Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters to us. Learn how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

Last updated: December 15, 2024

Privacy at a Glance

GDPR Compliant
Encrypted Data
No Data Selling

1. Overview

CertifyLink ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our digital certificate creation and management platform.

By using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.

This policy applies to all users of CertifyLink, including certificate creators, recipients, and verifiers.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

  • Account Information: Name, email address, password, and profile information
  • Payment Information: Billing address and payment method details (processed securely by third-party providers)
  • Certificate Content: Text, images, logos, and other content you include in certificates
  • Recipient Data: Names, email addresses, and other information about certificate recipients
  • Communication Data: Messages you send to us through support channels

Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage Data: How you interact with our Service, features used, and time spent
  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
  • Log Data: Server logs, error reports, and performance metrics
  • Analytics Data: Aggregated usage statistics and performance metrics

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from authentication providers (like Google or Microsoft) if you choose to sign in through these services. We only collect the minimum information necessary to create and maintain your account.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Service Provision

  • Create and manage your account
  • Process certificate creation and distribution
  • Enable certificate verification
  • Provide customer support
  • Process payments and billing

Service Improvement

  • Analyze usage patterns to improve our Service
  • Develop new features and functionality
  • Monitor and maintain system performance
  • Conduct research and analytics

Communication

  • Send service-related notifications
  • Respond to your inquiries and support requests
  • Send important updates about our Service
  • Provide marketing communications (with your consent)

Legal and Security

  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Protect against fraud and abuse
  • Enforce our Terms of Service
  • Maintain system security

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our Service, such as:

  • Cloud hosting and storage providers
  • Payment processing services
  • Email delivery services
  • Analytics and monitoring tools
  • Customer support platforms

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests, such as:

  • Court orders or subpoenas
  • Government investigations
  • Legal proceedings
  • Protection of our rights and property

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the business transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control.

5. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:

Administrative Safeguards

  • Access controls and user permissions
  • Regular security policy updates
  • Incident response procedures

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to maintaining the highest standards of data protection.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Service and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy:

  • Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after deletion
  • Certificate Data: Retained to enable ongoing verification and for legal compliance
  • Payment Data: Retained as required for tax and accounting purposes
  • Usage Data: Typically retained for 2-3 years for analytics and improvement purposes
  • Support Data: Retained for customer service and legal purposes

When we no longer need your information, we securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies and applicable laws.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access and Portability

  • Request access to your personal information
  • Receive a copy of your data in a portable format
  • Request information about how we process your data

Correction and Deletion

  • Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Request deletion of your personal information
  • Update your account information at any time

Control and Consent

  • Withdraw consent for data processing
  • Object to certain types of data processing
  • Restrict how we process your information
  • Opt out of marketing communications

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience and analyze usage patterns:

Types of Cookies

  • Essential Cookies: Required for basic functionality and security
  • Performance Cookies: Help us understand how you use our Service
  • Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
  • Analytics Cookies: Provide insights into usage patterns and performance

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Service.

9. International Transfers

CertifyLink operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws through:

  • Adequacy decisions by relevant authorities
  • Standard contractual clauses
  • Binding corporate rules
  • Other appropriate safeguards

We take steps to ensure that your information receives an adequate level of protection in all jurisdictions where it is processed.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or the minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under the applicable age limit, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

11. Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make material changes, we will:

  • Notify you by email (if you have provided an email address)
  • Post a notice on our website
  • Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
  • Provide additional notice as required by law

Your continued use of our Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

General Inquiries

Response Time: We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 10 days. For urgent matters, please indicate the urgency in your subject line.