in HaloPSA as well, here is the framework that Rising Tide uses to approach customizing these settings to help you quickly and sensibly label your Ticket Statuses. In a future article, we’ll tackle Ticket Action color codes; however, the concepts will generally remain the same.
Before we jump into coloring statuses, let’s start by defining a ticket’s lifecycle according to how your Agents need to allocate their attention to those tickets, whether that is dictated by standard professionalism or ensuring SLAs are kept. For the sake of this conversation, we are going to address these ticket attention phases with the segments: Normal Attention, Elevated Attention, or Inert Attention.
Ideally, your Agents receive a ticket and all things are “Go,” they have everything they need to start working, and then Close the ticket when they've successfully completed the task and can rest on their laurels (or move on to the next ticket!).
We recommend all Normal Attention tickets to be assigned “cool colors” like greens, blues, and purples. (And not cool because we think they’re rad, cool as opposed to warm colors, more information here on color theory) Statuses like New and In Progress generally belong here. We have the ticket, everything is going as planned. What a perfect, serene world. Peaceful, isn’t it?
Unfortunately, that’s not the reality in most of our businesses! What happens when tickets require extra attention or action to ensure their timely completion?
Here in Elevated Attention is where we see statuses like Escalated, Pending Approval, or Reopened: tickets that we need to be actively thinking about and revisiting, especially ones that are keeping our SLA clock running. To inspire action and increase visibility, we’re using warm, fiery colors like Orange, Red, and Yellow.
What if there is a ticket where we cannot take immediate action, or it doesn’t warrant it? That’s our last category: Inert Attention.
There will be times when our tickets are active but there is literally nothing we can do but wait. The SLA clock isn’t running, so we don’t need to worry about taking action on these just yet: statuses like Waiting on Client or Waiting on Vendor. We recommend using greys to signify these statuses’ inactive character.
In general, we recommend you set up HaloPSA to do most of the status setting and remembering to move tasks in and out of statuses, especially Inert-type statuses. Specifically, when setting up these Inert Attention statuses in HaloPSA, be sure to build those Ticket Statuses, Ticket Type Settings, and your related Workflows so when a ticket enters or exits an Inert status, it automatically puts the ticket on or removes it from SLA hold. You can see examples of these settings in the screen captures below.
Some examples of this recommendation in action could be:


With all of these ideas in mind, we suggest as you approach customizing each ticket status, you ask:
What type of Attention do I expect of my team at this status: Normal, Elevated, or Inert?
When you have that answer, choose a color from the suggested family. Remember that color for other statuses you may have for other Ticket Types so it stays consistent regardless of what Area your Agent is operating from!
Here are some examples for what we specifically recommend to Rising Tide Customers. You will likely not need all of them, depending on your MSP’s needs:
As with most rules, there are going to be times when items cross between phases, or you may operate differently and not define a ticket status the same way we did here.
Maybe you have some color-blind technicians on staff and decide to use completely different colors completely or none at all. (If you do want to create a color-blind friendly palette, here’s a great resource.)
Maybe you want to choose different values (light or dark) within a certain family than what Halo provides.
Good! Break our rules. They're just here to help you decide what you do or don't actually want.
Our main recommendation is that you use your best judgement on what is right for your team and just be consistent which sometimes means keeping it simple. And let us know what you ended up doing, you may help someone else. Happy customizing!

Episode 17 warps up the breakdown of version 2.21 and begins 2.212, highlighting impactful updates across billing, SLA visibility, and ticket management. The team dives into major improvements like dynamic ticket filters, default billing templates, and better billing tab access controls. This episode is especially useful for MSPs looking to tighten billing accuracy, improve reporting visibility, and streamline ticket workflows.
Watch Now: By the [run]Book: Episode 17
For easier tracking, check out haloreleases.remmy.dev to filter and search HaloPSA updates by ID, version, and keyword.
The Billing tab is now visible to agents without requiring full billing permissions, with actions locked based on access.
Tickets on hold can now be included in SLA breached filters.
You can now define a default billing template applied automatically when creating a new customer.
Dynamic filters can now be used on ticket lists for more flexible querying.
This helps keep recurring invoices aligned when item third-party IDs change.
