Terms of Service

Last updated: July 25, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of candidusdatalab.com (the "Site") and any consulting engagement between you ("Client") and Candidus Data Lab ("CDL," "we," "us," or "our").

This document is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. It is not a substitute for a signed statement of work or master services agreement, which will govern the specific terms of any paid engagement.

1. Use of This Site

This Site is provided for informational purposes — to describe our services, share technical content, and enable prospective clients to schedule a consultation. You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and not to misuse, disrupt, or attempt unauthorized access to it or its underlying infrastructure.

2. Nature of Services

CDL provides database engineering and advisory services, including SQL Server and Azure SQL modernization, data platform operations and automation, and AI-augmented database operations. Specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees for any paid engagement are defined separately in a written scope document and/or agreement provided after a consultation — not by this Site or these Terms alone.

3. Free Consultation Calls

The free 20-minute "fit call" is offered to assess whether an engagement is a good match. It does not create a client relationship, obligation to engage, or right to services, and nothing discussed during a fit call should be treated as a deliverable or binding recommendation.

4. Engagement Terms

Where a paid engagement proceeds, the following general terms apply unless a separately signed agreement states otherwise:

Fixed-fee basis. Engagements are quoted as fixed-fee based on a defined scope agreed upon before work begins. Work outside that scope may require a separate change order and additional fee, communicated before proceeding.

Payment. Payment terms (invoicing schedule, method, and due dates) will be specified in the written scope/agreement provided for each engagement.

Client cooperation. Timely delivery depends on the Client providing reasonably requested access, information, and decisions. Delays caused by the Client may affect timelines.

5. Confidentiality

We treat all Client environments, data, and business information as confidential by default. We do not disclose Client-specific, proprietary, or sensitive information to third parties, and we will sign a mutual non-disclosure agreement prior to detailed technical discussion where requested. Correspondingly, we expect Clients to treat our proprietary methods, tools, and non-public business information as confidential.

6. Intellectual Property

Except as otherwise agreed in writing, deliverables created specifically for a Client under a paid engagement (such as scripts, runbooks, or documentation produced for that Client's environment) belong to the Client upon full payment. CDL retains ownership of its own pre-existing tools, methodologies, templates, and general know-how, and may reuse general (non-Client-identifying) knowledge and techniques in future engagements. Content on this Site — including articles, checklists, and other written material — remains the property of CDL and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission.

7. No Guarantee of Outcome

Database engineering involves inherent complexity and risk. While we bring senior-level expertise and follow disciplined engineering practices, we do not guarantee specific performance outcomes, uptime figures, cost savings, or that any particular technical result will be achieved. Any estimates provided (timelines, savings, performance improvements) are professional judgments, not guarantees.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, CDL's total liability arising out of or related to any engagement or use of this Site is limited to the fees actually paid by the Client for the specific engagement giving rise to the claim. CDL is not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages, including lost profits or lost data, except where such limitation is not permitted by applicable law.

9. Third-Party Links and Tools

This Site links to and uses third-party services (including Acuity Scheduling and LinkedIn). We are not responsible for the content, functionality, or practices of third-party websites or services, and linking to them does not constitute an endorsement of their terms or practices.

10. Disclaimers

Content on this Site, including blog articles and technical guides, is provided for general informational purposes and reflects general practices at the time of writing. It is not a substitute for engagement-specific professional advice tailored to your environment, and should not be relied upon as such without independent verification for your specific situation.

11. Governing Terms

Where a signed statement of work, master services agreement, or other written contract exists for a specific engagement, that document governs the engagement and takes precedence over these general Terms in the event of conflict.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date above reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Contact

Questions about these Terms can be directed to:

Candidus Data Lab

cdl@candidusdatalab.com