Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 01 November 2021

IMPORTANT NOTE: This update corresponds with SONS Security’s self-certification renewal with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration under the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Programs. Changes to this Privacy Policy are primarily of a formatting nature.

Scope of this Policy

SONS Security LLC (SONS Security”) has created this privacy policy in order to describe how we collect, use, maintain, share and protect your personal information when you use our website, www.SONS Security.com (hereinafter “Website” or “Site”) in connection with our employment screening services, security risk management services, investigations, protective security, response services and intelligence services. This privacy policy applies solely to information collected when you visit our Website, except where stated otherwise.

This policy will describe the following:

• What information we collect;
• How information is used;
• With whom it is shared;
• How information can be corrected;
• How it is secured; and,
• Who to contact with concerns or questions about our      privacy practices.

SONS Security’s Website and our services are not directed at children.

Changes to this Policy

This policy may be subject to updates. Any future material changes or additions to the processing of personal information as described in this policy will be communicated to you through an appropriate channel. For example, we may place a prominent notice on our Website or email you to let you know of an updated policy.

Information Collection on our Website

SONS Security strives to limit its collection of personal information to that necessary for the offering and administration of our services. Our Site collects the following types of information when you visit:

• Personally identifying information; and,
• Non-personally identifiable information.

Personally Identifiable Information

Personally identifying information (PII or “personal data”) is any information that can identify you, such as your name, address, and IP address. It does not include anonymized, aggregate or statistical information. Based on your relationship with us, you may be asked to provide certain PII as described below. If certain information is requested but not mandatory, SONS Security will identify which information is required.

• Online Questions or Requests (which may be collected through our Site or      offline). When you are requesting materials or information from SONS      Security, we may collect your name, job title, address, email address,      phone number, IP address, company name, country/state of residence,      photocopy of your ID and other PII, as well as professional interests and      the reasons why you are requesting the SONS Security services or products.
• Job Applicants. When      you apply for employment with SONS Security we will collect your name,      email address, country of residence, physical address, cell phone number      and any information you include in your resume which you upload through      the Site.
• Employment Screening Client Login When you use the client log-in portal for      background checks, drug testing, or electronic I-9 completion, you will be      sent to our vendors’ system and webpage where they will collect login      information such as account, username and/or password in order to access      your account and perform the requested services.
• Background Screening Services (which may be collected through our Site or      offline). When your employer or landlord requests a background check, SONS      Security may collect your PII both online and offline to process the      request.
• Blog, Insights, Newsletters, Case Studies, and White      Papers When you subscribe to our      communications, we will collect your email address.
• Global Alliance Membership. When you sign up to become a SONS Security      contractor we will collect your email address and IP address. If you apply      to become a SONS Security contractor, we will also need to collect your      name, company name, job title, address, email address, phone number, IP      address, country/state of residence, and other PII.
• Billing Information (which      may be collected through our Site or offline). If you purchase our      services you may need to provide SONS Security with payment and billing      information, such as your credit card details and billing address.

Non-personally Identifiable Information

When you visit our Website, we may collect and store general Internet data, such as your domain name, browser type, device, date and time of access, which of our web pages you visited, the referring Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and how long you spend on each page. This information may be collected to assist us in making improvements to our Website and to administer our Website. We do not link this information to any PII. SONS Security may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate these services (e.g., maintenance, analysis, audit, development). These third parties have limited access to your information and only to perform these services or tasks on our behalf.

