At AmeriCorp we are committed to protecting your information by using a combination of state-of-the-art technology and methodology to ensure our systems are both available and secure.


Any data information sent via the web browser is scrambled. This technology, called Secure Socket Layers (SSL), protects information submitted and received through this site. In addition, any sensitive information that is sent to our site is held in a secured environment, protected by tools such as firewalls and/or database field encryption. No representation is made, however, regarding the unconditional security of such submissions.


Many browsers today offer both 40-bit and 128-bit versions of SSL. 128-bit encryption provides a much higher level of security, as it is more than 300 x 1024 more secure than 40-bit encryption. Major commercial browsers, including the 4.0 and higher versions of NetscapeTM Navigator and Microsoftš Explorer, incorporate this encryption software. AmeriCorp utilizes the higher level (128-bit SSL) of encryption to better ensure the privacy of your information.


AmeriCorp uses firewalls to help limit entry by anyone without proper authorization. A firewall is a security mechanism that regulates the data going in and out of a network. It is comprised of a specialized computer that acts as a physical shield. The firewall also checks to make sure that communication only occurs between approved individuals and is in the proper protocol.


AmeriCorp uses an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to better ensure unauthorized attempts to enter the system are blocked. An IDS will monitor all data and block any user who attempts unauthorized connection to any of our computers or repeatedly attempts to log on to a protected server.


As an added step to protect our systems, AmeriCorp virus scans every e-mail and file. The system will check for a virus and remove it before it enters our environment. The virus protection system is updated daily to ensure our system runs smoothly.


Our state-of-the-art data center is monitored 24x7x365. Our goal is to have our systems up 99.99%. To achieve this end, all critical servers and network equipment are fully redundant and power protected. We use APC battery backup systems to keep everything running should we lose power and NetIQ to actively monitor all server operations (this system can go so far as to reset a server or part of a server in order to return it to normal operation). The system maintains Active Fault Tolerance so that, should any device fail, its backup takes over within seconds. All these systems are designed to alert us in the event of an incident.