Privacy Policy
A short, plain-English notice: what this website collects, how we use it, and your choices.
This policy explains what information sternfast.com collects from visitors and how we handle it. It applies to this website only — not to data we process for clients under a services agreement (see “Client and student data” below).
Information we collect
- Information you give us. When you submit our contact form we collect your name, email address, the topic you choose, and any message you write — used only to respond to your inquiry.
- Usage information. We use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used: pages viewed, approximate location (from a truncated IP address), and device and browser type. This is aggregate and is not used to identify you.
How we use information
To reply to your inquiry, to operate, secure, and improve the website, and to comply with our legal obligations. We do not use it for advertising or automated decision-making.
Cookies and analytics
This site uses Google Analytics, which sets two first-party cookies:
| Cookie | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
_ga | Distinguishes one browser from another with a pseudonymous ID. | Up to ~13 months (browser-capped) |
_ga_L40SYVLKQS | Keeps session state for our Analytics property. | Up to ~13 months |
These are the only cookies we set — no advertising or cross-site tracking. You can disable analytics by blocking cookies in your browser or installing Google’s Analytics Opt-out Add-on.
How information is shared
We do not sell your information or share it for advertising. We share it only with the providers that operate the site, and only as needed to run it:
- Google Firebase — website hosting and storage of contact-form submissions (United States).
- Web3Forms — relays a copy of your contact-form submission to us by email so we can reply promptly.
- Google Analytics — website usage analytics, under Google’s terms.
We may also disclose information if required by law.
Data retention
We keep contact-form submissions only as long as needed to handle your inquiry and maintain our records, and we delete them on request. Analytics data follows our Google Analytics retention settings.
Your rights
You can ask us to access, correct, or delete the information you submitted, or opt out of analytics as described above. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under laws such as the GDPR or CCPA, and we honor applicable requests. To make a request, use our contact form or call (615) 396-7139 — we reply within one business day.
Children’s privacy
This is a business website and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Client and student data
When we perform services for a client — a migration, hosting, or a repair — any data on their systems, including student records subject to FERPA, is governed by the services agreement and data-processing terms we sign with that client, not by this website policy.
Changes to this policy
If we change how the site handles information, we’ll update this page and revise the date above.
Contact
Questions about this policy? Contact us or call (615) 396-7139. Sternfast is a Vbounds LLC company based in Nashville, Tennessee.