Information Use

Personally identifying information collected through our Site may be used to:

• To respond to your inquiries, process requests or      otherwise correspond with you regarding employment, supplier affiliations,      programs or services;
• Enroll you if you signed up to receive SONS Security      updates, free subscriptions or blog postings;
• Conduct pre-employment background checks, commercial      background checks and tenant screening services as requested by customers      of background check reports such as employers, investors, and landlords;
• Provide you with marketing information about SONS      Security’s services and products;
• Process billing, invoice and payment functions when you      request SONS Security services; and,
• Analyze and improve SONS Security’s services.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files that a website can send to a user’s browser for storage on the hard drive. Cookies can make use of the Internet easier by saving and administering status, preferences, and other user information. In other words, a cookie allows a website to “remember” a user’s actions or preferences over time. For instance, when we use a cookie to identify you, you would not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our Site. Cookies used by the Site do not contain your personally identifying information. SONS Security may use cookies to route users through the Site, customize users’ experiences on the Site, to help us send you information about our services, and to improve the Site. When you access the Site, certain non-PII is automatically logged. This information may include your operating system, screen settings, Web browser software, and referring website, if any. It is used for system improvement and administration, security, statistical analysis purposes, and other internal business purposes. The Site may use service providers for analytics purposes. These providers collect information about you anonymously and report website trends without identifying individual visitors. These service providers use their own cookies to track visitor interactions. Website owners can view a variety of reports containing aggregate information about how visitors interact with their website so they can improve their website. SONS Security does not control third-party cookies and their use may be governed by the privacy policies of the service providers employing these cookies.

Most browsers are set to accept cookies but users can change the setting to block cookies or otherwise choose how cookies are handled. Although disabling cookies will not interfere with your ability to access the Site, users will need to accept cookies to use certain services on the Site.

You can manage website cookies in your browser settings, and you always have the choice to change these settings by accepting, rejecting, or deleting cookies. If you choose to change your settings, you may find that certain functions and features of our Site will not work as intended. All browser settings are slightly different, so to manage cookies, you should refer to the relevant settings within your browser.

• Mozilla Firefox®
• Microsoft® Internet Explorer
• Google Chrome™
• Safari®

Third-Party Links and Websites

This policy applies to SONS Security’s Website. However, you are able to access third-party sites through our Site by, for example, clicking on hyperlinks to those third-party sites from within our Site. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of any third-party sites, and if you visit those websites, we encourage you to review their respective privacy policies. Third party links on our Site are provided for your convenience and to provide further information or serve as a resource. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). SONS Security exercises no control whatsoever over such other websites and web-based resources and is not responsible or liable for the availability thereof or the content, advertising, products or other materials thereon. SONS Security shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss incurred or suffered by any user in connection therewith. Your access and use of linked websites, including information, material, products and services therein, is solely at your own risk.

SONS Security also may offer via the Website third party services, such as social media login, social media sharing and social media commenting. Any information which is collected by SONS Security when you access a third party service is processed under this privacy policy. Information collected by third party service providers themselves will be governed by their own privacy policy.

Choice, Opt-Out and How We Respond to Do Not Track Signals

As a user of our Website, you make the decision whether to proceed with activities that request PII, such as requesting follow-up contact regarding our services and products, applying for employment, receipt of email communications from us, or receipt of our newsletter(s), blog or other communications. Note, however, that if you do not provide the requested information, you may not be able to complete certain transactions or receive information from us. If, after subscribing to receive emails or other electronic communications from SONS Security you no longer wish to continue receiving such from us, you will be provided with instructions in our communications on how to opt-out of such communications, including by unsubscribing. In addition, you can also contact us through the Point of Contact information provided in this policy.

SONS Security does not track its customers over time and across third party websites to provide targeted advertising and therefore does not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) signals. However, some third party sites do keep track of your browsing activities when they serve you content, which enables them to tailor what they present to you. To learn more about the choices you have regarding online tracking, please visit these sites:

• Aboutads.infp
• Networkadvertising.org
• Support.microsoft.com
• Youronlinechoices.com

Information Sharing and Disclosure

SONS Security may disclose information we collect through this Site:

• To SONS Security’s parent, subsidiaries and affiliates;
• To complete a transaction that you request through our      Site;
• To complete a transaction requested by a third party      for background screening purposes;
• To government agencies or SONS Security’s suppliers or      vendors in order to conduct background investigations as requested by your      employer or landlord;
• When required by law, subpoena or other legal process,      when pertinent to judicial or governmental investigations or proceedings;
• When necessary to investigate, take action or prevent      suspected or actual illegal activities, fraud, or potential threats to      safety or personal physical safety; and,
• If our company or our assets are acquired or purchased      by another company, that company will assume responsibility for the      personal information collected by us through our Website, and it will      assume the rights and obligations regarding the information collected      through our Website, as described in this privacy policy.

