General Statement
Integral Hosting's
Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") is provided to give our customers and users a
clear understanding of what Integral Hosting expects of them while using the
service. All users of Integral Hosting's Internet services: those who access
some of our Services but do not have accounts, as well as those who pay a
service fee to subscribe to the Services, must comply with this AUP and our TOS
(Terms of Service). Use of any Integral Hosting Service constitutes acceptance
and agreement to Integral Hosting's AUP as well as Integral Hosting TOS (Terms
of Service) Part of this policy was written under the framework of our parent
provider's required AUP.
Integral Hosting is dedicated to the unrestricted free transmission of
information via the Internet and its many resources. Our goal is to deliver
enterprise quality on-demand IT services to all of our customers while serving
as the medium of exchange for transmission of all information. The storage,
distribution, and exchange of information (content) is the Internet's single
most valuable feature. Integral Hosting is dedicated to protecting the source
and distribution of information and protecting the rights and privileges of
those utilizing it. Integral Hosting does not purport to be the content police;
our duty in the process of information dissemination is simply to act as conduit
between interested parties. Not withstanding anything found herein, Integral
Hosting follows all local, state and federal laws pursuant to the services
delivered over the internet and directly related to our network and internal
systems. The purpose of the acceptable use policy is to inform all Customers of
anticipated customer use. Due to the myriad of possibilities in maintaining a
network comprised of thousands of servers, this document is intended to act as a
guideline to service and not to be all encompassing.
Public Network
The primary purpose of the Integral Hosting
public network is to transmit information (packets) to and from Customer servers
and data storage services. Proper use of the public network is to utilize the
network in any way so long as you do not violate any local, state, or federal
laws or generate harm to the network or interfere with the use of services of
other users utilizing the same network. All Customers are granted equal access
to the public network. Violation, misuse, or interference of the public network
will result in a violation of the AUP and shall result in methods of resolution
under the acceptable use policy.
Private Network
The primary purpose of the Integral Hosting
private network is to allow secure private network connectivity to the private
backend network directly connecting Customer servers and Company delivered
services. Proper use of the private network is the upload/download of content,
server administration, transmission of information between servers, transmission
of information between servers and Company servers, secure private
administration of services, data retrieval, console access, and true out of band
management of their entire IT environment. The private network can also be
utilized for service access during periods of non-payment, copyright
infringement, spam abuse, service interruption or other instances requiring
server administration. All Customers are granted equal access to the private
secure network to securely manage their services. Connectivity to the private
network is granted on an unrestricted basis in eight (8) hour increments.
Dedicated connections to the private network are available through the sales
team. Violation, misuse, or interference of the private network will result in a
violation of the AUP and shall result in methods of resolution under the
acceptable use policy.
Security Services
The primary purpose of the Integral Hosting
standard security services is to assist the Customer in the protection,
management, update, and overall stability of the outsourced IT environment. All
Integral Hosting services include network intrusion detection systems and denial
of service mitigation via technology from 3Com (Tipping Point). These services
are free of charge and are intended to mitigate or remove security risks
associated with their perspective technologies. Integral Hosting also monitors
all aggregate network traffic via Arbor networks and router netflow statistics
for traffic analysis. Integral Hosting also supplies Microsoft update servers
and Redhat update servers located on the private network for private secure
update services. These services are included free of charge and are intended to
assist Customers in the OS management of their servers. Other security services
offered for a fee are covered via the terms of the individual services. These
services include, but are not limited to: firewalls, host IDS, service monitors
and similar type products and services. Outside of the global network security
services described above, Customers are required and obligated to maintain
security related to Customer managed servers. The management of dedicated
servers requires basic security management including password management, port
management, OS updates, application updates, security policy settings and more.
The Customer is ultimately responsible for individual server security unless
contracted security services are purchased. Any violation of the security
services included in basic services will be addressed pursuant to the methods of
resolution under the acceptable use policy.
Server Content
Integral Hosting does not actively monitor
dedicated server content for review. Integral Hosting believes in the free
dissemination of information via our services. Dedicated server content will
only be reviewed upon complaint by verified third parties. Content that does not
violate local, state and federal law or the acceptable use policy is deemed in
compliance and shall remain intact. Legal adult content is allowed on Integral
Hosting dedicated servers. Content deemed in violation will be addressed
pursuant to the methods of resolution under the acceptable use policy.
