Terms of Use for CyberSecurityAId

CyberSecurityAId (“the Tool”) is provided for informational and educational purposes only. While We strive to offer accurate and up-to-date cybersecurity guidance, the Tool does not constitute legal, professional, or security advice. Any recommendations or assessments generated by the Tool are based on general cybersecurity principles and should not be relied upon for making business or security decisions.

By accessing or using the Tool, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, you must immediately discontinue use of the Tool.

  1. Interpretation
    1. "We", "Us", or "Our" refers to the University of Essex, the provider of the Tool.
    2. "You", “Your” or "User" refers to the individual that accesses and uses the Tool.
    3. “Tool” means the CyberSecurityAId tool.
  2. Eligibility
    1. You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement to use the Tool.
    2. The Tool is designed for use in the United Kingdom. If you access the Tool from outside the UK, you do so at Your own risk. You are solely responsible for ensuring that Your use of the Tool complies with all applicable laws and regulations in Your jurisdiction.
    3. We do not guarantee that the Tool is appropriate, legal or available for use in any particular jurisdiction outside the UK. We reserve the right to restrict access to the Tool in any jurisdiction where its use may be unlawful.
  3. Permitted use
    1. The Tool is intended solely for personal, informational and educational purposes. You agree to use the Tool lawfully and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
    2. The following uses of the Tool are strictly prohibited:
      1. Using the Tool for unlawful, fraudulent, or malicious activities.
      2. Disrupting, interfering with, or attempting to gain unauthorised access to the Tool, its systems or networks.
      3. Reverse-engineering, decompiling, modifying, distributing or reproducing any part of the Tool without Our prior written permission.
  4. No Warranty or Guarantee
    1. The Tool is provided on an "as-is" and “as available” basis.
    2. Any condition, warranty, representation or other term concerning the supply of the Tool which might otherwise be implied into, or incorporated in these Terms of Use is excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law, including but not limited to:
      1. implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for any particular purpose, non-infringement, and accuracy;
      2. any warranty that the Tool will be error-free, secure or free from harmful components; and
      3. any warranty that the Tool’s recommendation, assessments or outputs will be complete, or suitable for any specific use or decision-making process, or prevent cybersecurity breaches or ensure compliance with any legal or regulatory requirements.
    3. Users assume full responsibility for any reliance on the Tool’s output. The Tool does not replace professional cybersecurity advice, and We strongly recommend consulting a qualified cybersecurity professional before making security-related decisions.
  5. Limitation of Liability
    1. To the fullest extent permitted by law, We shall not be liable to You, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, arising under or in connection with these Terms of Use for:
      1. loss of profits, sales, business or revenue;
      2. business interruption;
      3. loss of anticipated savings;
      4. wasted expenditure;
      5. loss or corruption of data or information;
      6. loss of business opportunity, goodwill or reputation where any of the losses set out in clause 5.1(a) to 5.1(f) are direct or indirect; or
      7. any special, indirect or consequential loss, damage, charges or expenses
    2. Our maximum aggregate liability to You under or in connection with these Terms of Use, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, shall in all circumstances be limited to £100 (one hundred pounds sterling). This maximum cap does not apply to clause 5.3.
    3. Nothing in these Terms of Use shall limit or exclude Our liability for:
      1. death or personal injury resulting from Our negligence;
      2. fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
      3. any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded under English law.
  6. User Responsibility
    1. Users acknowledge and accept that they are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply any recommendations provided by the Tool.
    2. We strongly advise that Users seek independent professional advice before making cybersecurity decisions based on the Tool’s output.
  7. Privacy and Data Protection
    1. Your use of the Tool is subject to Our Privacy Policy, which explains how We collect, use, and protect Your personal data.
    2. We do not guarantee that data transmitted to or from the Tool is secure. Users should take their own precautions when transmitting sensitive information.
  8. No Legal or Regulatory Compliance Guarantee
    1. While the Tool may provide insights into cybersecurity best practices, it does not ensure compliance with any local, national or international laws, regulations, or industry standards.
    2. Users shall be responsible for ensuring their own compliance with applicable cybersecurity and data protection laws, including but not limited to: UK GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), Data Protection Act 2018 and any relevant local or international laws.
  9. Cyber Essentials Disclaimer
    1. You acknowledge and accept that the Tool is not an official Cyber Essentials certification tool and is not endorsed, certified or recognised by any regulatory bodies, official authorities or industry standards organisations, including but not limited to the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) or IASME Consortium.
    2. While the Tool is designed to align with Cyber Essentials principles, You acknowledge and accept that it does not provide certification or guarantee compliance with any specific industry standards or regulations; or replace the need for an accredited Cyber Essentials assessment.
    3. If You seek any official certifications, such as Cyber Essentials or other recognised standards, You should seek advice from an accredited certification body.
  10. Modifications and Availability
    1. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Tool at any time without prior notice.
    2. We are not responsible for technical failures, cyber incidents, or external factors affecting availability of the Tool; or any loss, damage or inconvenience caused by the unavailability of the Tool.
    3. We may update these Terms of Use from time to time. Changes take effect immediately upon posting, and continued use of the Tool constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If changes materially affect user rights, We will endeavour to provide reasonable notice.
  11. Intellectual Property Rights
    1. You acknowledge that the University of Essex owns all intellectual property rights in the Tool and any documents provided by Us in connection with the Tool.
    2. You acknowledge that you have no right to have access to the Tool in source code form.
    3. By using the Tool, You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use the Tool solely for informational and educational purposes in accordance with these Terms of Use.
    4. You may not:
      1. reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works of any part of the Tool without prior written permission from Us;
      2. Use the Tool for commercial purposes or allow any third party to do so;
      3. Transfer or assign Your rights under this licence to any third party.
  12. Termination
    1. We may terminate Your use of the Tool immediately at any time, and for any reason.
    2. On termination, Your rights to use the Tool shall cease.
  13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
    1. These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
    2. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
  14. Contact Information
    15. If you have any questions about these Terms of Use, you can contact Us at: cybersecurityaid@essex.ac.uk.