Information We Collect

When you use SharpBrainy, we collect different types of information depending on how you interact with our platform. Here's what we gather and why:

Account Information

When you sign up, we need some basic details to create your account. This includes your name, email address, and a password you choose. If you're using our business features, we might also collect your company name and role.

Financial Data You Enter

This is the core of what we do. You'll input budget figures, expense categories, income streams, and forecasting parameters. All of this stays in your account and helps our tools generate insights for your financial planning.

Usage Information

We track how you use SharpBrainy—which features you access, how often you log in, and what parts of the platform you find most useful. This helps us improve the service and fix issues when they come up.

Technical Data

Like most online services, we automatically collect some technical information: your IP address, browser type, device information, and operating system. This helps us ensure the platform works properly across different setups.

How We Use Your Information

We're not in the business of selling your data. Everything we collect serves a specific purpose related to providing and improving SharpBrainy.

• Running the platform and providing the forecasting and budgeting tools you signed up for
• Sending you important updates about your account or changes to our service
• Responding to your support requests and troubleshooting technical issues
• Analyzing usage patterns to improve features and develop new ones
• Preventing fraud and maintaining security across the platform
• Meeting our legal obligations under Australian law

Data Storage and Security

Your information is stored on secure servers located in Australia. We use industry-standard encryption both when data travels to our servers and while it sits in our database.

Security Measures We've Implemented

• 256-bit SSL encryption for all data transmission
• Encrypted database storage with regular security audits
• Multi-factor authentication options for account access
• Regular backups with secure, encrypted storage
• Restricted employee access to customer data—only those who need it to provide support can see it
• Continuous monitoring for suspicious activity and potential security threats

That said, no online system is completely bulletproof. We do everything we can to protect your information, but we can't guarantee absolute security. If we ever detect a breach that affects your data, we'll notify you promptly as required by Australian privacy law.

Sharing Your Information

We don't sell or rent your personal information. Period. There are only a few specific situations where we share data with others:

All third-party service providers we work with are bound by confidentiality agreements and can only use your information for the specific purposes we've authorized.

Your Privacy Rights

Under Australian privacy law, you have several rights regarding your personal information. Here's what you can do and how to do it:

Access Your Data

You can request a copy of all personal information we hold about you. Most of this is accessible directly through your account dashboard, but if you need a complete export, just contact us.

Correct Inaccurate Information

If any of your personal details are wrong or outdated, you can update them directly in your account settings. For information you can't change yourself, reach out to our support team.

Delete Your Account

You can delete your SharpBrainy account at any time through your account settings. When you do this:

1. Your account will be immediately deactivated and you'll lose access to all features
2. Your financial data and forecasting models will be permanently deleted within 30 days
3. Some information may be retained for legal or security purposes as required by law
4. Anonymized usage data that doesn't identify you personally may be kept for analytics

Export Your Data

You can download your budget data, forecasts, and other information you've entered into SharpBrainy. We provide export options in common formats like CSV and PDF.

Opt Out of Communications

We'll send you essential service emails—password resets, billing confirmations, security alerts—that you can't unsubscribe from. But for optional newsletters or feature updates, you can opt out anytime through the unsubscribe link in those emails.

Cookies and Tracking

Like most websites, SharpBrainy uses cookies—small text files stored on your device. We use them to keep you logged in, remember your preferences, and understand how people use the platform.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the platform to work. They handle things like authentication and security. You can't turn these off without breaking the service.
• Functional Cookies: These remember your preferences—like currency settings or dashboard layout choices—so you don't have to reset them every time.
• Analytics Cookies: We use these to see which features are popular and where users run into problems. The data is anonymized.

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Keep in mind that disabling certain cookies might affect how SharpBrainy works for you.

Data Retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward. Here's our general approach:

• Active account data is retained indefinitely while you continue using SharpBrainy
• After account deletion, personal and financial data is purged within 30 days
• Backup copies in our disaster recovery systems are deleted within 90 days
• Some information must be kept longer for legal or tax purposes—typically up to seven years as required by Australian business regulations
• Anonymized analytics data that can't be traced back to you may be kept indefinitely

If you stop using your account but don't delete it, we'll still keep your data secure. However, after 24 months of complete inactivity, we may contact you to see if you want to keep the account or close it.

International Data Transfers

SharpBrainy operates primarily in Australia, and your data is stored on Australian servers. If you access our service from outside Australia, your information will be transferred to and processed in Australia.

Australia has privacy protections that are considered adequate under international standards. If we ever need to transfer data to countries with different privacy laws, we'll ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

Children's Privacy

SharpBrainy isn't designed for children under 18. We don't knowingly collect information from minors. If you're a parent and believe your child has created an account with us, please contact us immediately and we'll delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We update this privacy policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we'll notify you by email or through a prominent notice on the platform.

The date at the top of this page shows when the policy was last updated. We encourage you to review it periodically, especially if you're concerned about how your information is handled.

Complaints and Disputes

If you have concerns about how we've handled your personal information, we want to hear about it. Start by contacting our privacy team directly—most issues can be resolved through direct conversation.

If you're not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). They're the government body that oversees privacy law compliance in Australia.