IP Addresses
IP Addresses are non-transferable from Integral
Hosting and Customer retains no ownership or transfer rights to IP Addresses.
IRC
Integral Hosting allows the use of private internet relay
chat servers for communication among private parties. Integral Hosting
absolutely prohibits the use of IRC servers connected to public IRC networks or
servers. IRC servers that result in interference of service, malicious network
activity or increased demand on network security services are in direct
violation of the acceptable use policy. Violation of the IRC policy will result
in methods of resolution under the acceptable use policy.
Peer to Peer
Integral Hosting allows the use of internet peer
to peer software for file sharing purposes. Integral Hosting highly recommends
strict oversight and management of peer to peer software environments due to the
propensity to violate copyright law by sharing commercial software or copyright
protected material. The sharing of copyright protected software and material is
NOT allowed and is in direct violation of federal law and the acceptable use
policy. Violation of the Peer to Peer policy will result in methods of
resolution under the policy.
Bit Torrent
Integral Hosting allows the use of bit torrent
protocols on the public network. Integral Hosting highly recommends strict
oversight and management of Bit Torrent software environments due to the
propensity to violate copyright law by sharing commercial software or copyright
protected material. The sharing of copyright protected software and material is
NOT allowed and is in direct violation of federal law and the acceptable use
policy. Violation of the Bit Torrent policy will result in methods of resolution
under the policy.
The following list represents per se direct violations of Acceptable Use Policy
and will be subject to immediate redress under the methods of resolution as
described in the acceptable use policy.
Copyright Infringement
Direct copyright infringement as
defined and noted under Title 17, Section 512 of the United States Code are a
direct violation of the acceptable use policy.
Unsolicited Email
The sending or receiving of mass unsolicited
email (SPAM) is a direct violation of the acceptable use policy. This includes
the direct sending and receiving of such messages, support of such messages via
web page, splash page or other related sites, or the advertisement of such
services.
Email Bombing
The sending, return, bouncing or forwarding of
email to specified user(s) in an attempt to interfere with or over flow email
services is a direct violation of the acceptable use policy.
Proxy Email (SPAM)
The use of dedicated services to proxy
email unsolicited users is a direct violation of the acceptable use policy.
Proxy email is defined as the use of dedicated services to act in concert with
other services located inside and outside the network to achieve mass
unsolicited email (SPAM) to unrelated third parties.
UseNet SPAM
The use of dedicated services to send, receive,
forward, or post UseNet unsolicited email or posts is a direct violation of the
acceptable use policy. This includes UseNet services located within the Integral
Hosting network or unrelated third party networks.
Illegal Use
Any use of dedicated services in direct attempt of
statutory illegal activities is a direct violation of the acceptable use policy.
This includes, but is not limited to: death threats, terroristic threats,
threats of harm to another individual, multi-level marketing schemes, "ponzi
schemes", invasion of privacy, credit card fraud, racketeering, defamation,
slander, and other common illegal activities.
Child Pornography
Integral Hosting has a zero stance policy on
child pornography and related sites. The hosting of child pornography or related
sites or contact information is in direct violation of federal law and the
acceptable use policy.
Threats & Harassment
The Integral Hosting network can be
utilized for any type of individual, organizational or business use. This does
not include threats or harassment to individuals, organizations or businesses
unless it falls within the bounds of protected free speech under the first
amendment. Integral Hosting seeks to serve only as the medium of exchange for
information and refrains from decisions on freedom of speech.
Fraudulent Activities
Integral Hosting prohibits utilizing
dedicated services or network services for fraudulent activities. Notification
of fraudulent activities by verified third parties can result in violation of
the acceptable use policy.
Denial of Service
Integral Hosting absolutely prohibits the
use of dedicated services or network services for the origination or control of
denial of service attacks or distributed denial of service attacks. Any relation
to DOS or DDOS type activity is a direct violation of the acceptable use policy.
