Privacy Policy

Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how VARA ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information when you visit our website at varaonline.co.za (the "Website"). By using our Website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information we collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us and information that is automatically collected when you visit our Website.

Information you provide to us

When you interact with our Website, you may provide us with the following types of personal information:

• Contact information: Name, email address, phone number, company name
• Form submissions: Information you provide when completing our contact form, newsletter signup, or other forms on our Website
• Communications: Any messages, inquiries, or feedback you send to us

Information automatically collected

When you visit our Website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and how you interact with our site:

• Usage data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, referring websites
• Device information: Browser type, device type, operating system, IP address
• Cookies and tracking technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy for more details)

How we use your information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries: When you contact us through our contact form or email, we use your information to respond to your questions and provide customer support
• To provide our services: We use your information to understand your inbound challenges and determine whether VARA can support your team
• To improve our Website: We analyze usage data to understand how visitors use our site and improve user experience
• To send communications: With your consent, we may send you newsletters, updates, or marketing communications about our services
• To comply with legal obligations: We may use your information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes
• To protect our rights: We may use your information to protect the rights, property, or safety of VARA, our users, or others

Legal basis for processing

We process your personal information based on the following legal bases:

• Consent: When you provide explicit consent, such as subscribing to our newsletter or accepting cookies
• Legitimate interests: To improve our services, analyze website usage, and respond to inquiries
• Contractual necessity: To fulfill our obligations when you engage with our services
• Legal compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations

How we share your information

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

• Service providers: We may share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:
  • Email service providers (e.g., FormSubmit.co for form handling)
  • Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics for website analytics)
  • Hosting providers and cloud services
  These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and only use it for the purposes we specify.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to protect our rights or the rights of others
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction

Data storage and security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

Your information is stored on secure servers and is accessible only to authorized personnel who need access to perform their job functions. We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

Third-party services

Our Website uses third-party services that may collect, store, or process your information:

• Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and user behavior. Google's privacy policy can be found at policies.google.com/privacy
• FormSubmit.co: We use FormSubmit.co to process form submissions. Their privacy policy can be found at formsubmit.co/privacy
• Cloudinary: We use Cloudinary for image hosting and delivery. Their privacy policy can be found at cloudinary.com/privacy

These third-party services have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them to understand how they handle your information.

Cookies and tracking technologies

Our Website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior. For detailed information about the cookies we use, how we use them, and how you can manage your cookie preferences, please see our Cookie Policy.

Marketing communications

If you subscribe to our newsletter or provide your email address, we may send you marketing communications about our services, updates, or relevant content. You can opt out of these communications at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email we send you
• Contacting us directly at stak@varaonline.co.za and requesting to be removed from our mailing list

Even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you transactional or service-related emails, such as responses to your inquiries.

Your rights

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

• Right to access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Right to correction: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions
• Right to object: You can object to our processing of your personal information in certain circumstances
• Right to restrict processing: You can request that we limit how we use your personal information
• Right to data portability: You can request a copy of your personal information in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to withdraw consent: If we process your information based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided at the end of this policy. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.

Children's privacy

Our Website is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete that information.

International data transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country. By using our Website, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

Links to other websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Changes to this policy

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 changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

If we make material changes to this policy, we will notify you by posting a prominent notice on our Website or by sending you an email notification, if we have your contact information.

Contact us

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

VARA
Email: stak@varaonline.co.za
Website: varaonline.co.za

We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible and in accordance with applicable data protection laws.