Cookie usage policy

1. The different types of cookies and other trackers

Under the terms of this policy, the terms “cookies and other trackers” or “cookies” refer to all of the trackers placed and/or read while users browse websites and other media from the OVH Group within the European Union, and member states of the European Economic Area (EEA). This includes HTTP cookies, flash cookies, tags (also known as invisible pixels and web bugs), scripts, and fingerprinting results. This policy applies, regardless of whether or not the data collected by the cookies is personal.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small piece of data that can be sent by websites via your browser. Cookies are stored on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) when you visit certain websites. Cookies allow companies to store and retrieve information regarding your browsing habits, then recognise you based on this data gathered.

The data collected through these cookies may concern the number of pages visited, the language chosen, the city that your IP address is connected to, the frequency and recurrence of your visits, visit duration, the browser used, and the operator or device type that is being used to visit the website.

What is a web tag?

Otherwise known as pixel tags, invisible pixels, clear GIFs, web bugs or web beacons, web tags are small pieces of autonomous code, or an image present on certain pages to monitor and track traffic.

What is fingerprinting?

Fingerprinting creates a unique ID for the server browsing a webpage based on elements of its configuration, for tracking purposes.

2. The cookies used on OVH Group websites

Generally, there are different reasons for using cookies.

(A) Certain cookies are necessary for the OVH Group websites to work properly, and for enabling you to access and log in to your account using essential features. The “Strictly Necessary Cookies” are solely designed to allow for electronic communication.
They are vital for the online communication service you are using to work, and they will be used to enable you to log in to your user session, display the page requested in an appropriate format for your screen, allow the website to work in an optimal manner, and provide a browsing experience that:

• Ensures quality and security for browsing the website, namely in the process of ordering a product or service, and measures the loading times for various page elements.
• Stores the data entered into form fields when the user loads a different page.
• Allows the user to stay on the same host server for an entire session duration.
• Redirects the user to the local website or language version that matches the country they seem to be visiting from.
• Manages traffic spikes.
• Remembers the contents of your basket.
• Secures the payment process during online orders with a user authentication mechanism (using a device identifier called “device fingerprinting”, which does not require user consent as it is solely used to combat fraud and thus meets the exemption conditions set by the regulations – see question 16 of the CNIL FAQ on cookies)
• Takes into account the user’s acceptance or refusal with regards to analysing the data collected on the website.

(B) Other cookies are necessary for producing anonymous statistics on traffic and visitor behaviour on our websites. These !anonymous audience measurement cookies! allow us to:

• Assess the number of visits, the pages viewed, and the duration of sessions in order to optimise the performance and relevance of the content;
• Detect any anomalies (bots, unusual traffic spikes) to ensure the availability of the website;
• Provide aggregated reports to the marketing and product teams, without collecting personally identifiable information.

They are exempt from prior consent in accordance with the regulations (CNIL, ePrivacy), and insofar as these cookies are used for a purpose strictly limited to measuring our websites’ audience, for our exclusive use, and that they are only used to produce anonymous statistical data.

(C) Other cookies are necessary to improve the browsing experience and to offer you content tailored to your interests on the OVH Group websites. The “performance and custom cookies” allow us to:

• Record your preferences to tailor the content of our websites to your usage (language, region, display settings, etc.);
• Collect and analyse information on the behaviour of users visiting our websites, in order to improve the way they work (particularly improving the performance and visibility of pages, for example);
• Deliver value-added services aimed to improve user experience, such as virtual assistant (chatbot) services, live chat for client support, and the click-to-call button;
• Collect visitor data regarding how the visited website was used;
• Track clicks that direct to the website in question;
• Secure our websites by detecting unusual activity, for example.

In compliance with applicable regulations, they are used with your consent. These cookies are not essential for the website to work properly. However, refusing these cookies may make value-added services difficult to use, or completely unavailable, whereas they would usually improve your user experience. Also, if you choose to disable these cookies, the content we offer will no longer be personalised to suit your preferences and may therefore be less relevant.

(D) Other cookies are used to offer you OVHcloud solutions related to your interests or to provide you with social media sharing features and buttons, either through our websites or on third-party partner websites. The “targeted advertising and social media cookies” are designed to improve the relevance of our advertisements on our partners’ websites and to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns. They are notably used for:

• Improving the relevance of digital campaigns;
• Identifying website visitors arriving from an advertising campaign displayed on a third-party website;
• Sharing OVH content on social media platforms and other third-party websites;
• Accessing and using software tools and platforms (social media, video streaming solutions, etc.) offered by third parties from our websites, thereby improving the website’s usability. In this case, data related to website visitors, their browsing and their actions associated with the content they are interacting with is accessible by these third-party platforms. OVH Group websites insert different social modules and pixels that enable users to request content from the platforms that deliver it. The platforms delivering these modules are considered as data controllers under the GDPR when they determine the purposes and means of processing data in line with their confidentiality policy.
• Allowing social media platforms or advertising partners to track your browsing and offer you personalised content and offers on their websites.

In compliance with regulations, they are also used with your consent.
These cookies are not essential for the website to work properly, but are required for offering you solutions that are relevant to your interests.

3. Cookies and third-party media

Entities in the OVH Group are presented in different types of media (websites, social networks, etc.) managed by third parties, on which they publish content and launch campaigns that display advertising messages.

When you view or interact with OVH content or advertising shared on third-party media, this browsing data can be communicated to OVH (namely via the use of Pixels). Its purpose is to ensure that the content and campaigns shared are relevant (e.g. knowing if you have visited our website or viewed certain pages after an advertising campaign).

The diffusion of OVH advertising on third-party media may be linked due to the fact that the cookies stored on your device (e.g. a cookie left during a previous visit to an OVH Group website) reflect a potential interest in products and services from the OVH Group.

Moreover, when you visit third-party media, cookies may be installed on your device. To find out more, please read the usage policies for cookies that apply to the third parties.

4. How can I manage the use and/or reading of these cookies?

In accordance with the applicable regulations regarding cookies and other trackers, the user’s consent regarding the processing of their data may be expressed through the appropriate settings in a browser or another application.

• Browser settings

  Browsers offer a number of rules allowing users to express their choices in terms of cookies. Regardless of their purpose, you can authorise, block and delete cookies stored on your device by setting your browser options. For the latest browsers, you will find indications via the following links:

  • Internet Explorer
  • Safari
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
     

  Finally, please note that disabling a cookie may stop you from being able to browse the website and use the services it offers, or make them more difficult to use. For further information on this, please read part 2 above, entitled “Cookies used by the OVH Group websites”.

• Cookie banner and preference manager

  OVH uses a consent collection solution, also known as a “Consent Management Platform” or “CMP”, which centralises scripts and collects your consent in a practical manner, providing a user-friendly and ergonomic solution. This solution allows you to understand the different categories of cookies that may be used on our websites based on their purposes, and lets you consent to or refuse the use of non-essential cookies.  It also allows you to manage and revisit your cookie settings at any time by providing you with a preference manager.

5. Exercising your rights
 

In compliance with the legislation related to the protection of personal data, you have the right to access, rectify, oppose, limit and erase personal data concerning your identity. These can be exercised by clicking on “Manage my cookies” at the bottom of our website or by contacting the data protection officer via the form provided for this purpose.

If, after contacting us, you decide that your rights have not been respected, you can also address a complaint to the competent data protection authority.

Find out more:
OVHcloud's leading body (CNIL) also shares information you can refer to, in order to find out more about cookies, how they work, and how you can oppose their usage.