Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using ShieldGuard's cybersecurity consulting services, website (shieldguard.co), or any related services (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Services.

2. Description of Services

ShieldGuard provides professional cybersecurity consulting services, including but not limited to:

• Security assessments and vulnerability analyses
• Penetration testing and ethical hacking services
• Incident response and threat remediation
• Compliance consulting (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS)
• Security awareness training for employees
• Cloud security architecture and implementation
• 24/7 security monitoring and threat intelligence

3. Client Responsibilities

When engaging our Services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information about your systems and infrastructure
• Obtain all necessary authorizations for security testing on your systems
• Not use our Services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Maintain appropriate backups before any security testing
• Promptly implement recommended security remediation measures
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding your systems and data

4. Authorization for Security Testing

Prior to conducting any penetration testing or security assessments, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the owner of the systems to be tested, or you have obtained explicit written authorization from the owner
• You have authority to authorize testing activities on all systems within the defined scope
• Testing will not violate any agreements with third parties (hosting providers, cloud services, etc.)
• You will provide a signed Rules of Engagement document before testing begins

5. Confidentiality

We understand the sensitive nature of security information. ShieldGuard agrees to:

• Maintain strict confidentiality of all client information, findings, and reports
• Not disclose vulnerabilities or security findings to any third party without your written consent
• Securely destroy or return all confidential materials upon completion of engagement (unless retention is required by law)
• Execute a mutual non-disclosure agreement (NDA) upon request

6. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• ShieldGuard's total liability for any claims arising from our Services shall not exceed the fees paid for the specific engagement giving rise to the claim
• We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• We do not guarantee that all vulnerabilities will be discovered or that systems will be completely secure following our services
• We are not liable for damages arising from your failure to implement recommended security measures

7. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ShieldGuard and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of our Services; (b) your breach of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third-party rights; or (d) any unauthorized access to systems beyond the defined scope of engagement.

8. Payment Terms

• Fees for Services are as specified in the applicable Statement of Work (SOW) or engagement letter
• Payment is due within 30 days of invoice unless otherwise agreed
• Late payments may incur interest at 1.5% per month
• We reserve the right to suspend Services for accounts more than 60 days past due

9. Termination

Either party may terminate the engagement:

• For convenience with 30 days written notice
• Immediately if the other party materially breaches these Terms and fails to cure within 15 days of notice
• Immediately if required by law or if illegal activity is discovered

Upon termination, you agree to pay for all Services rendered up to the termination date.

10. Intellectual Property

• All tools, methodologies, and proprietary techniques used by ShieldGuard remain our intellectual property
• You retain ownership of your systems, data, and any information provided to us
• Reports and deliverables are licensed to you for internal use only and may not be shared publicly without our written consent

11. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in San Francisco County, California.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. Continued use of our Services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.