Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to CyberShield Academy. By accessing or using our website, mobile applications, or any other services offered by CyberShield Academy (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms").

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and CyberShield Academy regarding your use of the Services. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use our Services.

By creating an account, enrolling in a course, or otherwise using our Services, you represent that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any other policies or guidelines linked to or referenced herein.

2. Services Description

CyberShield Academy provides cyber security education and training services, including but not limited to:

• Online and in-person cyber security courses and workshops
• Educational content, resources, and materials related to cyber security
• Practice labs and simulation environments
• Assessments, quizzes, and certification examinations
• Discussion forums and community spaces
• Career support and networking opportunities

We reserve the right to modify, update, or discontinue any aspect of our Services at any time. We will make reasonable efforts to provide notice of significant changes, but are not obligated to do so.

The specific features, requirements, and limitations of each course or service offering will be described in the relevant course or service description available on our website.

3. Eligibility and Registration

To use certain aspects of our Services, you may be required to register for an account and provide certain information about yourself. You agree that all information you provide during registration and at all other times will be true, accurate, current, and complete.

3.1 Age Requirements

Our Services are intended for users who are at least 16 years of age. By using our Services, you represent and warrant that you are at least 16 years old. If you are under 18 years old, you represent that you have obtained parental or guardian consent to use our Services.

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

We reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, remove or edit content, or cancel orders at our sole discretion if we believe that user conduct violates applicable laws or is harmful to our interests or the interests of other users.

4. User Conduct and Responsibilities

When using our Services, you agree to follow these rules of conduct:

4.1 Prohibited Activities

You agree not to engage in any of the following prohibited activities:

• Violating any applicable laws, regulations, or third-party rights
• Using the Services for any illegal purposes or to promote illegal activities
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Interfering with or disrupting the Services or servers connected to the Services
• Circumventing any technological measure implemented to protect the Services
• Using our learning materials, labs, or resources for malicious or harmful purposes
• Sharing account credentials or allowing others to access your account
• Uploading viruses or other malicious code to our platforms
• Collecting or harvesting data about other users without their consent
• Engaging in any activity that could damage, disable, or impair our Services

4.2 Content Guidelines

If our Services allow you to post, upload, or share content (such as forum posts, discussions, or assignments), you agree that you will not post content that:

• Is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or invasive of another's privacy
• Infringes on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other intellectual property rights
• Contains software viruses or any other code designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit functionality
• Is spam, commercial solicitation, or unrelated to the course or topic of discussion
• Impersonates any person or entity or misrepresents your affiliation with a person or entity
• Contains confidential information that you are not authorized to disclose

4.3 Ethical Use of Security Knowledge

As a cyber security training provider, we emphasize the ethical use of security knowledge and skills. You agree to use the knowledge, techniques, and tools taught in our courses only for lawful and ethical purposes, such as:

• Protecting systems and data for which you have explicit permission to secure
• Testing security with proper authorization and within defined boundaries
• Researching security issues in accordance with responsible disclosure practices
• Educating others about security best practices

We reserve the right to investigate and take appropriate action against anyone who, in our sole discretion, violates these provisions, including removing content, suspending or terminating accounts, and/or reporting such activity to law enforcement authorities.

5. Payment Terms

Certain Services offered by CyberShield Academy require payment. By purchasing our courses or other paid Services, you agree to the following terms:

5.1 Fees and Charges

All prices for our Services are listed in Euros (€) unless otherwise specified. Prices are subject to change, but changes will not affect purchases already completed. All fees are exclusive of any applicable taxes unless otherwise stated.

5.2 Payment Methods

We accept various payment methods as indicated during the checkout process. You represent and warrant that you have the legal right to use any payment method you provide in connection with your purchase.

5.3 Billing

If you select an installment payment plan, you authorize us to charge your payment method for each installment on the scheduled payment dates. You are responsible for ensuring your payment information is current and valid.

If a payment is not successfully processed due to expiration, insufficient funds, or otherwise, you remain responsible for any uncollected amounts.

5.4 Corporate and Institutional Purchases

For corporate or institutional purchases, additional terms may apply as specified in a separate written agreement.

