Censeo FAQs on Censeo's Technology: Implementation & Security
  Implementation
Q: Can Censeo’s products be integrated with our LMS?
Q: Can Censeo migrate my company's data and scores into KnowledgeTrack?
Q: What kind of IT support will my company need to provide?
Q: How often does Censeo release updates?
Q: What kind of quality assurance process does Censeo use?
Q: Is the data backed up?
Q: How is the online system monitored?
  Security
Q: How is access to the system and data controlled?
Q: How is the equipment physically protected?
Q: What other steps are taken to secure the hardware?
Q: Is SSL encryption available to provide additional security?
Q: Can Censeo’s products be integrated with our LMS?
A: Yes. Many of Censeo’s clients utilize LMS’s (Learning Management Systems). Because Censeo’s products were designed around many of today’s interconnect standards (AICC, XML, SCORM), we’ve easily linked the power of our assessment delivery/reporting to other systems.
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Q: Can Censeo migrate my company's data and scores into KnowledgeTrack?
A: Yes, Censeo has the expertise to manage the migration of data from any other assessment platform or LMS. We’ve successfully migrated many clients from other vendors, including some with hundreds of thousands of records.
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Q: What kind of IT support will my company need to provide?
A: Censeo’s strength is in tending to all the technical aspects of delivering assessment services. In most cases, no internal IT support is required. When there is a need to integrate with an LMS or intranet, we’re happy to manage the coordination with internal company resources.
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Q: How often does Censeo release updates?
A: Censeo utilizes a quarterly release schedule to promote any enhancements or major revisions. Specified client contacts are notified of the releases and are provided with any appropriate release notes.
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Q: What kind of quality assurance process does Censeo use?
A:

Before a single line of code is written, Censeo performs a detailed requirements gathering and documentation process that includes input from clients, an analysis of the competitive landscape, and development of a GUI-based prototype to validate the proposed modifications or new development. All functionality is documented in a requirements document which is then utilized for developing test cases for use during the SQA process. All new development and enhancements undergo an SQA process that is derived directly from the requirements document.

With respect to code management, Censeo utilizes software from Microsoft (Visual SourceSafe) to manage all code developed by the technology team. Rigorous rules within the system prevent accidental losses of code, a common problem experienced by companies not using such a tool.

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Q: Is the data backed up?
A:

Censeo maintains a backup strategy comprised of multiple levels:

  • The MS SQL database maintains a transaction log.
  • The MS SQL database creates an offline backup of data several times each day.
  • Offline databases are moved to hot-standby hosts several times a day.
  • A tape backup runs every evening to capture all incremental data. Full backups are run weekly. Tape backups are stored offsite.
  • Permanent archives are created periodically, and company administrators also have the capability to export data to Excel via their interface.
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Q: How is the online system monitored?
A:

Censeo and its hosting partner, Atlantic.Net, maintain many levels of monitoring to guarantee optimal performance and availability for CenseoOnline. Contact Censeo for information on Atlantic.Net’s sophisticated capabilities. In addition, Censeo’s monitoring includes:

  • Availability : Censeo runs an IP monitoring program at a remote location which checks the availability of CenseoOnline services every two minutes. Alerts are generated 7x24 to support staff on any failure.
  • Performance : Censeo regularly runs performance stress tests of the application and monitors daily performance levels under a normal load to make sure that clients are operating optimally. Censeo will add capacity to the platform if performance reaches the following thresholds: 70% sustained CPU utilization of services, 50% sustained bandwidth utilization.
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Q: How is access to the system and data controlled?
A: Censeo closely manages employees and any access required to resources. Access to the data center, the hardware, the applications, the application code, and the testing environment, is all based on their role in the company. All employees sign confidentiality agreements when they become employed by Censeo.
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Q: How is the equipment physically protected?
A:

All production equipment is maintained at a highly secure data center with the following features. (A tour is available by advance request.)

  • Data center is secured 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Biometric palm scanners, in conjunction with proximity card readers, control access to the facility and the data center floor.
  • All cabinets and cage spaces are locking.
  • Facilities are monitored via closed circuit digital camera coverage with 24-hour recording and 30-day digital video storage.
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Q: What other steps are taken to secure the hardware?
A:

In addition to firewalling, other industry recommended steps are taken to secure Censeo’s hosting environment. These include:

  • Eliminating all protocols, services, and utilities not required to support the business functions and management of the server.
  • Application software (e.g., Office, FrontPage) or development tools (e.g., Visual Studio) are not installed.
  • All default login information is removed/changed. For example, the default Administrator account is removed and the default SQL Server login for “sa” is assigned a secure password. Guest user for Windows 2003 is disabled.
  • FrontPage server extensions are not installed on the web site. This prevents anyone from gaining programmatic access to CenseoOnline.
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Q: Is SSL encryption available to provide additional security?
A:

Yes, SSL is available as an option to our clients. While there are several ways that a vendor can implement SSL services, Censeo utilizes dedicated, hardware-based SSL accelerators to provide for a high concurrent number of SSL sessions without compromising performance.
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