TeraCenter

1. What does TeraCenter Do?
2. Who is TeraCenter?
3. What is the IT Guardian?
4. Why should I choose TeraCenter?
5. What types of businesses need the TeraCenter solution?
6. What are some of the business risks that TeraCenter addresses?
7. Will the system expand to support my business as it grows?
8. If a catastrophic event destroys my corporate data, how fast can I recover it?
9. How often does TeraCenter perform a full backup of the customer data?
10. What type of computer network must my business have in order to interface with IT Guardian?
11. When did TeraCenter release the IT Guardian product?
12. Can I work from home?
13. How do I transfer files using the system?
14. How secure are communications?
15. Does the TeraCenter solution include a firewall?
16. Does the system provide protection against viruses?
17. Do I have to change ISP's?
18. Does TeraCenter provide hosting services?
19. Does TeraCenter provide a security policy?
20. Is the system brandable?
21. What is the pricing structure?

1. What does TeraCenter Do?
Large enterprises have access to information technology (IT) that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) cannot afford to purchase or support. Now, TeraCenter enables SMBs to use IT affordably.

TeraCenter's IT Guardiansm plugs into an existing network, instantly enabling:

Network security against unauthorized intrusion,
Offsite backup of corporate data, and disaster recovery within a day,
Employees can telecommute securely from home or the road, and
You have secure channels for sharing data and files instantly with customers, vendors, and partners.

IT's easy to use and it's all managed for you. A starter package can be installed and run for the price of a full-time minimum-wage worker!

2. Who is TeraCenter?
TeraCenter is a California corporation offering affordable, managed IT solutions to SMBs using the IT Guardian, an office appliance.

TeraCenter works with service providers, integrators and consultants, and equipment manufacturers to distribute its products and services.

IT's affordable!
IT's easy to use!
And WE worry about IT for you!

IT's Information Technology (IT), delivered through the IT Guardian!

3. What is the IT Guardian?
IT Guardian is an integrated solution that includes hardware, software, and business processes. IT Guardian includes a secure network architecture, network services, and the ability to share data quickly and securely.

The IT Guardian can interoperate with all common platforms, including Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, and UNIX.

4. Why should I choose TeraCenter?
The typical business owner faces several challenges from an information technology standpoint. First, the IT staff and resources in a small business environment are usually limited. The TeraCenter solution includes a skilled team of engineers with a broad range and depth of expertise who, in effect, become an extension of the business owner's resources. This allows the business owner to apply his or her own limited IT resources to meeting the needs of end users.

Second, the enterprise solutions available to large corporations are complex and expensive. Business owners need the security that these systems provide, but at an affordable price. The TeraCenter solution is managed for you, and there is no capital investment required for either software or hardware.

The TeraCenter solution can be implemented on any existing office network, regardless of manufacturer. TeraCenter's subscription-based model allows the owner to better predict and manage IT costs.

5. What types of businesses need the TeraCenter solution?
Businesses that need to share information securely and inexpensively with employees, suppliers, and customers should consider TeraCenter, especially businesses that:

communicate using mail, Email, FEDEX, or other methods.
are connected to the Internet and could be vulnerable to unauthorized intrusion.
would suffer if they lost corporate data.
would benefit from having employees telecommute, working from home or on the road.
need to control IT costs.

6. What are some of the business risks that TeraCenter addresses?

High capital expenditures on a failed IT project or one with an uncertain outcome.
Unauthorized intrusion on the corporate network.
Loss of corporate data due to a catastrophic event.
Loss of time, money, or opportunity due to an inability to communicate effectively.

7. Will the system expand to support my business as it grows?
Yes! TeraCenter's solution is scalable. It can support large numbers of users and can scale rapidly even with the most aggressively growing businesses.

8. If a catastrophic event destroys my corporate data, how fast can I recover it?
Our technicians can fully restore your IT Guardian's corporate data within 24 hours.

9. How often does TeraCenter perform a full backup of the customer data?
A full backup 'mirror' of your data is updated every 24 hours.

10. What type of computer network must my business have in order to interface with IT Guardian?
IT Guardian connects to just about any existing office network, and can operate with all common platforms. TeraCenter partners with local network consultants to assist companies who lack an existing office network. A high-speed Internet connection is required also. IT Guardian can use your existing connection, or one can be managed for you by TeraCenter.

11. When did TeraCenter release the IT Guardian product?
The current version of IT Guardian was deployed in early 2001. Product development is continuing, with the next major release scheduled for second quarter 2002.

12. Can I work from home?
Yes! When working from home, managers and employees have the ability to access files that live in your office, and deliver files to clients or business partners via secure encrypted methods.

13. How do I transfer files using the system?
Users working locally on a network simply drag and drop files from their local disk drive to the IT Guardian, which looks just like another disk drive on the network. Users working remotely from the office can transfer files using a file manager similar to popular file managers such as Windows Explorer. In addition, users can use special secure areas to share information with customers and suppliers.

14. How secure are communications?
TeraCenter uses 128-bit commercial-grade encryption for the transit of data over the Internet, the highest level offered. This encryption method is similar to that used by major banks to secure financial data and process online credit card transactions.

15. Does the TeraCenter solution include a firewall?
Yes! A firewall provides protection against unauthorized intrusion. To be truly effective, a firewall must be continually managed. An unmanaged or mis-configured firewall is vulnerable to attack. Few companies have the expertise or inclination to manage them effectively. As a TeraCenter customer, your firewall is managed around the clock.

16. Does the system provide protection against viruses?
Currently, TeraCenter recommends commercially available antivirus protection at the desktop level, which is known to be very effective.

17. Do I have to change ISP's?
No. It is not necessary to change Internet Service Providers. TeraCenter is capable of supporting your existing Internet connection.

18. Does TeraCenter provide hosting services?
Yes! TeraCenter can host your Email and web site services.

19. Does TeraCenter provide a security policy?
Yes! TeraCenter is developing a security standard that complies with International Standards Organization (ISO) recommendations. Organizations that adapt and maintain security and information usage policies generally avoid disasters. If your company does not have established policies, TeraCenter will make our policies available to you.

20. Is the system brandable?
Yes! The IT Guardian interface can be customized as required to incorporate a company logo and other elements associated with a company's image. The system allows customers to brand intranets, partner web sites, and network usage policies. Distributors can brand the system as well, allowing an ISP or consulting group to deploy their own TeraCenter solution.

21. What is the pricing structure?
The TeraCenter solution is subscription-based, requiring no capital investment by the business owner. Billing is month to month, with a one-time installation charge. Pricing is based on the actual number of users. TeraCenter offers one, two, and three-year contracts.