1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.

At ITRise, we use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize content, and measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

• Session Cookies: Maintain your session as you navigate through our site
• Security Cookies: Help identify and prevent security risks

Duration: Session-based (deleted when you close your browser)

2.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We use this data to improve our website's performance and user experience.

• Google Analytics: Tracks page views, user behavior, traffic sources, and site performance
• Data Collected: Pages visited, time on site, bounce rate, device type, geographic location (country/city level)

Duration: Up to 2 years

Provider: Google LLC (Privacy Policy)

2.3 Marketing/Advertising Cookies

These cookies track your online activity to help us deliver more relevant advertising and measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.

• Google Ads: Tracks conversions and retargets visitors with relevant ads
• Facebook Pixel: Measures ad effectiveness and builds custom audiences
• LinkedIn Insight Tag: Tracks conversions and enables retargeting

Duration: Up to 1-2 years

2.4 Affiliate Tracking Cookies

We use affiliate cookies to track referrals to our partner course platforms (Coursera, Udemy, Pluralsight, LinkedIn Learning, AWS, CompTIA, etc.). These cookies allow us to receive commission when you make a purchase through our affiliate links.

• Purpose: Track clicks and purchases made through our affiliate links
• Data Collected: Click timestamp, referred URL, purchase confirmation (non-personally identifiable)

Duration: 7-90 days (varies by affiliate partner)

2.5 Preference/Functional Cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your preferred language or region) and provide enhanced, personalized features.

• User Preferences: Remember your settings and preferences
• Personalization: Display relevant content based on your interests

Duration: Up to 1 year

3. Third-Party Cookies

In addition to our own cookies, we may use various third-party cookies to report usage statistics, deliver advertisements, and provide enhanced functionality:

4. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies for the following purposes:

• Essential Website Functionality: Enable core features like page navigation and secure access
• Performance Analysis: Understand how visitors use our site to improve user experience
• Content Personalization: Display relevant career paths, certifications, and course recommendations
• Affiliate Tracking: Track referrals to partner platforms and earn commissions
• Marketing Optimization: Deliver targeted ads and measure campaign effectiveness
• User Preferences: Remember your settings and preferences across visits

5. Managing Cookies

You have the right to accept or reject cookies. Here are several ways you can manage cookie preferences:

5.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer. Here's how:

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data

Note: Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website and limit your access to certain features.

5.2 Opt-Out of Analytics

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

5.3 Opt-Out of Interest-Based Advertising

• Google Ads: Google Ads Settings
• Facebook Ads: Facebook Ad Preferences
• Digital Advertising Alliance: DAA Opt-Out
• Network Advertising Initiative: NAI Opt-Out

5.4 Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not want your online activity tracked. We do not currently respond to DNT signals, but you can use the methods above to manage cookies and tracking.

6. Cookie Duration

Cookies may be temporary (session cookies) or persistent:

• Session Cookies: Deleted automatically when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them

Most of our cookies are persistent and expire after 1-2 years, though some affiliate cookies may last 7-90 days.

7. GDPR & CCPA Compliance

7.1 GDPR (EU Residents)

Under GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access information about cookies stored on your device
• Withdraw consent for non-essential cookies at any time
• Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

7.2 CCPA (California Residents)

Under CCPA, you have the right to:

• Know what personal information is collected via cookies
• Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell your data)
• Request deletion of personal information collected via cookies

8. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, regulatory, or operational reasons. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the updated policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us: