GaugeHosting.com Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: October 1, 2026

Version: 3.1

OVERVIEW & COMMITMENT

At Gauge Hosting ("Company", "We", "Us", "Our"), accessible from www.gaugehosting.com, protecting the privacy and security of our clients ("Client", "User", "You") is a top priority. Gauge Hosting is a registered trade name and DBA of Horizon Web Services, LLC.

This Privacy Policy outlines how Horizon Web Services, LLC d/b/a Gauge Hosting collects, uses, processes, and safeguards your personal data when you interact with our website, order hosting services, access our FOSSBilling portal, or communicate with our support infrastructure.

By registering an account or using our services, you consent to the data collection and processing practices described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our website and hosting infrastructure:

1.1 Personal Account Information

• Identity Data: Full name, business/company name, national identification or tax ID (where applicable).
• Contact Information: Email address, billing address, telephone number.
• Account Credentials: Username, encrypted passwords, security questions, and two-factor authentication metadata.

1.2 Billing & Transaction Data

• Financial Details: Credit/debit card details (processed securely via PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment gateways), PayPal account email, bank transfer records, and transaction histories.
• Invoicing Records: Tax IDs, currency preferences, billing logs, and payment receipts.

1.3 Technical & Usage Data

• Server Logs: IP addresses, browser types and versions, operating system, system performance telemetry, and access logs.
• Service Telemetry: Resource utilization, bandwidth transfer stats, domain name associations, and server error logs.
• Cookies & Tracking: Session cookies, preference settings, and security cookies used to keep you authenticated in our client portal.

2. How We Use Your Information

We process personal data strictly under legitimate business, contractual, and legal bases:

1. Service Provisioning: To set up, manage, and maintain hosting accounts, web servers, domain registrations, and SSL certificates.
2. Billing & Accounting: To process payments, issue invoices, prevent fraud, and maintain proper tax/financial records.
3. Customer Support: To verify identity, respond to technical support tickets, and resolve network issues.
4. Service Communications: To send critical service notices, maintenance announcements, billing reminders, and security alerts.
5. Security & Abuse Prevention: To monitor against malicious attacks, spamming, botnets, fraudulent registrations, and unauthorized system access.
6. Legal Compliance: To comply with court orders, regulatory inquiries, tax laws, and subpoena requests.

3. Third-Party Data Processors & Sub-Processors

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties or marketing companies. We share data only with trusted partners and service providers necessary for operating our business:

• Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal, and banking partners to process secure transactions.
• Domain Registrars & Registries: ICANN-accredited partners to execute domain name registrations (WHOIS details as required by registry regulations).
• Control Panel & Software Vendors: cPanel, DirectAdmin, WHMCS/FOSSBilling integration endpoints required for account management and automation.
• Data Centers & Infrastructure Providers: Physical data center facilities where infrastructure and backups are securely housed.
• Law Enforcement: When explicitly required under valid legal process, court orders, or subpoenas.

4. Cookies & Analytical Tracking

4.1 Essential Cookies: We use session cookies to keep you logged into the client portal, remember your preferences, and maintain cart selections. These are necessary for core site functionality.

4.2 Analytics & Diagnostics: We may use anonymized analytics tools to track website performance, broken links, and traffic patterns. You can disable non-essential cookies via your web browser settings at any time.

5. Data Security & Retention

5.1 Security Measures

We employ industry-standard physical, administrative, and technical security measures to protect your data. This includes TLS/SSL encryption for data in transit, encrypted storage for sensitive databases, strict access controls, and regular vulnerability scanning.

5.2 Data Retention Schedule

• Active Accounts: Data is retained for as long as your account remains active and in good standing.
• Cancelled Accounts: Account logs, support history, and server files are securely erased within 30 to 90 days following account cancellation or termination, unless longer retention is required for legal compliance.
• Financial Records: Invoices and payment logs are retained for up to 7 years in compliance with applicable tax laws.

6. Your Data Rights & Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction (including rights under GDPR, CCPA, or applicable regional data privacy laws), you possess the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you at any time.
• Right to Rectification: You can update or correct inaccuracies in your personal details directly via the Client Portal.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): You may request the deletion of your personal account data, provided there are no active service contracts, outstanding balances, or legal obligations requiring retention.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You may object to or request restrictions on processing certain non-essential data.
• Data Portability: You can request your account metadata in a structured, machine-readable format.

To exercise any of these rights, please submit a formal ticket through the Client Portal or email our Privacy Officer.

7. International Data Transfers

If you are accessing our services from outside the country where our servers or data centers are located, your information may be transferred across international borders. We ensure that all international data transfers comply with valid legal mechanisms, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and appropriate data privacy frameworks.

8. Policy Updates & Changes

Gauge Hosting reserves the right to amend or update this Privacy Policy as technology, privacy laws, or business operations evolve. Material changes will be communicated via notification in the Client Portal or via direct email sent to registered account owners at least 14 days prior to implementation.

9. Contact Information & Data Protection Officer

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please reach out to our team:

Horizon Web Services, LLC d/b/a Gauge Hosting

• Website: www.gaugehosting.com
• Privacy Email: privacy@gaugehosting.com
• General Legal: legal@gaugehosting.com