Report to CIOs - Technical Standards, Security and Compliance Issues related to The Funding Portal

January 25, 2012

This Report provides information for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and others considering use of The Funding Portal by their organization. The issues covered in this Report include technical standards, information security and legal and regulatory compliance. The purpose of this Report is to enable organizations to move forward with their adoption of the Portal with confidence, through open and transparent disclosures.

I. Key Technical Standards and Specifications

Specification 1 – Web 2.0 Portal-style destination website

The Funding Portal is a single window destination website and system architecture that incorporates proprietary software, advanced Boolean search and ranking algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, content management, interactive media platform, e-commerce and user analytics to enable a robust reliable online concierge service and continuous improvement feedback loop. Similar sites include Expedia and e-Bay and buyandsell.gc.ca.

Specification 2 - Guided Search 

All funding data is compiled in compliance with the Terms & Conditions of public sector websites. Machine-learning algorithms enable triage and ranking of all search results. Search optimization is enhanced by ranking, fuzzy logic and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and automated verification of data every 8 hours, 24/7.

The Funding Portal uses “word count” as an automated trigger to signal changes on relevant public sector websites. Word count is distinct from content as a means of tracking changes to sites and does not contravene restrictions within Terms and Conditions related to mining or scraping content. Changes to word count trigger manual reviews of the subject site and manual data-gathering to update information on The Funding Portal, as required.

Specification 3 – Secure Client Workroom and filing channel 

The Funding Portal seamlessly integrates secure customized Project Management web workrooms. Security standards include password-protected entry, 128-bit SSL encryption, biometric locks and high performance 24-7 surveillance tools.

II. Information Security

Specification 1 - Privacy Policies

The Funding Portal ensures the protection of the privacy of its users through responsible policies and practices governing personal information. Specific examples of such policies include compliance with all federal privacy laws, and collecting only the specific personal information provided by users and restricting the use of such information to the purposes for which it was provided. See our Terms and Conditions for further detailed on the Portal’s privacy policies.

Specification 2 – Copyright

The Funding Portal develops independent proprietary content and any third party content is communicated in full compliance with the Copyright Act and all related Canadian laws, policies, regulations and international agreements.

The Funding Portal does not use electronic tools to leech, crawl, mine, scrape or similarly extract data from public sector websites. Information is manually identified, analyzed, and entered into the Find It database to ensure full compliance with website Terms and Conditions.

The Funding Portal does not store information from public sector websites within the Funding Portal database and proprietary Find It tool beyond excerpts of program descriptions that serve to review or report news on the programs. Database entries cite and link to the original publisher of the information.

Specification 3 – Encryption

The Funding Portal uses PCI-compliant 128-bit SSL encryption to support its secure communications including its Online Payment platform and Secure Document Transfer Protocol for filing of funding applications.

Specification 4 - Secure File Transfer Protocol

The Funding Portal’s Secure File and Document Transfer Protocol uses PCI-compliant 128-bit SSL encryption to support the receipt and filing of funding applications and client documentation.

Specification 5 - Payment Processing

The Funding Portal’s Secure Payment Processing protocols use PCI-compliant 128-bit SSL encryption to provide the highest standard of security to support e-commerce, online shopping cart and credit card processing solutions.

Specification 6 – Spam

Users may agree to receive certain communications from The Funding Portal such as service announcements, administrative messages, alerts and newsletters and may, at any time, request to be removed as users.

Specification 7 - Complaints Handling

The Funding Portal welcomes feedback and employs client relationship managers, customer satisfaction surveys, contact information and complaint-handling systems to ensure that users can bring forward their inquiries or complaints for prompt and courteous handling.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

The Funding Portal complies with all legal and regulatory standards and industry best practices governing e-commerce and web-based businesses. The Funding Portal is committed to providing a high-quality professional service in full compliance with legal and ethical norms and best practices associated the internet, copyright and the digital economy.