Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

StrideWeb ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other applicable South African data protection laws. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website (https://strideweb.co.za) or use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Fill out contact forms on our website
• Subscribe to our newsletter or marketing communications
• Request a quote or consultation
• Create an account or sign a service agreement
• Communicate with us via email, phone, or social media

This information may include:

• Full name and business name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Business address
• Website URL (if applicable)
• Service preferences and project details
• Payment information (processed securely through third-party providers)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information through cookies and similar technologies:

• IP address and device identifiers
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages viewed and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Date and time of visits
• Clickstream data

2.3 Third-Party Information

We may receive information about you from third-party services such as:

• Google Analytics (website analytics)
• Google Tag Manager (marketing analytics)
• Social media platforms (if you interact with our social profiles)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To provide web design, development, SEO, and digital marketing services
• Communication: To respond to inquiries, provide customer support, and send service updates
• Marketing: To send newsletters, promotional materials, and relevant offers (with your consent)
• Improvement: To analyze website usage and improve our services and user experience
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service
• Security: To protect against fraud, unauthorized access, and other malicious activities
• Business Operations: To manage payments, maintain records, and conduct business analytics

4. Legal Basis for Processing (POPIA Compliance)

Under POPIA, we process your personal information based on the following lawful grounds:

• Consent: You have given explicit consent for processing (e.g., newsletter subscriptions)
• Contract Performance: Processing is necessary to fulfill our service agreement with you
• Legal Obligation: We must process your data to comply with legal requirements
• Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests (e.g., improving services, fraud prevention)

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

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

5.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business:

• Web hosting providers
• Email marketing platforms
• Payment processors
• Analytics services (Google Analytics)
• Cloud storage providers

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

5.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Court orders or legal processes
• Government or regulatory requests
• Protection of our legal rights
• Prevention of fraud or illegal activities
• Protection of safety and security

5.3 Business Transfers

If StrideWeb is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

• Client Data: Retained for the duration of the service agreement plus 7 years for accounting and legal purposes
• Marketing Data: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Website Analytics: Anonymized data retained indefinitely for statistical purposes
• Contact Form Submissions: Retained for 2 years or until resolved

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

Under South African law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your information for direct marketing purposes
• Right to Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data in a structured format
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at admin@strideweb.co.za. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

8.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us provide a better user experience and analyze website traffic.

8.2 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality (cannot be disabled)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website (Google Analytics)
• Marketing Cookies: Track advertising effectiveness and user preferences
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings

8.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality. To opt out of Google Analytics, visit: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure server infrastructure and firewalls
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication
• Employee training on data protection
• Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and stored on servers located outside South Africa, particularly in countries where our service providers operate. We ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with POPIA.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately.

12. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

13. Marketing Communications

With your consent, we may send you marketing emails about our services, promotions, and news. You can opt out at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email
• Contacting us at admin@strideweb.co.za
• Updating your communication preferences in your account settings

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

For significant changes, we will provide prominent notice on our website or via email.

15. Information Officer

Under POPIA, we have designated an Information Officer responsible for data protection compliance:

Information Officer: StrideWeb Data Protection Team
Email: admin@strideweb.co.za
Address: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

16. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated or you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, you may:

1. Contact our Information Officer at admin@strideweb.co.za
2. Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa:
   • Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg
   • Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
   • Phone: +27 (0)10 023 5200

17. Contact Us

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

StrideWeb
Email: admin@strideweb.co.za
Address: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Website: https://strideweb.co.za