Privacy Policy
Sterling Systems Pty.Ltd. is committed to the security and privacy of our customer’s data. This Privacy Policy explains our commitment to safeguarding our customers’ data and serves as our agreement with our customers and other parties about our data handling practices. This policy lists the types of data Sterling Systems collects, explains how we use and protect that data, and discloses our key procedures surrounding privacy.
This privacy policy is a binding agreement between you and Sterling Systems. By using our service, you signify that you agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy. We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time by posting a new version here, and the new version will become effective immediately.
The privacy of Sterling Systems’ customers and affiliates is important to us. Therefore:
Sterling Systems does not sell or rent personally identifiable information
Sterling Systems does not spam, and our policies forbid use of our Services for spam.
The following sections make up our Privacy Policy. For immediate access to specific details, click on the applicable heading.
Public Forums
Statement Regarding Children
Business Information Collection and Use By Sterling Systems
Product Registration
Customer Profile
Support
Newsletters
Cookies
Product-Related Information Collection
Disclosure of Your Business Information
How Sterling Systems Protects Your Privacy Internally
Your Privacy Choices
Correcting or Updating Your Business Information and Contacting Sterling Systems
Linked Sites
Consent to Transfer
Changes to this Privacy Policy
Contacting Us
Public Forums. Please remember that any information (including personal and business information) that you submit, post or otherwise reveal in a public forum (such as a bulletin board, chat room, blog or product discussion forum) is not subject to this Privacy Policy, will be seen by third parties not related to Sterling Systems and may be used by them or Sterling Systems to contact you for any purpose.
Statement Regarding Children. Sterling Systems’s products and services are not designed to appeal to children under the age of 13. As such, the Sites are not directed at children under the age of 13 nor do we knowingly collect or maintain information from children under the age of 13 on the Sites.
Business Information Collection and Use By Sterling Systems. Sterling Systems collects the Business Information necessary to enable us to respond to your requests for our products and services and to send you information regarding our products and services from time to time. Since most of the users of our products and Sites are doing so in their capacity as employees or companies, most Business Information we collect will be in that capacity (rather than information about you individually, such as your personal tastes, etc.). For these purposes, we have defined “Business Information” as any information that identifies or may identify a company or an individual contact at a company or that allows others to contact a company or an individual contact at a company. When you visit the Sites, you may be asked to submit information such as email address, company name, address, phone number, your product version, and/or areas of interest. We may also ask you where you heard about our company or products, or for other information that will help us understand more about your needs or help us process your requests for information. In addition, we may collect credit card and related payment information when you order products, services, or support plans online. Our information collection and use practices are described in more detail below:
Product Registration. You may be asked, on behalf of your company, to complete registration/activation form(s) on the Sites or from within the products, with contact information for use by Sterling Systems in accordance with this policy. Registration or activation information may include the name of your company, contact information, product information, customer ID, network and operating system, and other relevant information.
Customer Profile. We also collect Business Information when you create a customer profile or account on some of the Sites, which is required in order to access certain areas of the Sites, purchase support plans and products, to obtain software downloads and certain online support services, and to request information from us about our products and services. This information includes company name and contact information and other information about your company (for example, size, revenue, and number of employees), the products you may have licensed, and other non-Sterling Systems products you may currently use. We use this information in accordance with this policy to identify you, process your requests, and administer your Sterling Systems account(s).
Support. We offer certain limited online support services at the Sites. If you access online support on any of the Sites, you may be asked for information such as customer ID, product name, product version, and other information to help us determine what the technical issues are and how best to help you resolve them.
Newsletters. When you subscribe or sign up to receive newsletters published or offered via the Sites, we will ask you for information necessary to enable us to process your request and to send you information regarding our products and services.
Cookies. We also use Cookies to enhance the user experience, deliver personalized content, and collect information about the use of the Sites. “Cookies” are small computer files that we transfer to your computer’s hard drive. Cookies allow us to statistically monitor how many people are using the Sites and for what purposes, how often someone visits the Sites, and the length of their stay. This information helps us dynamically generate advertising and information specifically designed for your interests. We also use Cookies to prevent you from having to re-enter your identification and password information each time you visit our Sites. Cookies are not designed to retrieve personal or business data from your hard drive, your email, or any other personal information. Most browsers are initially set to accept Cookies, but users can change the setting to refuse Cookies or to be alerted when Cookies are being sent. Although refusal of Cookies will not interfere with the ability to interact with most of the Sites, you will need to accept Cookies in order to access information and use certain functions. For example, Cookies are required to be accepted for access to our web-based services or desktop products with online features. The Cookies are renewed each time a user logs on to one of the Sites that uses Cookies.
