These are the rules for using Digital Defense Institute training programs, courses, advisory sessions, and digital products. By purchasing or accessing any DDI service, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, don't use our services.
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the websites, programs, courses, advisory services, and digital products operated by Digital Defense Institute LLC ("DDI"), including content at digitaldefense.institute. DDI is a for-profit LLC organized in Missouri.
By purchasing a product, booking an advisory session, enrolling in a course, or otherwise accessing DDI services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you are using our services on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.
01Eligibility
To use DDI services, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age, or have verifiable parental or guardian consent if under 18 and participating through an institutional program
- Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement
- Not be prohibited from receiving services under applicable law
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason not prohibited by law.
02Accounts
2.1 Account Creation
To access certain DDI products and course platforms, you may be required to create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep that information updated.
2.2 Account Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorized access. We are not liable for losses resulting from unauthorized use of your account credentials.
2.3 One Account Per User
Each individual may maintain only one active account. Accounts are non-transferable. Creating duplicate accounts or sharing access credentials is prohibited and may result in immediate termination.
03Services
3.1 Training Programs & Courses
DDI offers Security+ certification preparation courses, cohort-based training programs, focused workshops, and self-paced learning modules. Access to specific content depends on your enrollment or purchase tier.
3.2 Advisory Sessions
DDI offers paid 1:1 advisory sessions (Strategy Session, Exam Day Intensive, Retake Strategy) booked through Calendly. Advisory sessions are conducted by Jenn Charles or designated DDI instructors. Session recordings, if made, are at DDI's discretion and governed by separate session terms communicated at booking.
3.3 Digital Products
DDI sells digital products including the book From Overwhelmed to Certified: The Real-World Security+ Playbook, cheat sheets, study plans, and resource vault subscriptions. Digital product purchases are final except as specified in Section 4.
3.4 Service Availability
We do not guarantee uninterrupted access to our services. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or service at any time, with or without notice. We are not liable for any interruption or discontinuation of services.
3.5 Accessibility
DDI is committed to making our programs and content accessible. If you require an accommodation, contact us at [email protected] and we will work with you to identify a reasonable solution.
04Payments & Refunds
4.1 Pricing
Current pricing for all DDI products and services is listed at digitaldefense.institute. We reserve the right to change pricing at any time. Active subscribers will receive 30 days' notice before any price change takes effect.
4.2 Billing & Payment Processing
All payments are processed through Stripe on behalf of Digital Defense Institute LLC. By purchasing, you authorize DDI to charge your payment method for the amount displayed at checkout. We do not store full payment card information. All revenue from DDI products routes exclusively to DDI's separate bank account and Stripe account — never to Digital Defense Foundation.
4.3 Subscriptions
Subscription products (such as the Student Resource Vault) are billed on a recurring monthly or annual basis. Subscriptions may be cancelled at any time; cancellation stops future charges but does not entitle you to a refund of amounts already billed.
4.4 Refunds — Digital Products
Digital product purchases (books, cheat sheets, course access) are generally non-refundable once access has been delivered. Exceptions may be made at DDI's sole discretion. Contact [email protected] within 7 days of purchase if you believe a refund is warranted.
4.5 Refunds — Advisory Sessions
Advisory sessions cancelled more than 24 hours before the scheduled time are eligible for a full refund or reschedule. Cancellations within 24 hours of the session are non-refundable. No-shows forfeit the session fee.
4.6 Free Trials & Pre-Orders
If you access a DDI product through a free trial or pre-order, the terms communicated at time of enrollment govern. Pre-order pricing is locked at purchase and will not increase if the launch price is higher.
05Acceptable Use
You agree to use DDI services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree not to:
- Violate any applicable law or regulation
- Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
- Share, resell, or redistribute platform content, course materials, or account access without authorization
- Attempt to reverse-engineer, scrape, or extract content from the platform by automated means
- Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of our services or infrastructure
- Upload or transmit malware, spam, or any content designed to harm users or systems
- Use DDI content for commercial purposes outside of your licensed purchase or subscription tier
- Circumvent any access controls, content restrictions, or security features
Violation of this section may result in immediate account suspension or termination without refund.
06Intellectual Property
6.1 DDI Content
All content produced or distributed by DDI — including curriculum, lesson materials, assessments, study guides, cheat sheets, the book From Overwhelmed to Certified, brand elements, and the Digital Defense Institute name and logo — is the intellectual property of Digital Defense Institute LLC. All rights reserved.
Your purchase or enrollment grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use DDI content for personal, non-commercial learning purposes only. This license does not transfer ownership of any content.
6.2 DDF License
Certain DDI curriculum assets are licensed to Digital Defense Foundation (DDF) for use in grant-funded programs under a separate Curriculum License Agreement. This does not affect your rights as an individual DDI customer.
6.3 Your Content
You retain ownership of content you submit through DDI platforms (such as feedback forms or course responses). By submitting content, you grant DDI a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use and store that content as necessary to provide the service.
6.4 Feedback
If you submit feedback, suggestions, or ideas about DDI services, you grant DDI the right to use that feedback without restriction or compensation.
07Certification Disclaimer
DDI prepares learners for third-party certifications, including CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701). DDI is not affiliated with CompTIA or any other certification body unless explicitly stated. We do not guarantee that use of any DDI product or service will result in passing any certification exam.
Completion credentials issued by DDI (such as course completion acknowledgments or program certificates) are not equivalent to industry certifications and do not constitute professional licensure.
08Third-Party Services & Links
DDI services may integrate with or link to third-party platforms, including Stripe (payments), Calendly (scheduling), Zoom (live sessions), and GoHighLevel (CRM and automation). Your use of those services is governed by their own terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the content, availability, or practices of third-party services.
09Disclaimer of Warranties
DDI SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DDI DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
In plain terms: we do not promise our products will always work perfectly, be error-free, or produce a specific outcome — including passing a certification exam. We will work to resolve issues, but we cannot guarantee uninterrupted performance.
10Limitation of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, DDI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES — INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL — ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE OUR SERVICES, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
DDI'S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF OUR SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO DDI IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM. IF YOU HAVE PAID NOTHING, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO $100.
In plain terms: if something goes wrong, the most you can recover from us is what you paid in the past year — or $100 if you paid nothing.
11Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Digital Defense Institute LLC, its officers, members, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of DDI services; (b) your violation of these Terms; or (c) your violation of any third-party rights.
12Termination
12.1 By You
You may cancel your account or subscription at any time by contacting [email protected] or through your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period for subscriptions.
12.2 By Us
We may suspend or terminate your access at any time for violation of these Terms, non-payment, fraudulent activity, or conduct that we determine in our sole discretion is harmful to other users or to DDI.
12.3 Effect of Termination
Upon termination, your right to access DDI content ceases immediately. Sections that by their nature should survive termination — including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, and indemnification — will survive.
13Governing Law & Disputes
By agreeing to these Terms, you waive your right to a jury trial and to participate in a class action lawsuit. Please read this section carefully before using our services.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Missouri, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Missouri, except that either party may seek injunctive relief in court to protect intellectual property or confidential information.
By agreeing to these Terms, you waive any right to a jury trial or to participate in a class action lawsuit related to DDI services.
14Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will post the updated Terms with a revised effective date and notify active customers via email. Your continued use of DDI services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
15Contact
For legal inquiries and Terms-related questions: [email protected]
For account support, billing, and product access: [email protected]
Digital Defense Institute LLC
Contact: Jenn Charles, Founder
Missouri, United States
digitaldefense.institute