Terrorist Websites
Integral Hosting prohibits the use of
dedicated services for the hosting of terrorist related websites. This includes
sites advocating human violence and hate crimes based upon religion, ethnicity,
or country of origin.
Distribution of Malware
Integral Hosting prohibits the
storage, distribution, fabrication, or use of malware including virus software,
root kits, password crackers, adware, key stroke capture programs and other
programs normally used in malicious activity. Programs used in the normal
ordinary course of business are deemed acceptable. Example: Security Company
hosting at Integral Hosting analyzes the latest root kit for new security
analysis software.
Phishing
Integral Hosting strictly prohibits any activity
associated with Phishing or systems designed to collect personal information
(name, account numbers, usernames, passwords, etc.) under false pretense. Splash
pages, phishing forms, email distribution, proxy email or any relation to
phishing activities will result in immediate removal.
Disclosure to Law Enforcement
Occasionally, Integral Hosting
is required by law to submit customer information to law enforcement officials
when presented with a valid subpoena from a court with proper jurisdiction.
Information requested is disclosed as directed pursuant to the subpoena. Integral
Hosting utilizes great care in keeping customer information safe and private
and will only release information described in the subpoena. Integral Hosting
will notify customer of the information request as allowed by the subpoena.
Reporting Violation of the Acceptable Use Policy
Integral
Hosting accepts reports of alleged violations of the acceptable use policy via
email sent to abuse@integralhosting.com. Reports of alleged violations must be
verified and include name, contact information, IP address, and description of
the violation. Integral Hosting owes no duty to third parties reporting alleged
violations due to lack of privity in contract law. Integral Hosting will review
all verified third party reports and will take appropriate actions as described
within the acceptable use policies.
Methods of Resolution for Violations under the Acceptable Use Policy
The ultimate goal of Integral Hosting is to balance the rights and interest of
our customers in the highly evolving internet world. Integral Hosting
understands the challenges of hosting companies, resellers, businesses,
organizations and other customers who may have third party violations occur due
to the nature of their business. The goal to our methods of resolution is to
mitigate any service interruptions while resolving any potential violations
under the policy. Our sales, support and abuse staff are dedicated to working
with you in resolving potential violations and are available via phone or email.
The methods of resolution below form the framework for a resolving all potential
violations. Timing for resolution differs according to the degree of the
violation, the nature of the violation, involvement of law enforcement,
involvement of third party litigation, or other related factors. Overall, Integral
Hosting is dedicated to working with the Customer in resolving all potential
violations prior to any service interruptions.
• Step 1: First alleged violation of AUP: a support ticket with email
notification will be generated with information regarding the potential
violation of the acceptable use policy. This is often a fact finding email
requiring further information or notifying Customer of the potential violation
and the required actions to resolve the issue.
• Step 2: Acknowledgement of violation of AUP: a support ticket with email
notification with information specific to the violation. This ticket will also
include any additional facts about the situation and will notify customer of the
action required to resolve the violation.
• Step 3: Violation of AUP disregarded, not properly addressed, or continuing
violation: if a ticket has been disregarded, not properly addressed, or resolved
by the customer for a specified period of time, Integral Hosting engineers will
turn the public network port to the specified dedicated services off. Access to
the dedicated services is achieved through the secure private service network
for Customer resolution. As soon as the violation is addressed, the public
access is restored and service continues as normal.
• Step 4: Failure to address violation and remove violation: if customer fails
to address the violation AND resolve the violation, a suspension of services
will occur. This is a last resort for Integral Hosting and requires a complete
failure in the resolution process on behalf of the Customer. A permanent
suspension of services includes reclamation of all dedicated services and data
destroyed at the end of the current billing cycle.
• Disclaimer - Integral Hosting retains the right, at its sole discretion, to
refuse new service to any individual, group, or business. Integral Hosting also
retains the right to discontinue service with notice for repeated violation of
the acceptable use policy over time.
Acceptance of the Master Service Agreement incorporating the
Terms of Service,
Acceptable Use Policy,
Service Level Agreement
and
Privacy Agreement
hereby initiates billable services and is deemed complete by agreement to the
terms as described on the online signup form(s) and completion of the ordering
process.