Product-Related Information Collection. Sterling Systems collects certain additional information in connection with your use of our services or desktop products with online features. For instance:
Account Set-Up and Access. Upon subscribing to our services, Sterling Systems collects Business Information which may include information such as product serial number, customer ID, and your customer profile information, in order to identify you and authorize your access and use of the services and provide you with your relevant account information.
Online Product/Account Application. Certain products and services are subject to an application and enrollment process, which may be completed on paper or online. Information requested may include bank account, credit card, and contact information. This information is used to process your enrollment request and, if approved, to set up and administer your account.
Web-based Services. In connection with certain of our web-based services we collect certain additional information, including IP address, browser, connection speed, domain, referring URL, and other environment-related information to enable us to provide a secure environment for the use of the services, to pre-populate forms, and calculate aggregate statistical information about the customers using these services.
Sterling Systems Products & Services. In addition to the uses set forth above, Sterling Systems may use your Business Information to:
1) inform you of product upgrades and updates and subscription renewals;
2) inform you of tax, regulatory, and other compliance issues with your software product or service;
3) notify you of products and services that we think may be of interest to you;
4) offer you discounts or other promotions with respect to Sterling Systems products and services that we think may interest you; and
5) contact you for survey purposes to determine how we can better service you or provide better products to meet your needs.
Other Sterling Systems Company Products & Services. Your Business Information may be provided to one or more other Sterling Systems Companies to enable them to market products and services to you. In that case, the use of your Business Information would be governed by that Sterling Systems Company’s privacy policy.
Third-Party Products. Sterling Systems may also use your Business Information to inform you of special discounts or offers from other companies we have carefully selected and whose products and services may be of interest to you.
Disclosure of Your Business Information. From time to time, Sterling Systems may be required to release Business Information:
to comply with valid legal requirements such as a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena, or court order;
to enforce or apply the terms of any of our service or license agreements; or
in special cases, such as protecting the rights, property, or safety of Sterling Systems, our customers, or others.
We may also provide Business Information to government agencies and to our vendors, suppliers, authorized resellers, and other business, development, and industry partners (“Partners”) to enable them to:
provide us with products and services to better operate and maintain the Sites;
provide you with a product or service requested by you; or
enable them to market products or services to you.
Sterling Systems also may provide information about you that does not allow you to be identified to, or contacted by, (“Aggregate Information”) third parties. For example, we might inform third parties regarding the number of users of the Sites and the activities they conduct while on the Sites. Depending on the circumstances, we may or may not charge for this Aggregate Information. We may also use this Aggregate Information as part of products or services that we provide to third parties and to improve our products, services, and the Sites.
Partner and Government Services. Sterling Systems may engage Partners to perform functions on our behalf, which may include assisting us in processing your Business Information. Certain Partners and government agencies may collect Business Information (such as business name, address, e-mail address, credit card information, and customer ID) directly from you and use of that information and other information provided by you to third parties is not governed by this policy even though those Partners and government agencies may share such information with Sterling Systems.
Services and Product Data. Business Information collected by Sterling Systems as set forth above does not include your company’s data entered in the course of operating our products (“Product Data”) or data provided by you while using our services (“Services Data”). Sterling Systems will not access your Product Data or Services Data except in the following limited circumstances:
to provide you with technical support, solely at your request and with your permission;
on a limited-access basis to install updates, produce regular backups, or restore data from backups at your request;
where the inherent purpose of the product or service requires Sterling Systems to provide the Product Data or Services Data to a third party on your behalf and,
unless you opt-out, to utilize Aggregate Information derived from Product Data and Services Data to help us improve our products and services and in developing additional offerings.
Sterling Systems will not provide your Product Data or Services Data to any third party or permit any third party to access your Product Data or Services Data, except by your permission or to comply with valid legal requirements such as a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena, or court order. In addition, if at any time you decide to discontinue your use of the applicable service, your Services Data will be destroyed and removed from all servers according to terms set forth in your Service Agreement.
Business Transfers. In the event that all or a portion of Sterling Systems or any other Sterling Systems Company (or the assets of one of those entities), is bought or sold, Business Information will likely be included among the transferred business assets, but such information remains subject to this Privacy Policy or a Privacy Policy substantially similar to this privacy Policy.
