SLA

This Service Level Agreement sets out the support, availability and maintenance commitments applicable to the Canvas platform.

This SLA forms part of, and is incorporated into, the applicable Canvas Terms and Conditions agreed between Watermelon Research (or its relevant regional contracting entity) and the Client.

1. Scope of Service

Canvas is delivered as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform and includes:

  • Secure hosting of the Canvas application

  • Platform maintenance and technical management

  • System updates and enhancements

  • Security monitoring and management

  • Application support services

Canvas is hosted within secure Microsoft Azure data centres in the applicable regional location(s) agreed with the Client.

2. Service Availability

Watermelon targets 99.5% uptime per calendar month, excluding:

  • Scheduled maintenance

  • Emergency maintenance

  • Force majeure events

  • Failures attributable to third-party infrastructure providers

  • Issues caused by Client systems, integrations, or internet connectivity

Availability is measured at the application level.

Watermelon reserves the right to perform maintenance necessary to ensure the continued security, stability and performance of the platform.

3. Support Services

3.1 Support Hours

Support is provided Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm (local time of the contracting Watermelon entity), excluding public holidays, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

3.2 Response Targets

ISSUE SEVERITY INITIAL RESPONSE TARGET TARGET RESOLUTION TIME

Critical 2 business hours 8 business hours

High 4 business hours 24 business hours

Medium 8 business hours 3 business days

Low 1 business day. 7 business days

4. Maintenance

Routine maintenance will, where reasonably practicable, be scheduled outside standard business hours and communicated in advance.

Emergency maintenance may be carried out without prior notice where necessary to protect platform security or integrity.

5. Security Commitments

Watermelon maintains an Information Security Management System certified to ISO 27001:2022.

Watermelon implements appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect Client data, including:

  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest

  • Role-based access controls and least privilege principles

  • Regular vulnerability scanning

  • Independent penetration testing

  • Security monitoring and incident management procedures

Security incident notification obligations are governed by the applicable Data Processing Agreement and relevant data protection legislation.

6. Data Protection Roles

Where Canvas processes personal data on behalf of the Client, the parties acknowledge that:

  • The Client acts as Data Controller (or equivalent role under applicable legislation).

  • Watermelon acts as Data Processor (or equivalent role under applicable legislation).

Watermelon processes personal data solely for the purpose of providing and supporting the Canvas platform and in accordance with the applicable Data Processing Agreement.

In self-service deployments, the Client is responsible for determining the purposes and means of processing personal data within Canvas. Watermelon does not access, use or analyse Client data except where necessary to provide support, maintain system integrity, or as required by law.

Where Watermelon provides additional managed services (including survey design, configuration or administration), processing activities shall remain subject to the applicable Data Processing Agreement.

Each party shall comply with applicable data protection and privacy legislation, including (where applicable):

  • UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

  • EU GDPR

  • The Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

7. Limitations

This SLA does not apply to:

  • Beta features or trial services (unless expressly agreed)

  • Issues arising from unsupported browsers or legacy systems

  • Performance limitations caused by Client hardware, device capability, or internet connection

Watermelon may update this SLA from time to time. The current version will be published on the Canvas website and shall apply from the date of publication.