Privacy policy
Last updated: August 2026
Who I am
Swarm ICT is a sole trader business run by Oliver Porter, based in Corsham, Wiltshire and Burnham, Berkshire. For the purposes of UK data protection law, Swarm ICT is the data controller for the information described on this page.
You can reach me at support@swarmict.co.uk or on 07816 970 768 about anything on this page.
What I collect
Only what I need in order to reply to you and do the work.
- When you contact me: your name, email address, phone number, location and whatever you write in your message.
- When you become a client: billing details, the addresses I visit, and any account or system information needed to do the job you’ve asked for.
- When you visit this website: standard server information such as your browser type and the pages you looked at.
I do not collect special category data, I do not buy contact lists, and I do not sell anything to anybody.
Why I use it, and my lawful basis
- To reply to your enquiry: legitimate interests, because you contacted me and expect an answer.
- To carry out work you’ve asked for: performance of a contract.
- To keep records for accounting and tax: legal obligation.
- To keep this website secure and working: legitimate interests.
The only marketing email I send is the guides mailing list, and only to people who have ticked the box asking for it. It is one short email when a new guide is published. Every message carries a working unsubscribe link, and you can also ask me to remove you at any time by replying or ringing me. I never sell, share or rent your address.
I do not use Google Analytics, advertising trackers or any cookie that follows you between websites. To see which pages are read I use Independent Analytics, which stores its figures on this website rather than sending them to anybody else. That is why there is no cookie banner: there is nothing to consent to.
Access to your devices and accounts
Supporting technology sometimes means seeing what is on your screen, your device or your accounts. When that happens:
- I will explain what I need access to and why, before I do anything.
- I will not look at personal files, photographs, messages or emails beyond what the job requires.
- I will not keep copies of your data after the work is finished, unless you have specifically asked me to hold a backup.
- Any passwords shared with me are used for that job and are not stored in plain text or retained afterwards.
- I will never ask you for your online banking password or your card PIN. Nobody legitimate ever will.
Who I share it with
I do not sell or trade your information. I share it only where it is genuinely necessary:
- Hosting and email providers that run this website and my email.
- Accounting software and my accountant, for invoices and tax records.
- Payment providers such as Stripe or PayPal, if you pay online. I never see or store your full card details.
- Law enforcement or regulators, where I am legally required to.
Cookies and analytics
This website uses only what it needs to function. It does not set advertising or tracking cookies of its own.
The contact page includes an embedded Google map. If you view that page, Google may set cookies and receive your IP address, under Google’s own privacy policy. Fonts are loaded from Google Fonts, which also receives your IP address when a page loads.
How long I keep things
- Enquiries that don’t become work: up to 12 months, then deleted.
- Client records and correspondence: for the duration of our working relationship and 6 years afterwards.
- Invoices and financial records: 6 years, as HMRC requires.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to ask me to:
- Tell you what information I hold about you, and give you a copy
- Correct anything that is wrong
- Delete information where there is no good reason for me to keep it
- Restrict or object to how I use it
- Provide it in a portable format
Just ask: support@swarmict.co.uk. There is no charge, and I will respond within one month.
If you are unhappy with how I have handled your information you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113. I would much rather you told me first so I can put it right.
Security
I keep your information on password-protected, encrypted devices and reputable UK or EU hosted services with two-factor authentication enabled. No system is perfect, but given this is a business built partly on protecting people from fraud, I take it seriously.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the updated version will appear on this page with a new date at the top.
Questions about any of this? Ring me on 07816 970 768 or email support@swarmict.co.uk. I’ll give you a straight answer in plain English.