Recurring invoices now get the same due date option already available at customer setup.
This adds more control to portal-based approval workflows.
This extends alternate invoicing behavior down to the site level.
This helps prevent tickets from disappearing into inactive-agent limbo.
More ticket list criteria means more practical operational views.
This update improves the ManageEngine Endpoint Central integration.
Halo now supports generic OpenID Connect SSO.
You can now duplicate item bundles instead of rebuilding them manually.
This adds more naming flexibility to the UI.
This makes SLA breach reporting more honest and more useful.
A major improvement for standard billing configuration.
This adds more flexibility to meter-driven recurring billing.
Dynamic ticket filters add a much stronger filtering experience.
Cloning custom fields speeds up admin work.
This update improves chart label readability.
This update refines the encryption update workflow.
This improves call handling context.
This gives more control over quantity precision.
This improves flexibility when linking work records from sales orders.
This adds better billing visibility without fully exposing billing controls.
Spreadsheet imports can now target existing tickets by ID.
A small UI cleanup on the ticket details pane.
This adds flexibility for co-managed support models.
This improves control over CSP user mapping behavior.
This adds clarification around tax rate usage in Xero-linked setups.
This makes Avalara tenant cleanup easier from the client billing tab.
This is a strong automation improvement.
Custom table row deletion gets more precise.
This cleans up recurring invoice visibility.
This is a documentation/config clarity improvement.
Ticket rule assignment now supports more role-based options.
Approval rule logic gets another useful condition.
Supplier-related configuration gets more flexible.
Project templates now get more dynamic input from sales-order-driven creation.
This expands visibility in quote and sales order line views.
This makes customer/site control more precise.
The API docs continue to improve.
This improves ticket logging layout flexibility in the agent app.
This is an important reliability improvement for payment processing.
This adds more flexibility when services are generated from assets.
This improves parent/child ticket data behavior.
Third-party ID linking is now available across more entities.
Query Builder gets another field for reporting logic.
This expands visibility of account/prospect records in top-level views.
Custom buttons now get access control.
This adds polish to the opportunity creation experience.
This is one of the biggest integration-facing updates in the episode.

In Episode 16 of By the [run]Book, Mendy and Robbie continue reviewing HaloPSA v2.210, covering a wide range of updates across billing, workflows, integrations, AI, and asset management. The episode highlights several settings MSPs should review immediately—especially a billing change that can lock recalculation—as well as improvements to ticket automation, AI categorization, and service desk efficiency.
Watch Now: By the [run]Book: Episode 16
For easier tracking, check out haloreleases.remmy.dev to filter and search HaloPSA updates by ID, version, and keyword.
Editing billing time allocation will lock billing recalculation | v2.21 #1044274
A setting has been added to Billing configuration so that editing the billing time allocation on an action will lock the ticket from billing recalculation.
Credit notes can default to today’s date | v2.21 #1042924
A setting has been added to Credit Note configuration so that the Credit Date is set to today's date instead of the Invoice Date.
Auto-assign the next unassigned ticket when closing a ticket | v2.21 #1003964
Added a new setting that automatically assigns an Agent the next available Unassigned Ticket when they close a Ticket.
Parent tickets can inherit dates from child tickets | v2.21 #975755
Added a new Ticket Type setting: "Automatically set Start Date and Target Date based on Child Tickets".
This setting adds a new option for grouping ticket entities during invoice creation in the Ready for Invoicing area.
This setting locks a ticket from billing recalculation when billing time allocation is edited on an action.
A new variable has been added for adjusted opportunity value.
Workflow steps now require an outcome to be selected.
Invoices can now default to the customer’s main site address.
Credit notes can now default to today’s date instead of the original invoice date.
Halo can now remove FW: and RE: prefixes when creating tickets from email subjects.
AI generated summaries can now be displayed in ticket column profiles.
A new advanced setting enables configuration change tracking for Services.
A global setting can now display the asset DID as a read-only field.
Custom integrations can now use separate credentials per instance.
The Main Site Address field can now be used in client and site column profiles.
The instances area has been updated with a new loading method to improve performance.
Tickets generated from Contract Schedules can now be created a specified number of days before the appointment date.
Additional ownership-related fields are now available in asset column profiles.
