Advertising Disclosure
Last updated: September 25, 2025
At SecureNorth, we are committed to transparency in all our business practices. This Advertising Disclosure explains our relationships with advertisers, affiliate programs, and sponsored content partners. We believe you have the right to know about any financial relationships that may influence the content on our website.
This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, as well as applicable Finnish and European Union advertising regulations. By using our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclosure.
Our Commitment to Transparency
We value the trust our visitors and students place in us. To maintain that trust, we are transparent about how we generate revenue and any potential conflicts of interest. All advertising and affiliate relationships are disclosed clearly, and we maintain editorial independence in our content creation.
Honest Relationships
We clearly disclose all affiliate and advertising partnerships to ensure you understand any financial relationships.
Editorial Independence
Our content recommendations are based on quality and relevance, not solely on commission potential.
Your Interests First
We prioritize providing valuable, accurate information that serves your educational needs and career goals.
Affiliate Relationships
Affiliate Program Participation
SecureNorth participates in various affiliate marketing programs. This means we may earn commissions when you click on certain links to external products, services, or resources and make purchases. These affiliate relationships help support our operations and allow us to provide free educational content.
Types of Affiliate Partnerships
- Cyber security tool and software vendors
- Educational platform and course providers
- Professional certification preparation materials
- Technical books and learning resources
- Lab environment and training infrastructure providers
Commission Structure
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link on our website, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. The commission amount varies by program and product, but it does not affect the price you pay. Some programs offer fixed amounts per sale, while others provide percentage-based commissions.
Important: You will never pay more by clicking through our affiliate links. In many cases, we negotiate special discounts or bonuses for our audience.
Product Recommendation Policy
We only recommend products, tools, and services that we genuinely believe provide value to our students and visitors. The existence of an affiliate relationship does not influence whether we recommend a product. We base our recommendations on quality, relevance to cyber security training, user feedback, and our own evaluation when possible. If we have not personally used or evaluated a product, we clearly state this in our content.
Identifying Affiliate Links
We clearly mark affiliate links and sponsored content throughout our website. Look for disclosures such as "affiliate link," "partner link," or similar language near the links. When entire articles or sections contain multiple affiliate links, we include a disclosure at the beginning of the content to inform you of the relationship.
Sponsored Content
Sponsored Posts and Articles
Occasionally, we may publish sponsored content or paid promotional material from companies in the cyber security industry. This content is created in collaboration with sponsors but always clearly labeled as sponsored, promoted, or paid content.
Our Sponsored Content Guidelines
- • All sponsored content is clearly labeled at the top of the article or post
- • We maintain editorial control over sponsored content to ensure accuracy and quality
- • Sponsored content must be relevant and valuable to our audience
- • We decline sponsorships that conflict with our values or mislead our audience
- • Sponsored content is distinguished visually and textually from regular editorial content
Brand Partnerships
We may enter into partnerships with cyber security vendors, training platforms, or certification bodies to provide enhanced content, exclusive resources, or special offers to our students. These partnerships are disclosed when relevant, and we ensure that all partnership agreements align with our commitment to educational quality and transparency.
Editorial Integrity
Our editorial team maintains independence in creating educational content. Sponsors do not have influence over our course curriculum, instructional methods, or independent reviews. We reserve the right to refuse sponsored content that does not meet our quality standards or could mislead our students.
Third-Party Advertising
Display Advertising Networks
We may display advertisements from third-party advertising networks on our website. These networks use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your browsing behavior across different websites.
Advertising Networks We Use
- Google Ads for display and search advertising
- Retargeting services to show relevant ads to previous visitors
- Industry-specific ad networks focused on technology and education
Behavioral Targeting
Third-party advertisers may use cookies to track your browsing activity and display personalized advertisements. This practice, known as behavioral targeting or interest-based advertising, allows advertisers to show you ads that are more relevant to your interests. You can learn more about how we use cookies in our Cookie Policy and manage your preferences there.
Cookie Usage for Advertising
Advertising partners use cookies to collect data about your visit to our site and your browsing habits. This data may include:
- — Pages you visit on our website
- — Time spent on different pages
- — Links you click
- — Your IP address and general location
- — Device and browser information
For more details about cookie usage, please refer to our Cookie Policy.
Ad Personalization
Advertising networks may use your data to create interest profiles and deliver personalized ads across multiple websites. This helps ensure that the advertisements you see are relevant to your professional interests and learning goals. However, you have the right to opt out of personalized advertising, as explained in the user controls section below.
User Rights and Controls
You have control over how advertising data is collected and used. Here are the options available to you:
Ad Preferences
You can manage your advertising preferences through our Cookie Policy page, where you can enable or disable different types of advertising cookies. You can also adjust your preferences directly with advertising networks like Google through their ad settings pages.
Opt-Out Procedures
You can opt out of behavioral advertising by adjusting your browser settings to block third-party cookies, using browser privacy features, or visiting industry opt-out pages. Note that opting out does not mean you will see fewer ads, but the ads may be less relevant to your interests.
Data Collection Choices
You have the right to limit data collection for advertising purposes. Visit our Cookie Policy page to customize which types of cookies you allow. You can also clear existing cookies through your browser settings at any time.
Privacy Regulations
Under GDPR and other privacy regulations, you have rights regarding your personal data. You can request access to, correction of, or deletion of your data. Contact us to exercise these rights or if you have questions about data processing for advertising purposes.
FTC Compliance
This disclosure complies with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements for online advertising transparency. We follow FTC guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, ensuring that:
- Material connections between SecureNorth and advertisers are clearly disclosed
- Endorsements reflect honest opinions and experiences
- Claims about products or services are substantiated
- Disclosures are clear, conspicuous, and placed where consumers will see them
While the FTC is a United States regulatory body, we apply these transparency standards globally to ensure consistency and clarity for all our users.
Updates to This Disclosure
We may update this Advertising Disclosure periodically to reflect changes in our advertising practices, partnerships, or regulatory requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this disclosure regularly to stay informed about our advertising relationships and practices.
Questions and Contact
If you have questions about our advertising practices or this disclosure, please contact us:
Address
Aleksanterinkatu 15, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
Phone
+358 40 7923 8146