Advertising Disclosure

Participation in Affiliate Programs

DataCore participates in various affiliate marketing programs with technology vendors and service providers. This means we may earn commissions when you purchase products or services through links on our website:

• • Technology Vendor Programs: We maintain affiliate relationships with cloud platform providers, infrastructure software vendors, and hardware manufacturers whose products are commonly used in IT operations.
• • Educational Platforms: We may receive compensation for referring students to complementary training resources, certification programs, or continuing education opportunities.
• • Professional Tools: Links to monitoring tools, management platforms, or professional development resources may generate affiliate commissions.
• • Technical Resources: Recommendations for books, documentation, or online resources may include affiliate links to retailers or publishers.

How Commission-Based Links Work

When you click on certain links on our website and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the vendor. Here's what you should know:

• • No Additional Cost: Affiliate commissions do not increase the price you pay. The cost remains the same whether you use our link or purchase directly.
• • Tracking Mechanisms: Affiliate links contain unique identifiers that allow vendors to credit us for referrals. These may use cookies or other tracking technologies.
• • Optional Participation: You are never obligated to use our affiliate links. You can always navigate directly to vendor websites if you prefer.
• • Commission Transparency: Commission rates vary by vendor and product category, typically ranging from small percentages to fixed amounts per referral.

Product Recommendation Policies

Our training programs and content may reference specific tools, platforms, or services. We want to be clear about how we approach these recommendations:

• • Educational Value First: Products and services are recommended based on their relevance to learning objectives and industry adoption, not primarily on commission potential.
• • Hands-On Experience: Our instructors have practical experience with recommended tools and platforms in production environments.
• • Alternative Options: We strive to present multiple options when discussing tools or approaches, including both affiliate and non-affiliate alternatives.
• • Honest Limitations: We discuss both strengths and limitations of recommended products rather than presenting only positive attributes.

Financial Relationship Transparency

We maintain the following standards regarding financial relationships with vendors and partners:

• • We clearly disclose when content includes affiliate links or sponsored recommendations
• • Material connections with vendors are disclosed in proximity to relevant content
• • We do not accept compensation for altering course content or educational materials
• • Our instructors maintain independence in teaching methodologies and technical approaches

Identification of Paid Content

Occasionally, we may feature sponsored content or paid promotions. We take the following steps to ensure transparency:

• • Clear Labeling: All sponsored content is clearly labeled as "Sponsored," "Paid Promotion," or "Partner Content" at the beginning of the material.
• • Editorial Independence: Sponsors do not control editorial content or determine what information we present in our training programs.
• • Relevance Standards: We only accept sponsorships from companies whose products or services are genuinely relevant to IT operations professionals.
• • Quality Requirements: Sponsored content must meet our quality standards and provide legitimate value to our audience.

Sponsored Post Labeling Policies

When we publish sponsored posts or promotional materials, we adhere to strict disclosure practices:

• • Sponsorship disclosures appear prominently at the beginning of content
• • Visual indicators distinguish sponsored content from organic educational materials
• • Sponsored content is clearly separated from core curriculum and training materials
• • The sponsoring organization is always identified by name

Brand Partnership Disclosures

DataCore maintains partnerships with technology brands for various purposes. These relationships include:

• • Educational Access Programs: Technology vendors may provide platform access, licenses, or resources for training purposes at reduced or no cost.
• • Laboratory Sponsorships: Companies may sponsor laboratory environments or provide equipment for hands-on training exercises.
• • Guest Instructors: Industry professionals from partner organizations may participate as guest speakers or subject matter experts.
• • Co-Branded Content: Joint educational initiatives with partners are clearly identified as collaborative efforts.

Content Authenticity Guarantees

Regardless of financial relationships, we maintain strict standards for content authenticity:

• • All training content reflects real-world best practices and industry standards
• • Technical information is verified by experienced infrastructure professionals
• • We do not make false or misleading claims about products or services
• • Course objectives focus on skill development rather than promoting specific vendors

Display Advertising Networks

Our website may display advertisements served by third-party advertising networks. Here's what you should know:

• • Ad Network Partnerships: We work with reputable advertising networks that serve relevant ads to IT professionals and infrastructure specialists.
• • Ad Relevance: Advertising networks use various signals to display ads relevant to your interests and professional background.
• • Editorial Separation: Advertisements are visually distinct from educational content and do not influence curriculum or training materials.
• • Quality Standards: We maintain standards for ad quality and relevance, though we do not control individual ads served by networks.

Behavioral Targeting and Personalization

Third-party advertising networks may use behavioral targeting to personalize advertisements:

• • Data Collection: Ad networks may collect information about your browsing behavior across websites to serve relevant advertisements.
• • Cookiege: Advertising cookies track your interactions with ads and help networks understand advertising effectiveness.
• • Third-Party Policies: Data collection by advertising networks is governed by their own privacy policies, not solely by ours.
• • Control Options: You can manage advertising preferences through our cookie settings and through industry opt-out tools.

Cookiege for Advertising

Advertising activities involve cookiege for tracking and personalization. Key points include:

• • Advertising cookies enable frequency capping to limit how often you see the same ad
• • Conversion tracking measures advertising effectiveness and helps optimize campaign performance
• • Retargeting cookies may show you relevant ads on other websites after visiting our platform
• • Detailed information about advertising cookies is available in our Cookie Policy

Ad Personalization Practices

Personalized advertising aims to show you more relevant ads based on your interests and professional profile. This may include using information about your browsing behavior, demographic data, and inferred interests. Personalization helps ensure you see training opportunities and technology solutions aligned with your professional development goals rather than generic advertisements.