Data security is a major concern to Intersite Technologies and our clients. Intersite Technologies has addressed the issue of protecting data by using a very sophisticated compression and encryption system. Using two distinct layers of protection, each with its own encryption technology, RBackup archives are virtually impenetrable. RBackup compresses and encrypts data before it is transmitted by modem from the Client's office. Only the client knows the encryption "key." The "key" can be any word or phrase, from five characters to 40 characters long. The key is not transmitted with the archive. RBackup archives cannot be viewed, decrypted, or used in any way without the key.

RBackup's encryption is a form of Federal Data Encryption Standard, or DES. DES is one of the most secure technologies for commercial applications. It was introduced for military use in the mid 1980's, then migrated to civilian platforms. Several versions of the DES encryption algorithm exist. These versions have different "key lengths," or formats, varying from 40 to 80 bits. Intersite's RBackup uses an 80 bit key. 

Theoretically, it is possible to "crack" any encryption scheme, but the expense in time and computing power may be prohibitive. Recently, a small Netscape message encrypted with a similar technology was decoded using two banks of 120 extremely high- speed 32-bit Sparc workstations connected to two supercomputers running 24 hours a day for eight days. This small message was encrypted with a 40 bit key - half the size of RBackup's. In a statistically best-case scenario, the same computer system could theoretically crack the first layer of an RBackup archive in 64 days. So, it is possible that someone with $15 million worth of computer equipment, a staff of expert hackers, and 64 days to waste could crack the top layer of an RBackup archive. Then they could get down to the core layer and start again. However, from a practical standpoint, it's just not going to happen. No one will dedicate these kinds of resources to develop a "cracking" tool, just so they can read your proprietary data. 

Only major universities and large corporations have this kind of hardware and expertise, and they aren't likely to approve of dedicating two supercomputers, 120 workstations, and six employees for 64 days to steal your data. There are many encryption programs, and RBackup supports most of them. They can be used along with our own proprietary system, giving you geometrically more security. Even though the chances are microscopically slim that someone could crack RBackup's archives, we have contingency plans in place to deal with the risk. 

If someone does manage to crack Intersite Technologies' RBackup encryption scheme, we will immediately plug in one of six others we have ready to go. We can have a completely different technology in the network within hours. We know security is a major concern to you and your business. That's why we've expended such a huge effort to make sure you don't have to worry about it.