6. Cancellation and Refund Policy

6.1 Cooling-off Period

You have the right to cancel your enrollment and receive a full refund within 14 calendar days from the day of purchase, provided you have not accessed a substantial portion of the course materials (defined as more than 20% of the course content).

6.2 Refund Process

To request a refund, you must notify us of your decision to cancel within the cooling-off period through our designated communication channels. Upon approval, we will process the refund using the same payment method you used for the initial transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise.

6.3 Partial Refunds

After the cooling-off period or if you have accessed more than 20% of the course content, you may be eligible for a partial refund at our discretion, taking into account the portion of the Services already consumed and other relevant factors.

6.4 Non-Refundable Items

Certain items are non-refundable, including but not limited to certification exam fees once the exam has been scheduled or taken, downloadable materials once accessed, and services that have been fully delivered.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

All content, materials, and resources provided through our Services, including but not limited to course materials, videos, presentations, documents, software, and code samples (collectively, "Content"), are owned by CyberShield Academy or our licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws.

7.1 Limited License

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to access and use the Content solely for your personal, non-commercial, educational purposes. This license does not include the right to:

• Modify, reproduce, distribute, publicly display, or create derivative works based on the Content
• Use the Content for any commercial purpose
• Transfer or sublicense the Content to any third party
• Remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices from the Content
• Use data mining, robots, or similar data gathering methods

7.2 User-Generated Content

You retain ownership of any content you submit, post, or display through our Services ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant CyberShield Academy a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, and display such User Content for the purpose of providing and promoting our Services.

7.3 Feedback

If you provide us with feedback, suggestions, or recommendations regarding our Services ("Feedback"), you grant us an unlimited, irrevocable, perpetual, sublicensable, transferable, royalty-free license to use such Feedback for any purpose without compensation to you.

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Our collection and use of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using our Services, you consent to the collection, processing, and use of your data as described in our Privacy Policy.

8.1 Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information. However, no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.

8.2 Learning Analytics

We may collect and analyze data about your use of our Services, including your progress, performance, and engagement, to improve our courses, provide personalized learning experiences, and support research in education and cyber security.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, CyberShield Academy and its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

• Your access to or use of or inability to access or use the Services
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Services
• Any content obtained from the Services
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content

In no event shall our total liability to you for all claims arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Services exceed the amount paid by you, if any, for accessing or using our Services during the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages. Accordingly, some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

Your use of our Services is at your sole risk. The Services are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or course of performance.

CyberShield Academy, its subsidiaries, affiliates, and licensors do not warrant that:

• The Services will function uninterrupted, secure, or available at any particular time or location
• Any errors or defects will be corrected
• The Services are free of viruses or other harmful components
• The results of using the Services will meet your requirements

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date content, we do not warrant that the information provided through our Services is accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free.

11. Account Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account and access to our Services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including, without limitation, if you breach these Terms.

Upon termination, your right to use the Services will immediately cease. If you wish to terminate your account, you may simply discontinue using the Services or contact us to request account deletion.

All provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion.

By continuing to access or use our Services after any revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, you are no longer authorized to use the Services.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically for any changes.

13. Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Cyprus, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

13.1 Informal Resolution

Before filing a claim against CyberShield Academy, you agree to attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting us. We'll try to resolve the dispute informally by contacting you via email. If a dispute is not resolved within 30 days of submission, you or CyberShield Academy may proceed with filing a formal claim.

13.2 Formal Proceedings

Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Services that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Nicosia, Cyprus. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts and waive any objection to the venue of proceedings in such courts.

14. General Provisions

14.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other legal notices or additional terms and conditions provided by CyberShield Academy in connection with the Services, shall constitute the entire agreement between you and CyberShield Academy concerning the Services.

14.2 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of such right or provision. The waiver of any such right or provision will be effective only if in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of CyberShield Academy.

14.3 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall be enforced to the fullest extent under law.

14.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms, by operation of law or otherwise, without CyberShield Academy's prior written consent. Any attempt by you to assign or transfer these Terms without such consent will be null and void. CyberShield Academy may freely assign or transfer these Terms without restriction.

15. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms or our Services, please contact us through our website or learning platform.

We will make every effort to respond to your inquiry in a timely manner.