Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about AS2aaS platform capabilities, pricing, and integration.
Getting Started
What is AS2aaS?
AS2aaS is an enterprise-grade platform that provides AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) messaging capabilities through modern REST APIs. It eliminates the need to manage AS2 infrastructure while providing full AS2 protocol compliance.
How do I get started?
- Register for an account at as2aas.com
- Generate test API keys in your dashboard
- Create your first trading partner
- Send a test message using our API
- Configure webhooks for real-time notifications
See our Quick Start Guide for detailed instructions.
Is registration open to everyone?
Yes, AS2aaS registration is open to all developers and businesses. Simply create an account to get started with our free tier.
API and Integration
What's the difference between test and live API keys?
Aspect | Test Keys (pk_test_ ) | Live Keys (pk_live_ ) |
---|---|---|
Message transmission | Simulated (no real sending) | Real AS2 messages sent |
Billing | No charges | Counts toward plan limits |
Partner interactions | Safe testing environment | Real partner communication |
Webhook delivery | Test webhook calls | Production webhook delivery |
Can I use the same API for both sending and receiving messages?
Yes. The AS2aaS API handles both:
- Sending: Use
POST /v1/messages
to send messages to partners - Receiving: Partners send to
https://as2.as2aas.com/as2/receive
, and you receive webhook notifications
What programming languages are supported?
AS2aaS provides REST APIs that work with any programming language capable of making HTTP requests. We provide SDKs for:
- Node.js
- Python
- PHP
- Java
- C#
How do I handle large messages?
Message Size | Recommendation |
---|---|
< 10 MB | Send directly via API |
10-50 MB | Enable compression |
50-100 MB | Use file upload endpoint |
> 100 MB | Contact support for optimization |
Security and Compliance
How secure is AS2aaS?
AS2aaS implements enterprise-grade security:
- Encryption: TLS 1.3 for transport, AES-256 for storage
- Compliance: SOC 2 Type II, GDPR compliant
- AS2 Security: Full support for encryption, signing, and compression
- Audit Logging: Comprehensive audit trails
What certificates do I need?
Certificate Type | Purpose | Required For |
---|---|---|
Identity certificate | Sign outbound messages, decrypt inbound | Signing and encryption |
Partner certificates | Encrypt to partners, verify their signatures | Partner communication |
Is AS2aaS HIPAA compliant?
Yes, Enterprise plans include HIPAA compliance with:
- Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
- HIPAA-compliant infrastructure
- Enhanced audit logging
- Additional security controls
Pricing and Billing
What are the current pricing tiers?
Plan | Price | Partners | Messages/Month | Overage Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Free | $0 | 5 | 100 | $0.10/message* |
Starter | $99 | 10 | 1,000 | $0.05/message |
Professional | $499 | Unlimited | 50,000 | $0.01/message |
Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited | Negotiated |
*Requires credit card for overage billing
How is usage calculated?
Usage Type | Calculation | Billing Cycle |
---|---|---|
Messages | Per message sent or received | Monthly |
Partners | Active trading partners | Monthly snapshot |
Storage | Payload storage (included) | Monthly |
API calls | Included in plan | Monthly |
Can I change plans?
Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade at any time. Changes take effect immediately with prorated billing adjustments.
Technical Questions
What AS2 features are supported?
Feature | Support Level | Notes |
---|---|---|
Message encryption | Full | AES128/192/256, 3DES |
Digital signatures | Full | SHA1/256/384/512 with RSA |
Message compression | Full | ZLIB compression |
MDN (sync) | Full | Immediate delivery confirmation |
MDN (async) | Full | Delayed delivery confirmation |
Large file support | Up to 2GB | Enterprise plans |
Can I integrate with my ERP system?
Yes, AS2aaS integrates with any system capable of:
- Making HTTP API calls
- Processing webhook notifications
- Handling JSON data
Common integration patterns:
- Direct API integration
- Webhook-driven processing
- Batch message processing
- Real-time status updates
How do I handle message failures?
Failure Type | Automatic Handling | Manual Actions |
---|---|---|
Temporary network issues | Automatic retry with exponential backoff | Monitor retry attempts |
Partner endpoint down | Retry for 24 hours | Contact partner |
Certificate expired | Immediate failure | Upload new certificate |
Invalid message format | Immediate failure | Validate message format |
Platform Questions
What is the uptime SLA?
Plan | Uptime SLA | Credits |
---|---|---|
Free | Best effort | None |
Starter | 99.5% | Service credits |
Professional | 99.9% | Service credits |
Enterprise | 99.95% | Custom SLA terms |
Where are AS2aaS servers located?
AS2aaS operates from multiple geographic regions:
- Primary: US East (Virginia)
- Secondary: US West (California)
- Europe: EU West (Ireland)
- Enterprise: Custom regions available
How is data backed up?
Data Type | Backup Frequency | Retention |
---|---|---|
Message metadata | Real-time | 7 years |
Message payloads | Real-time | Per plan terms |
Configuration data | Real-time | Indefinite |
Audit logs | Real-time | 7 years |
Migration and Onboarding
How do I migrate from existing AS2 infrastructure?
Migration typically involves:
- Assessment: Inventory current partners and certificates
- Partner setup: Create partners in AS2aaS
- Certificate migration: Upload existing certificates
- Testing: Validate configurations with test messages
- Cutover: Update partner configurations to use AS2aaS endpoints
Can I run AS2aaS alongside existing AS2 systems?
Yes, AS2aaS can operate alongside existing systems:
- Use different AS2 IDs for AS2aaS vs legacy systems
- Migrate partners gradually
- Maintain dual endpoints during transition
- Use AS2aaS for new partners while maintaining legacy for existing
How long does partner onboarding take?
Complexity | Setup Time | Factors |
---|---|---|
Basic partner | 15 minutes | Standard configuration, no certificates |
Standard partner | 1 hour | Includes certificate exchange |
Complex partner | 1-2 days | Custom requirements, testing |
Enterprise partner | 1-2 weeks | SLAs, compliance requirements |
Support and Maintenance
How do I monitor system health?
Monitoring Method | Information Provided |
---|---|
Dashboard analytics | Message volumes, success rates, partner health |
Webhook events | Real-time status updates |
API endpoints | Programmatic access to metrics |
Status page | System-wide health information |
What maintenance windows exist?
Maintenance Type | Frequency | Duration | Notification |
---|---|---|---|
Security updates | As needed | < 5 minutes | 24 hours advance |
Feature deployments | Weekly | < 15 minutes | 48 hours advance |
Infrastructure updates | Monthly | < 30 minutes | 1 week advance |
Emergency maintenance | As needed | Variable | Immediate notification |
How do I request new features?
Feature requests can be submitted through:
- Support email with detailed requirements
- Enterprise customer success manager
- Product feedback form in dashboard
- Direct communication for Enterprise customers
Priority is given to:
- Enterprise customer requests
- Security-related enhancements
- Compliance requirements
- Features benefiting multiple customers
Contact Information
Support Channels
Channel | Response Time | Availability |
---|---|---|
Email ([email protected]) | 4-24 hours | Business hours |
Enterprise support | 2-4 hours | 24/7 |
Emergency (Enterprise only) | 15 minutes | 24/7 |
Sales and Business Inquiries
Inquiry Type | Contact | Notes |
---|---|---|
Enterprise sales | [email protected] | Custom pricing and features |
Partnership opportunities | [email protected] | Integration partnerships |
Security questions | [email protected] | Security assessments |
Compliance questions | [email protected] | Regulatory compliance |