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Online Tech Launches 'Managed Cloud' For Missouri Firm

The Rogersville, Mo.-based e-commerce Web site developer Advenware Software LLC has launched a software-as-a-service system on a managed cloud computing platform provided by Ann Arbor-based Online Tech Inc.

The managed cloud hosting service passed PCI DSS Level 3 penetration testing to meet the compliance standards of the payment card industry, or PCI.

Timothy Buttram, Advenware CEO and chief programmer, said he was searching for a server to host his new SaaS e-commerce platform on, but ran into some challenges. He wanted the ability to increase server capacity on demand as his business grew and avoid customer downtime that is associated with a colocation or dedicated server. So, he knew that cloud computing would be the perfect solution. However, part of his hosting requirements was to achieve PCI compliance.

"Everyone I talked with said that it was impossible to achieve PCI compliance without a dedicated server," Buttram said. "Then they would try and sell me a $3,000-a-year dedicated service. But then I discovered that Online Tech had broken the barrier in achieving PCI compliance on a cloud server."

Advenware's Web site SaaS system allows small to mid-sized companies develop e-commerce websites quickly and efficiently. To provide a seamless checkout experience for clients' buyers, Advenware integrated CCNow, a Digital River company, into its SaaS offering. Since it was offering customer direct payments, Advenware had to meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to meet PCI DSS compliance.

Working closely with Online Tech's technical team and their PCI scanning vendor, ASA, Advenware achieved PCI compliancy as a Level 3 Server Provider in April 2011. The same security methods and procedures that allowed Online Tech to become a SAS 70 Type II and SSAE 16 data center operator, helped Advenware meet the requirements of PCI DSS without investing capital costs. This lets Advenware focus resources on business growth of their eCommerce SaaS website solution.

"By partnering with Online Tech, I have a true technical partner that offers me the innovation and flexibility needed to grow my business," Buttram said.

Online Tech serves a growing demand for data and computing capacity in small and mid-size businesses. Through its SAS 70 and SSAE 16 data centers, Online Tech delivers a range of high availability hosting including Michigan colocation, managed dedicated servers, private cloud hosting, and disaster recovery. Online Tech's Michigan data centers operate under SSAE 16 compliance, allowing its clients to meet all of their PCI compliant hosting, HIPAA compliant hosting, and SOX compliant hosting needs. For more information, visit www.onlinetech.com or call (877) 740-5028.

After years of building successful custom Web sites, Advenware created Advenware Website Software in 2011. Advenware Website Software is a Software-as-a-Service solution to be the complete Web site for a fraction of the cost of custom development.

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