Confidentiality Policy Statement

Universal Certification and Services (UCS) is committed to providing confidential services to its customers. Confidential company information is just for UCS’s use and will only be used for the purposes for which it was gathered and will not be shared with any other organization or individual without the need to know and the right to know this information, and will not be shared without the user’s expressed permission.

UCS may have access to confidential information, whether oral, written, or electronic. UCS will maintain such information in a manner that ensures its confidentiality.

External auditors, external technical experts and anyone that provides outsourced services to UCS must sign a written agreement that addresses aspects relating to confidentiality, impartiality and conflicts of interests. External auditors, external technical experts and anyone that provides outsourced services commit themselves to comply with applicable policies and implement processes as defined by UCS. 

UCS may use or disclose information learned or acquired through their association with UCS only for the performance of their job or as otherwise permitted by law. Particular care must be taken to keep confidential any information that is:

• Of possible value to competitors.
• Potentially damaging to customers and their competitors.
• Information received under an express or implied secrecy obligation.
• Information received from third parties outside UCS.

For the purpose of this policy, confidentiality relates to the transmission of personal, sensitive or identifiable information (confidential information) about individuals or organizations, which comes into the possession of the organization through its work.

Records on applicants and clients of UCS are kept secure, dealt with sensitively, and stored and secured against unauthorized access, accident disclosure, loss or destruction. Records are constantly reviewed and where necessary disposed of. Disposal of such information is done in a secure manner.

UCS recognizes that occasions may arise where there is a need to breach confidentiality. Confidential or sensitive information relating to an individual or organization may be revealed where there is risk of danger to an individual or organization, or the public at large, or where it is against the law to withhold it. In these circumstances, information may be revealed to external agencies (e.g. police or social service) on a need to know basis.