ActivitySuite Frequently Asked Questions

Is my data secure?
How does the billing work?
Can I purchase the software?
Do I have access to my data?
How is my data backed up?
Where are the servers located?
Is my data at risk if a laptop is stolen?
What if I can't get an internet connection in the field?
How does the GPS work?
Can I provide Clients with access to data?

Is my data secure?
The ActivitySuite web site is secured by an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate.  An SSL certificate protects the information that's flowing to and from our website.  It encrypts names, addresses, passwords, account numbers, incidents, logs and more so hackers or unauthorized parties cannot access the information.  This is the same type of encryption used by banking institutions to secure financial transactions.

How does the billing work?
We charge a monthly subscription fee to use the ActivitySuite service.  The rate is not based on number of users or features.  Instead, we follow your company's usage by tracking the number of browser sessions (or logins). At the beginning of each month, your previous month's usage determines your rate for the upcoming month.  Subscription rates are divided into three plans.  Please see pricing for a complete description of our subscription plans, rates and features.

Can I purchase the software?
No.  The software is not for sale.  However, we will license a compiled version of the software for you to install on your local area network.  Be advised that you would be responsible for providing all IT support necessary to install and maintain your own website and database servers.

Do I have access to my data?
Yes.  On the Administrator's menu, there is a backup command that will provide you with access to the content for all of your sites.  The information for each site is exported to a CSV (Excel-compatible) file and then compressed into ZIP (archive) files for you to download.

How is my data backed up?
We employ several strategies for backup.  First, the ActivitySuite database servers are configured with RAID technology.  When disks are configured for RAID, data is written identically (mirrored) on separate drives.  RAID provides fault tolerance from disk errors or failures and continues to operate as long as at least one drive in the mirrored set is functioning.  We also copy disk content (photos, resource files and database items) to a separate physical location on a regularly scheduled basis.

Where are the servers located?
Our servers are hosted by GoDaddy.com.  GoDaddy data centers are located on the backbone of the Internet, operating at a 20 Gbps bandwidth for optimum response times.  The network operations center is monitored 24x7 with on-site support staff.  Since its deployment in 2009, ActivitySuite has maintained a 99.9998% up-time.

Is my data at risk if a laptop is stolen?
No.  Since your data is maintained on our server, no data is stored on the local machine.  Authentication tickets are time-limited so all users must reenter their passwords after 24 hours .  When administrators deactivate a user account the effect is immediate - even if the user is currently logged in.

What if I can't get an internet connection in the field?
We provide a stand-alone program that is loaded on a laptop and allows activity logs to be entered offline.  When an internet connection is not available, the logs are cached in an encrypted text file.  As soon as a connection is reestablished, the logs are automatically uploaded to the server.  The tool enables field officers to work in locations without internet connectivity.

How does the GPS work?
We interface with an industrial GPS satellite receiver -- the Garmin USB-18.  The receiver connects to a PC or laptop on the USB port.  We provide an application that installs on the laptop, reads the GPS unit and updates our servers with location and speed.  GPS tracking can be monitored by ActivitySuite dispatchers on the Site Information screen.

Can I provide Clients with access to data?
You can create user accounts with a clients role.  These accounts have controlled access and can only log in via the ActivitySuite Client Portal.  Administrators can control which sites and incident types are exposed to clients.  The client portal also provides access for submission of vacation watch requests and to manage onsite lighting maintenance.