InKnowVation Online Privacy Policies
| This policy document discloses in detail the privacy practices for the Innovation Development Institute, Swampscott, MA parent company of the InKnowVation Online, an SBIR-STTR Support site. |
| Synopsis: |
| Those areas of the site requiring transmission of highly sensitive information - such as encrypted credit card data - are secured through a long-stand- ing contractual agreement with the firm Thawte USA (StrongHold®). |
| By careful decision of management, the site
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| The management of Innovation Development Institute do not accept responsibility for content or privacy policies of Web sites to which link may be provided from InKnowVation Online. |
The Innovation Development Institute has adopted a set of information management guidelines which serve as the basis for all our Registered Users and Retainer Client relationships involving the SBIR-STTR Support website InKnowVation Online.
These guidelines have been developed with the understanding that Internet technologies are still evolving, and that underlying business models may not be in final form. Accordingly, these guidelines are regularly reviewed and modified accordingly. Any such changes will be posted on this page. If the changes represent a material departure from our current practices with respect to the use of personal information, the changes will be posted on this page THIRTY days prior to taking effect and registered users will be notified via email.
Registration: During a free registration process prior to using the interactive areas of the site developed for use by the SBIR community, InKnowVation Online requires that a prospective user indicate name and affiliation plus contact info. to include an e-mail address. Along with the unique member ID and log-in name provided at the time of Registration, this data is maintained in a secure area of the site, accessible only to senior staff at InKnowVation Online.
Neither individually nor in the aggregate is this information ever provided to any third party. On the departure from InKnowVation Online employment by any senior person for whatever reason, all management access codes to this data are changed.
Ongoing site log-in also requires use of a password. This is selected by the New User at the time of initial Registration. This password choice is recorded in a highly protected area of the firm's servers and is subsequently accessible only through a complex, need-to-know process available only to senior management. In conditions where User has fogotten either Log-In name or Password, procedures are in place which enable that information to be retrieved on provision of certain validatable information.
For the purposes of understanding what types of people are using our site and for what purpose, through a very brief, menu-driven process, at the time of registration we also request some limited additional information. This includes type of organization (small business, large firm, government, academic institution etc), areas of expertise, form of SBIR-STTR participation/involvement (awardee, applicant etc). All Site Registrants must agree to the terms of our Subscriber Agreement. Again, this data is never made available to anyone outside the firm.
Data Security: Nametags(r)
What someone can do on the site to include what they can see varies substantially depending on the level of access that person has been assigned. Hence site security is a high priority to management. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the appropriate use of information, we have put in place physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to protect the information we collect online. To support site security we utilize a highly proprietary system developed and used exclusively by InKnowVation Online called Nametags.
To make use of the site and the range of services applicable to the form of Site Account, Users must log-in to the site each time. Until log-in has occurred and has been recognized by the system, we cannot, and do not, know who is on the site.
Once log-in has occurred, we can know who is/has been online by their name, institutional affiliation. Also recorded is the time of their initial log-in. The system further calculates the number of times that person has previously visited the site.
Lead pages of the system are structured with counters to enable us to determine the number of hits to that page daily, weekly and by the month. However, we have no mechanisms which permits us to know who has visited what page. Neither do we have any record of the extent and duration of that visit.
Does InKnowVation Online make available this Registration information?
All user-related data is compiled exclusively for the use of InKnowVation management to enable tracking of who is visiting the site and with what frequency. These routine data are NEVER provided to any third party for any purpose.
The only special exception to this policy applies in circumstances where a Survey conducted for a specific purpose. In these instances, such data as developed may be provided to a third party for analytical purposes in the aggregate or, with specifics removed, in case-study format.
An example of such a Survey would be that undertaken in early 2003 to determine what transpired during the 03.1 DOD proposal situation. To substantiate the credibility of the findings of that survey, it was important to document by type and totals numbers who had participated and what, in the aggregate, had been their Survey responses.
Premium Products and Services from InKnowVation Online: Hence, in addition to the extensive FREE services relevant to effective SBIR-STTR participation, the firm also provide premium products and services on- and offline for which payment is required. Online services are paid for by set-up of annual Retainer Accounts at various levels. The major percentage of these accounts are paid for offline by issuance of a check.
Credit Card information: Given the relative infrequency of credit card transactions, management have opted not to process credit card transactions online at the time of such registrations. Instead, the information is promptly downloaded and a batched recording system is used - a system directly tied to the Bank used by the firm. Further, all card-related information provided at the time of the original transaction is expunged from our records once the information has been processed.
IP Addresses and log-Files: The servers utilized by InKnowVation Online are maintained offsite with a large ISP. For systems administration and troubleshooting purposes, the system is set-up to log IP addresses i.e. the location of a user's computer on the Internet. We have in place NO procedure which enable the use of IP address logs to track the session of InKnowVation registered users or their behavior on the site.
Discussion Forums: When initiating a message thread or posting in an existing one, the log-in name and email of the User drops in place automatically. Though we have received no indication that this has been a problem for Users, this procedure could result in unsolicited e-mail from other subscribers or parties.
To protect the privacy of those who wish to participate in the Forum process but, for whatever reason, prefer to remain anonymous, the posting process provides a simple means
How do I change and/or update the Registration Information I provided?
On every page of the site a User can access Account Status, the designated area of the site where that User can ensure their personal information is accurate and up to date. To gain access to the area to update/check on the information provided during the free registration process, the User will be asked to enter their password. If further assistance is needed, please contact Customer Service.
Compliance with Legal Process
Unregistered Site Access:
There are very useful, well-used areas of the InKnowVation site to which access is provided without any form of registration required. These include:
What information does InKnowVation Online require for Registration and System Usage?
InKnowVation Online is not a simple brochure on the company's capabilities; neither is it merely a notice posting or link-providing site. Originally developed as a highly interactive site designed to provide community capabilities to the widely varying segments of the SBIR-STTR community, underpinning the site's effective functioning are various forms of highly sophisticated software developed with company resources by firm's personnel. Further, the databases developed by the firm - also from company resources - of all awards and extensive information on various aspects of participating firms are unique and highly valuable.
From Retainer Account holders and those who register online for firm-organized events (conferences and workshops), InKnowVation Online collects credit card information in an appropriately secured area of the site using a third party's encryption software.
A highly useful, extensively used part of the InKnowVation site are the various Discussion Forums. Any information disclosed by Users when posting a message in these Forums becomes public.
For more information about Forums see the Posting Policy.
Management may disclose information provided by individuals during the Registration Process if we are required to do so by law or if, in good faith, it is our judgment that such action is necessary
Consistent with these provisions, for example, if anyone provides false information or attempt to pose as someone else, that information may be disclosed as part of any investigation.
For any questions concerning InKnowVation Online, please contact: Ann Eskesen, Innovation Development Institute, 45 Beach Bluff Avenue Suite 300, Swampscott, MA 01907-1542. Voice: (781) 595-2920 email: Support_REMOVE_BEFORE_SENDING@inknowvation.com