Data Retention

SONS Security retains personal information as needed to provide you services or product information, respond to inquiries, consider your employment application, partner with you, or as required by contractual, statutory or other legal obligations.

Security and Confidentiality

SONS Security strives to protect personal information that we collect, maintain and disclose through the use of appropriate and reasonable administrative, physical and technical safeguards. For instance, our products and/or services online are transmitted through a secure sockets layer (SSL) transmission, which is a protocol for establishing a secure connection for transmission of your personal information. Further, we have security protocols and measures in place to ensure confidentiality of PII and to protect the PII we maintain about you from unauthorized access or alteration as well as unlawful disclosure. These measures include internal and external firewalls, physical security and technological security measures, as well as encryption of certain information and password protection for account information. Our security program is designed to: (1) ensure the security and confidentiality of personal information; (2) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of the information; and (3) protect against unauthorized access, use, alteration, or unlawful disclosure of the information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any individual. In the course of business, SONS Security may collect or ask that you disclose your Social Security Number. To the extent practicable, SONS Security protects the confidentiality of all information we collect, including Social Security Numbers. Accordingly, we prohibit the unlawful disclosure of personal information, including Social Security Numbers, and limit access to same. We dispose of such information by taking reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information.

Point of Contact

If you have any questions or comments about SONS Security’ privacy policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Robert Sons

• Owner/Managing Partner
• SONS Security LLC.
• 2004 Morrie Drive, Bellevue NE 68123
• sonssecurity@sonssecurityllc.com
• 402-917-4170

By Email: 

U.S. Consumers – to assert your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) (“FCRA”) and U.S.-based state consumer reporting laws contact: epassi@outlook.com

Privacy Practices. SONS Security’s policies and procedures for preparing and processing of investigative consumer reports are designed to comply with the requirements of the Nebraska and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.). SONS Security, for example, maintains policies and procedures designed to limit the purposes for, and circumstances under which, we furnish investigative consumer reports. SONS Security maintains reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. SONS Security provides individuals with the ability to request, upon proper identification, access to information we hold about them in our investigative consumer reporting files. SONS Security conducts reinvestigations of the accuracy and completeness of information at the individual’s request. SONS Security also has implemented administrative, physical and technical safeguards designed to protect the information that we maintain in our investigative consumer reporting files.

To obtain additional information about SONS Security’s privacy practices and policies in the event of a compromise of your information, please contact:

Robert Sons

• Owner/Managing Partner
• SONS Security LLC.
• 2004 Morrie Drive, Bellevue NE 68123
• sonssecurity@sonssecurityllc.com
• 402-917-4170

INTERNATIONAL COMPLIANCE

This section includes details of the purposes for which we use personal data and also the different legal grounds upon which we process that personal data. We use personal data to provide and improve services and for other purposes that are in our legitimate interests, as well as for compliance purposes. Some laws require us to explain what may happen to your personal data when it is transferred outside your home country and to, for instance, the United States. These laws also may require that we describe our lawful basis for processing your personal data. This section describes both as other rights all individuals have.

Personal Data Processing Purposes

We use personal data for a number of legitimate interests, including to provide and improve our services, administer our relationship with you and our business, for marketing and in order to exercise our rights and responsibilities. More detailed information about these legitimate interests is set out below.