Asset dependency diagrams can now display customizable fields.
The client API endpoint can now return website data when requested.
The Twilio WhatsApp integration has received multiple improvements.
Assignment rules can now be disabled during Salesforce sync.
Runbooks triggered via webhook can now use a secret URI parameter for authentication.
HubSpot quote imports now include a default user field.
Agents can automatically receive the next unassigned ticket when they close one.
Chat Bot input steps can now access browser local storage.
Additional configuration options are now available for asset system fields.
Asset custom buttons now support dynamic visibility.
Asset fields can now perform SQL lookups.
Stock bins can now be selected for non-serialized assets.
Date custom fields now support validation rules relative to the current date.
Workflow Stage can now be used in the report query builder.
The New Relic integration has received improvements.
The phone number requirement for anonymous portal tickets can now be configured per ticket type.
Parent tickets can automatically derive start and target dates from their child tickets.
AI can now suggest ticket categories from a configurable list.
A new setting expands how Agent Site Restrictions apply to users and organizations.
Halo now allows configuration of how appointment unique IDs are generated.

Episode 15 of By the [run]Book covers Halo v2.208 and starts into v2.210, with Mendy and Robbie walking through SLA refinements, shifts/time tracking updates, billing cadence improvements, and tighter access controls across portals and reporting. Key moments include new SLA response targeting options, a clock-in/clock-out widget for shifts, a bi-monthly schedule period, and expanded team leader controls. This is a useful episode for MSPs looking to tighten operational workflow, reporting governance, and self-service experience improvements.
Watch Now: By the [run]Book: Episode 15
For easier tracking, check out haloreleases.remmy.dev to filter and search HaloPSA updates by ID, version, and keyword.
Adds an SLA option so your first response target can differ from subsequent response targets.
Adds the FAQ List Ticket field as a workflow criteria option.
Allows ticket end-user updates when an anonymous chat is successfully upgraded.
Adds a clock in/clock out widget for Shifts.
Adds a 2-month schedule period option.
Improves Knowledge Base latest article links.
Adds “Visible - Read Only” for Agent Asset details visibility.
Adds load-balance on reopen if assigned agent doesn’t meet qualification rules.
Introduces a module for an Opinyin integration.
Adds test email sending for individual mail campaign messages.
Adds new Halo API actions in runbooks.
Splits KB view counts so end users see only user views (when enabled).
Adds item group restrictions + running cost total on portal ticket item selection.
Adds a Ticket Reference field that’s searchable and usable in column profiles.
Groups service subscribers.
Adds $ variables for CONTRACTSLA, CONTRACTSUBTYPE, CONTRACTSTATUS.
Adds improvements to Agent Resource Booking.
Adds encryption options for variables/responses in integrations/runbooks.
Adds software expiry date tracking on assets.
Adds ticket-type control for end-user approval action visibility.
Allows team leaders to modify agents’ preferences.
Adds bulk add assets via the asset search modal.
Adds chat profile overrides at the user role level.
Allows KB links to include FAQ lists and auto-expand on open.
Allows HTML formatting in popup notes triggered by ticket rules.
Shows credit notes alongside invoices in the portal.
Adds a setting to limit users/agents to one active session.
Adds TD Synnex Quote Line Imports.
Adds dark mode counter widget color options.
Adds downpayment invoice creation from sales orders (fixed price + T&M).
Adds settings to limit portal options to Web Access Level list values.
Adds access control for reports.
Adds a deep link button on imported Addigy devices.
Multiple changes made to the Expenses list.
Allows embedding Halo portal/agent UI (including dashboards) in SharePoint via iframe.
Changes how recurring invoices appear/create based on month selection.
Ensures billing template application creates a billing plan record per matching contract/agreement.
Adds Last Contacted + Created Date fields to NinjaOne device import.
Removes quote “Send” button so sending happens only via ticket/opportunity.
Disables change history tracking for selected asset fields.
Adds invoice access restriction levels (No Access/Site/Client).
Shows the overriding contract field even if it isn’t on the field list (admin-editable only).
Enables database lookup while entering an action in the self-service portal.
Updates the Account Integrator for Sage UK v32 (2026).
Adds a setting to group ticket entities separately during invoice creation.