EMDESK®'s commitment to security, confidentiality and reliability

The design of EMDESK ensures benefits in proposal writing and management of FP7 research projects. The secure and web-based platform enables consistency and collaboration worldwide at any time. These advantages are necessarily linked with the storage and processing of data on our servers. User and project data are sensitive information. A maximum security and confidentiality of data is one of the core principles for the development of the platform and updates, set-up of the server architecture and internal assignment of permissions for technical support.

EMDESK is committed to provide security, confidentiality and maximum availability of the service. We constantly ensure that the security precautions are state-of-the-art, whether in development, upgrades or server setting, in order to prevent web application interference, unwanted physical or digital server access and deficiency. We highly encrypt communications from the user’s web browser to EMDESK and secure access by authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Reviewed compliance with FP7

EMDESK, in its version 1.5, has been examined by the German audit firm TRINAVIS, on an ISRS 4400 based assignment (agreed upon procedures), concerning compliance with RTD FP.7 rules, as set out in the grant agreement core text and Annex II - General Conditions.

The auditors have stated their view in a written report, in which EMDESK is regarded as a useful project management tool for RTD contracts. The written report is available on request from the TRINAVIS GmbH.

Secured, certified and encrypted transactions to EMDESK® (SSL)

To safeguard customer and project data, EMDESK uses a secure and tested encryption technology from GeoTrust when communicating with users’ web browsers. The connection and transactions of information to EMDESK through the Internet is secured via a certificate-based Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) AES-256 Bit Encryption, verified by Equifax Secure Certificate Authority.

SSL uses a public-and-private key encryption system. Because only EMDESK has access to the private key, our server alone can decrypt the SSL-encrypted information. The server will then be able to establish an encrypted link between the web server and the user’s web browser.

A key or padlock icon in the user’s browser URL or status bar indicates that the browser is running in secure mode. The URL must begin with the letters “https://EMDESK.eu/”. Clicking – or double-clicking – on the lock icon provides details of the site's security.

Tested and certified secure service and privacy protection

EMDESK is certified by Euro-Label – a Trustmark embodying four key principles: fair trading, complaint handling, data protection and secure payment. EMDESK is tested and confirmed to fulfil a trustworthy and secure service with a fair licence agreement and data/privacy practices that are in accordance with the German Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz – BDSG) and the German Telemedia Services Act (Telemediengesetz – TMG)).