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Network Security. System Security. Physical Hardware Security. No matter how you look at it, Thoughtbus takes the responsibility of securing your data seriously. Thoughtbus employs the latest techniques to ensure you never have to worry about someone unwanted getting in, or any of your communications getting out. Security isn't the only thing the entire Thoughtbus team takes seriously. With Thoughtbus's 99.9% uptime guarantee, you can feel confident that your data will always be available when you need it.

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Security is a critical differentiator between hosted Exchange providers. It is important to ask every provider you are considering questions regarding the security of their service.

Ask any hosted Exchange server provider:

Is your information protected when it is traversing the Internet?
The answer to this question depends on support for HTTPS in Outlook Web Access and Microsoft SharePoint, and the extent to which your service provider enables you to encrypt your e-mail messages, so when they are forwarded from your email server to the recipient's email server they are protected from attempts to view the email, either on the Internet or on the recipient's email server. Thoughtbus fully supports 128-bit encryption via HTTPS with Outlook 2003, Outlook Web Access and Hosted SharePoint. Outlook and OWA also support the use of x.509v3 certificates to enable you to encrypt your sensitive messages.

Are your hosting provider's backup tapes password-protected?
Thoughtbus password-protects all backup tapes.

Does your hosted Exchange server provider have a policy regarding access to customer emails by hosted Exchange server provider employees and vendors?
Thoughtbus has a strict policy on who has access to the locations where customer data is stored, including active monitoring, enforcement, and notification.

The Thoughtbus systems architecture consists of a redundant configuration supporting thousands of simultaneous clients with high performance email and collaboration services. The hardware platform includes IBM eServer xSeries servers and Cisco switches and routers. Multiple front-end and back-end servers provide load balancing and failover, with fully-redundant generator and battery backed power.

     Download the Thoughtbus Brochure for more Detailed Architecture Information

Thoughtbus uses Time Warner Telecom as the hosting facility for our customers. Why? Time Warner provides Tier-1 Internet connectivity, along with the highest level of security, speed and stability required to ensure customers always have access to their data.

View the Thoughtbus network diagram.

Thoughtbus maintains a 99.9% uptime guarantee that includes rebates for customers that experience and report non-scheduled downtime of their hosted Exchange server systems. View the Thoughtbus Service Level Agreement. View the Thoughtbus Service Level Agreement .

From time to time, Thoughtbus will have to make the server system unavailable for maintenance. This will always be performed on weekends, either late at night or early morning, to minimize any inconvenience. Customers will always be notified at least 48 hours prior to scheduled maintenance.

Thoughtbus maintains an offsite location with backup tapes and sufficient servers to perform the functions of the production servers in the event of a disaster at the primary facility. Our goal is to be up and running again within 48 hours of a disaster, and we perform practice drills to ensure we can meet this goal.

We perform nightly mailbox backups, and save them for 4 weeks. Backups are stored off-site for further protection. For a charge of $19.95, upon user request, we can restore a complete mailbox as of any night in the past 4 weeks, and give the user access to that restored mailbox (separate from their primary mailbox) for a week. For $29.95, we offer a similar service for the restoration of a complete SharePoint website.