PRIVACY POLICY: BENCH MARK IT SERVICES
Effective Date: April 2026
1. OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY
Evans Management & Consultancy Pty Ltd ATF EMC Trust T/A Bench Mark IT Services (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our clients and website visitors. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal and technical information.
2. TYPES OF INFORMATION WE COLLECT
As an IT and Cyber Security provider, we collect information necessary to manage and secure your infrastructure:
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Identity Data: Names, job titles, and business contact details.
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Financial Data: Bank account details and credit card info for billing (processed via secure, encrypted gateways).
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Technical Data: IP addresses, login credentials (encrypted), device IDs, browser types, and system logs.
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Security Data: Incident logs, threat telemetry, and monitoring data collected during cybersecurity oversight.
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Sensitive Information: We do not typically collect sensitive info (e.g., health or criminal records) unless it is necessary for the provision of specific services (e.g., biometric access setup).
3. HOW WE COLLECT DATA
We collect data through:
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Direct Interaction: When you sign an SLA, call our helpdesk, or fill out a website form.
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Automated Technologies: Through our Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools, security agents (EDR/XDR), and cookies on our website.
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Third Parties: We may receive information from partners such as Microsoft, Google, or Acronis regarding your subscription status.
4. PURPOSE OF COLLECTION
We use your data strictly for:
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Service Delivery: Managing your IT environment and resolving tickets.
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Cyber Protection: Monitoring for unauthorized access and mitigating threats.
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Communication: Providing system updates, security alerts, and invoices.
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Compliance: Meeting our legal obligations under Australian law.
5. DISCLOSURE TO THIRD PARTIES (VENDORS)
To provide managed services, we must share certain data with our technology partners (OEMs). This includes but is not limited to:
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Cloud Providers: Microsoft (Azure/365), Google (Workspace/GCP), AWS.
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Security & Backup: Acronis, Avast, SentinelOne.
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Telephony: NBN providers and VoIP carriers.
We ensure these third parties have privacy standards equivalent to our own. We never sell your data to third-party marketers.
6. DATA SOVEREIGNTY & OVERSEAS DISCLOSURE
While we prioritize Australian-based data storage, some data (specifically metadata or cloud subscriptions) may be stored on servers located in the United States, Singapore, or the EU due to the global nature of vendors like Microsoft and Google. By using our services, you consent to this cross-border disclosure.
7. DATA SECURITY (THE “BITS” STANDARD)
Security is our core business. We protect your data using:
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Encryption: Data is encrypted both at rest and in transit.
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Access Control: We enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and the “Principle of Least Privilege” for our staff.
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Destruction: We securely de-identify or destroy data that is no longer required for legal or business purposes.
8. NOTIFIABLE DATA BREACHES (NDB)
In the event of a “Eligible Data Breach” (as defined by the NDB scheme) that is likely to result in serious harm, we will:
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Contain the breach immediately.
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Assess the risk and impact.
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Notify the affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) as required by law.
9. YOUR RIGHTS: ACCESS AND CORRECTION
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. You may also request that we correct any inaccuracies. To do so, please contact our Privacy Officer at info@benchmarkitservices.com.au.
10. COMPLAINTS
If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, please contact us. We will respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may complain to the OAIC (www.oaic.gov.au).
11. CONTACT US
Privacy Officer Bench Mark IT Services 171 Darling Road, Malvern East, VIC 3145 Phone: 03 8652 1589 Email: info@benchmarkitservices.com.au