How Sterling Systems Protects Your Privacy Internally. Sterling Systems wants your Business Information to remain as secure as reasonably possible. We combine industry-standard technical safeguards with a code of conduct for those employees who are permitted to access our customers’ Business Information. When you purchase a product or service online, Sterling Systems uses SSL encryption to encrypt your credit card information before it is sent to us in order to ensure the integrity and privacy of the credit card information that you provide to us via the Internet.
Many of our web-based services are hosted on servers that are co-located at a third-party facility with whom we have a contract providing for security measures. For example, hosted Services Data is submitted via SSL encryption and stored on a server equipped with industry standard firewalls.
Hosted data may include personally identifiable information and other information that belongs to our customers’ own customers, website visitors, or other users. Sterling Systems will not review, share, distribute, or reference any such Customer Data except as provided in the service or license agreement, or as may be required by law. Individual records of Customer Data may be viewed or accessed by authorized Sterling Systems employees, agents or independent contractors only for the purpose of resolving a problem, support issues, or suspected violation of the service or license agreement, or as may be required by law. Sterling Systems policy requires that both employees and consultants execute a confidentiality agreement before working for and with Sterling Systems. Those employees that violate our Privacy Policy are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Despite these security measures, Sterling Systems does not represent or warrant that Business Information will be protected against loss, misuse, attacks, or alteration by third parties. Customers are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of their usernames and passwords.
Your Privacy Choices. Occasionally, a Sterling Systems business unit may send you communications to provide you with information or promotions relating to products and services that may be of interest to you, including notification of important product issues and updates. You may opt out of receiving these communications as indicated below. However, please note that any election not to receive future communications applies only to promotional messages of the particular Sterling Systems business unit and you may receive promotional messages from other Sterling Systems business units until you make an opt out request with that business unit as indicated below. Additionally, we may still send you relationship or transactional messages in order to notify you of important product issues and updates, such as tax and other compliance-related matters, for the renewal of existing subscription services, to resolve specific questions or requests made by you via phone, fax, email, or the Web and in response to any activity completed on any of the Sites, including but not limited to, registration, ordering, downloads, and requests for information.
Sterling Systems Email Promotions. Each email we send will contain instructions on how to unsubscribe in the event that you do not wish to receive future promotional emails from the Sterling Systems business unit that sent you the email promotion. If you choose to opt out of receiving promotional email communications from any Sterling Systems business unit, we may still periodically communicate with you via mail and telephone. Please allow 10 business days to be removed from the promotional email list of a Sterling Systems business unit.
Third-Party Email Promotions. If you access and/or use any of the other Sterling Systems Companies’ services or our Partner’s services from a link on the Sites, a Sterling Systems/Partner co-branded site or by any other means, any information you reveal in connection with such service is submitted to that other Sterling Systems Company or to our Partner and is not subject to this Privacy Policy. You should consult the privacy policy of any other Sterling Systems Company, Partner, or third-party site with respect to its treatment of any information that you may reveal in connection with such service.
Correcting or Updating Your Business Information and Contacting Sterling Systems. You can always update the Business Information that you have provided to us and/or change your preferences with respect to marketing contacts from Sterling Systems by contacting the Sterling Systems business unit to which you provided your preferences. Please note that it may take up to 4 weeks to be removed from the Sterling Systems business unit’s mail lists and 10 days to be removed from email and phone lists.
Linked Sites. The Sites may contain links to third-party websites and resources (collectively, “Linked Sites”). These Linked Sites are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by Sterling Systems of the content on such Linked Sites. Sterling Systems makes no representations or warranties regarding the correctness, accuracy, performance, or quality of any content, software, service, or application found at any Linked Site. Sterling Systems is not responsible for the availability of the Linked Sites or the content or activities of such sites. If you decide to access any Linked Site, you do so at your own risk. Your use of any Linked Site is subject to the policies, terms of use, and privacy policies of such Linked Site, if any.
Consent to Transfer. Users located outside Australia who submit Business Information to Sterling Systems via the Sites should be aware that the information they submit will be transferred to our servers located outside Australia. Your submission of Business Information to us constitutes your consent to this transfer. Although Sterling Systems will collect and use your Business Information only as stated in this Privacy Policy, laws generally applicable to the protection of personal data in Australia may not be as stringent as those in some users’ home jurisdictions.
Changes to this Privacy Policy. Sterling Systems may change this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the then current policy to the Sites. Your use of the Sites constitutes acceptance of the provisions of this Privacy Policy and your continued usage after such changes are posted constitutes acceptance of each revised Privacy Policy.
Contacting Us
Questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the information practices of the Company’s website should be directed to sterling@sterlingsystems.com.au.