myitlab Hosting and Security

Hosting

The myitlab system is hosted on multiple enterprise-class Web and database servers within an industry leading data center facility with a tier 1 Internet service provider.

Uptime
myitlab is solid. Since its inception, the system has experienced an average uptime of 99.979 percent under significant load.

Reliability
myitlab has been architected—from its conception—for the strongest possible reliability. There is no single point of failure for hardware, software, or network, and every component throughout the system is built for redundancy. In addition, there are multiple high-capacity bandwidth Internet connections with failover capability.

High-availability services
The large databases, multiple-file downloads, high traffic volumes, and high online availability requirements inherent in higher education courseware are Pearson specialties. Like the rest of the Pearson product line, myitlab utilizes database clustering, load balancing across multiple front-end Web servers, and mirrored storage for peak performance, uninterrupted service, and smooth operation.

Monitoring services
The success of an online product depends on realtime monitoring services that keep services running under all conceivable conditions. myitlab employs fault, performance, system performance, network, and bandwidth utilization monitoring. Disk space, memory, the CPU, and critical services are under constant watch. In addition, complete system health checks are performed every three minutes. Tests. myitlab development and testing are a collaborative activity involving skilled technical teams both within and outside the United States. Hardware- and software-performance, functional, smoke, unit, stress, stability, robustness, load capacity, and systems tests are constants—and their results are consistent sources of pride for the myitlab team.

Disaster recovery
Beyond the multiple redundancies described above, all Web, application, and database servers are backed up daily and stored offsite.

Security

myitlab system architecture conforms to the highest standards for security: Web, application, and database servers are protected by the latest antivirus software. As new updates come out, they are tested and patched in via a transparent process that minimizes any interruption of service. Content is stored by means of a storage-area-network infrastructure that uses the appropriate RAID levels on our storage.

Firewalls
myitlab’s Internet connection is protected by a multilayer firewall. Ports and IP addresses have filters at the routers. Both are monitored around the clock for vulnerabilities and denials of service, Trojan horses, spyware, malware (malicious software), and virus attacks.

Encryption
myitlab encrypts the transmission of student assessment data, as well as the local assignment and results files.

Access
myitlab applies security at three levels: authentication, authorization, and content based. Username and password entries require validation. Authentication is cookie based, and it times out after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed.