Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Secureburg Academy ("we", "us", or "our") is a Texas-based online platform that connects security professionals with DPS-licensed training providers. We host and facilitate access to security officer certification and recertification courses offered by independent licensed training companies. We are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us and complying with all applicable Texas and federal privacy laws.

Questions about this policy can be directed to support@secureburg.com.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only what is necessary to provide our services:

• Account information — your name and email address when you register.
• Payment information — billing details processed securely through our third-party payment processors (Braintree / PayPal). We do not store your full card number on our servers.
• Course activity — progress, exam scores, and completion records required for DPS certification reporting.
• Communications — any messages you send us via email or our contact form.
• Technical data — IP address, browser type, and device information collected automatically for security and performance purposes.
• Analytics data — pages visited, buttons clicked, navigation patterns, time spent in each section, and course engagement metrics. This data is collected automatically via Google Analytics (operating through Google Tag Manager). When you are logged in, we associate analytics events with an internal user identifier and a one-way cryptographic hash (SHA-256) of your email address to measure engagement by authenticated users. This hashed value cannot be reversed to reveal your email address. Your employer company name, if on file, may also be associated with your analytics session for aggregate reporting purposes.
• Health disclosures — any health or medical information you voluntarily provide prior to in-person or live fire training sessions, retained only as long as necessary for training safety purposes.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your student account.
• To process enrollment and payments.
• To deliver course content and track your progress.
• To facilitate the issuance of completion certificates by the Training Provider and to support DPS reporting obligations.
• To send you important course updates, receipts, and support responses.
• To ensure participant safety at in-person training sessions.
• To improve our platform and troubleshoot technical issues.
• To analyze platform usage, measure student engagement, and improve our course content, marketing, and advertising effectiveness.
• To comply with legal obligations, including Texas DPS reporting requirements.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Payment Processing

All payments are handled by Braintree (a PayPal service) and PayPal. These processors are PCI-DSS compliant and operate under their own privacy policies. Secureburg Academy never has access to your raw card data. By making a payment, you also agree to the privacy policies of those third-party processors.

5. Sharing of Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Training Providers — the DPS-licensed security training company whose course you enroll in. We share your name, email address, and course completion data with the relevant Training Provider so they can issue your certificate, fulfill DPS reporting obligations, and provide instructor support. Each Training Provider's handling of your data is governed by their own privacy practices.
• Texas DPS — course completion records and certification data as required by law, submitted through the Training Provider.
• Payment processors — Braintree and PayPal for transaction processing.
• Service providers — trusted third parties who assist in operating our platform (e.g., email delivery, hosting) under confidentiality obligations.
• Google (Analytics) — anonymized usage and engagement data is shared with Google via Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to help us measure platform performance and marketing effectiveness. Google may process this data subject to Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out at any time using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Legal requirements — if required by law, court order, or governmental authority, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Secureburg Academy, its employees, or others.
• Business transfers — in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with notice provided to you.

6. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services (including payment processors, DPS resources, and external references). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account and course records for a minimum of five years to comply with Texas DPS regulatory requirements. Payment transaction records are retained as required by financial regulations. Health disclosures collected for in-person training safety are deleted within 90 days of your last session. You may request deletion of non-regulatory data at any time by contacting us.

8. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, Secureburg Academy will notify affected individuals as required by the Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act (Texas Business and Commerce Code, Chapter 521). Notification will be provided within 60 days of discovery of the breach, or sooner if required by law, via email to the address associated with your account. We will also notify the Texas Attorney General if required.

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your account and any non-regulatory data.
• Opt out of non-essential email communications at any time.
• Request a copy of your personal data in a portable format.
• File a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's office if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at support@secureburg.com. We will respond within 30 days.

10. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use two categories of cookies and tracking technologies:

• Essential cookies — required for authentication, session management, and core platform functionality. These cannot be disabled without breaking the site.
• Analytics cookies — set by Google Analytics (via Google Tag Manager) to collect anonymized data about how visitors use our site (pages viewed, buttons clicked, session duration, and similar engagement metrics). These cookies include _ga and _ga_[ID], which persist for up to 2 years. No personally identifiable information is stored in these cookies.

By using our platform, you consent to the use of both categories of cookies described above. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking at any time by:

• Installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Adjusting your browser settings to block or delete cookies (note: this may affect core platform functionality).

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended solely for individuals 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

12. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed password storage, access controls, and regular security reviews. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you use our platform at your own risk. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password and to notify us immediately if you suspect any unauthorized access to your account.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date above. For significant changes, we will notify you by email. Continued use of our platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

14. Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please contact us at support@secureburg.com. We aim to respond within 2 business days.