• Providing Background Screening Services. SONS Security acts as a processor when processing      personal data on behalf of our controller customers who request background      checks for employment screening or vetting purposes to determine      eligibility for employment, or retention with, a particular company. As a      general rule, due in part to legal obligations, SONS Security requires      individuals provide consent to such checks and in addition, our customers’      basis for the processing of personal data may be the legitimate interests      of the company.
• Administering the Relationship with our Clients and      Prospective Clients. SONS      Security processes personal data to administer our relationship with our      customers and prospective customers and to provide employment screening      services, security risk management services,investigations, protective      security, response services and intelligence services. This routinely      includes: contacting you to discuss matters for which you have engaged us      or those for which you may engage us to handle on your behalf. This also      includes due diligence, fraud prevention,processing payments, accounting,      auditing, billing and collection, and support services. Depending upon the      specific legal or other services we reengaged to provide, this processing      is undertaken to carry out our contract with you or in anticipation of      entering into such a contract.
• Administering the Relationship with our Professional      Contacts and Business Partners. SONS      Security processes personal data to maintain professional relationships      and to establish, administer and maintain relationships with our business      partners. This includes communicating with you and administering our      relationships and, in the case of our business partners, administering our      business relationships including due diligence,fraud prevention,      processing payments, accounting, auditing, billing and collection, and      support services. Depending on the circumstances, this processing is done      on the basis of our legitimate interests or, in the case of contractual      business partners, this processing is undertaken to carry out our contract      with you or in anticipation of entering into such a contract. Processing      of personal data about our professional contacts is done pursuant to our      legitimate business interest.
• Compliance with Legal Obligations. We also process your personal data in order to      comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. We also process personal      data to establish, exercise and defend our legal rights and any legal      proceedings which may arise; and to prevent, detect and respond to actual      or potential fraud or other illegal activities.
• Visits to our Website. If you visit our Site, we collect data about your      visit as well as personal data that you choose to provide through our      Website pursuant to our legitimate interests. We may use your personal      data to provide you with marketing as permitted by law.
• Newsletters, Blogs, White Papers and Similar      Communications. SONS Security also may process      personal data to send you information about new developments or SONS      Security activities in the form of newsletters, event invitations, alerts,      blog postings, or other similar communications. Depending upon the nature      of the communication, these messages may be sent to you with your consent      or pursuant to our legitimate interests. If you do not wish to receive      such communications, you can opt-out of receiving future messages by email      by opting out using the link in the message or by contacting the Point of      Contact provided in this policy.

We will honor your rights under applicable data protection laws. You have the following rights under European and/or UK laws, and may have similar rights under the laws of other countries.

• Right of subject access: You have the right to access, update and request      a copy of personal data you have provided through our Website or as      described in this privacy policy either by submitting updated information      using our online Request Information form or by contacting us through the      Point of Contact provided in this policy.
• Right to rectification: The right to have inaccurate information about      you corrected or removed.
• Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”): The right to have certain personal data about you      erased.
• Right to restriction of processing: The right to request that your personal data is      only used for restricted purposes.
• Right to opt out of marketing: You can manage your marketing preferences by      unsubscribe links found in the communications you receive from us or by      contacting us through the Point of Contact provided in this policy.
• Right to object: The      right to object to processing of your personal data in cases where our      processing is based on the performance of a task carried out in the public      interest or we have let you know the processing is necessary for our or a      third party’s legitimate interests.
• Right to data portability: The right to ask for the personal data you have      made available to us to be transferred to you or a third party in machine-readable      format.
• Right to withdraw consent: The right to withdraw any consent you have      previously given us to handle your personal data. If you withdraw your      consent, this will not affect the lawfulness of our use of your personal      information prior to the withdrawal of your consent.

These rights are not absolute and they do not always apply in all cases. Also understand that in some cases, particularly as it relates to background screening services, your withdrawal of consent to the processing of your personal data may impact your eligibility or retention of employment.

In response to a request, we will ask you to verify your identity if we need to, and to provide information that helps us to understand your request better. If we do not comply with your request, whether in whole or in part, we will explain why.