Privacy Policy

This Web site is administered by SIFT. The primary purpose of sift.com.au is to be a dynamic security resource and business tool to assist you in achieving your information control targets, and to help you understand how SIFT can support you further. We want you to feel secure when visiting our site and are committed to maintaining your privacy when doing so. The following provides an overview of how we protect your privacy during your visit.

What information do we gather?
Information on sift.com.au is gathered in two ways:
(1) indirectly (for example, through our site's technology); and
(2) directly (for example, when you provide information on various pages of sift.com.au - such as joining our mailing list).

One example of information we collect indirectly is through our Internet access logs. When you access sift.com.au, your Internet (IP) address is automatically collected and is placed in our Internet access logs. SIFT does not, however, attempt to reconcile this IP address with an individual's identity.

We collect information directly from you in a number of ways, some of which we describe in this Privacy Statement. One way is through the use of "cookies". Cookies are small files of information which save and retrieve information about your visit to sift.com.au - for example, how you entered our site, how you navigated through the site, and what information was of interest to you. The cookies we use identify you merely as a number. If you do not wish to provide us information through the use of cookies, you can disable cookies on your computer by changing the settings in the preferences or options menu in your browser.

We also collect information directly when you voluntarily submit it to us. Throughout our site, we provide the opportunity to register to receive our regular mailings, for an event or conference, to order a white paper, or participate in an online survey. When we collect this type of information, we will notify you as to why we are asking for information and how this information will be used. It is completely up to you whether or not you want to provide it. SIFT will only ever request information that is specifically required for the service you are requesting.

How do we use this information?
We analyse site usage information to determine what is most effective about our site, to help us identify ways to improve it, and eventually, to determine how we can tailor sift.com.au to make it more effective.

Directly collected information is used for the purpose for which it is collected - eg Information provided to subscribe to a mailing list is used to get the required information to your e-mail box. Information provided to attend a conference is used to process your registration, payment, and generate your name tag. These uses are described to you at the point we collect the information.

Will we share this with outside parties?
We do not, and will not sell personal information to any other party. Occasionally we will use third-party service providers (such as providers of web hosting or mailing services) and will be required to share it with these providers to provide you the service you have requested. This is the only instance where we will share your information. Before you submit any information, we will notify you as to why we are asking for specific information and it is completely up to you whether or not you want to provide it.

What about sensitive personal data?
We do not seek to collect sensitive personal data through this site. If we do seek to collect such data, we will ask you to consent to our proposed uses of the data. We may also collect some sensitive personal data incidentally. By providing us with unsolicited sensitive personal data, you consent to our using the data subject to applicable law as described in this notice. The references to "sensitive personal data" are to the various categories of personal data identified by Australian National Privacy Principles, European and other data privacy laws as requiring special treatment, including in some circumstances the need to obtain explicit consent.

These categories comprise personal identity numbers, personal data about personality and private life, racial or ethnic origin, nationality, political opinions, membership of political parties or movements, religious, philosophical or other similar beliefs, trade union membership, physical or mental health or handicap, genetic code, addictions, gender, sexual life (including sexual orientation), pregnancy, property matters or penal or criminal conviction or record (including where a pardon has been granted).

Is the data secure?
While we take steps to maintain the security of sift.com.au, you should understand that the open nature of the Internet is such that data may flow over networks without security measures and may be accessed and used by people other than those for whom the data is intended. Any information you consider to be sensitive should be provided offline, through secure channels. Once the information reaches us, it is secured from accidental or malicious access by a series of security mechanisms. After all, we are security consultants.

In additional to the security mechanisms, there are procedural and contractual mechanisms in place to protect your data as well. All Directors of SIFT have attended comprehensive Privacy training, and non-disclosure agreements are in place with all staff and contractors.

Can I find out what information you hold about me? Can I correct it?
Yes, and yes. To find out what (if any) personal information we hold about you, please send an e-mail to privacyquery@sift.com.au with your contact details. We will contact you to validate your identity, and will provide the information we hold. If it is incorrect, we will correct it for you, or delete our records, at your request.

That's it in a nutshell. The short of it is - we are interested in maintaining your privacy and creating a valuable resource for you to use. If you have any questions now or during your visit, please contact us via our webmaster at webmaster@sift.com.au.