SmartHost Cookie Policy

Effective Date: May 2025 

This Cookie Policy explains how SmartHost Web Services Limited (“SmartHost,” “we,” “us,” “our”), accessible at www.smarthost.ie, uses cookies and similar technologies to collect and store information when you visit our website. This policy complements and is an integral part of our Privacy Policy. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of cookies as described in this policy. 

1. What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, enhance user experience, and provide information to website owners. Cookies can be “persistent” or “session” cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your personal computer or mobile device when you go offline, while session cookies are deleted as soon as you close your web browser. 

2. How SmartHost Uses Cookies

We use cookies for various purposes, including: 

• Enable essential site functionality. 

• Remember user preferences. 

• Monitor site performance and usage statistics. 

3. Types of Cookies We Use

SmartHost uses the following categories of cookies: 

3.1. Essential (Strictly Necessary) Cookies 

These cookies are vital for the proper operation of our website and to enable you to navigate and use its features. Without these cookies, services like secure login, shopping carts, or billing processes cannot be provided. These cookies do not collect any personally identifiable information. 

• Purpose: To enable essential site functionality. 

• Duration: Session-based or persistent for short durations. 

• First-party/Third-party: Primarily first-party. 

• Legal Basis & Consent: These cookies are necessary for the website to function and are processed under legitimate interest. They do not require explicit consent. 

3.2. Analytical/Performance Cookies 

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting information such as the number of visitors, the pages they visit, and the source of their visits. This data helps us improve the performance of our website and services. We use Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity for this purpose. The information collected by these cookies is generally anonymised usage data. Microsoft Clarity may also capture anonymised session recordings and click interactions, which are used solely for usability improvements. 

• Purpose: To monitor site performance and usage statistics. 

• Duration: Persistent, varying by service. 

• First-party/Third-party: Primarily third-party (e.g., Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity). 

• Data Processed: Anonymised usage data, IP addresses, browser/device data. 

• Consent: Required. You will be prompted to manage your cookie preferences on your first visit via a cookie consent banner. 

3.3. Marketing/Advertising Cookies 

These cookies are used to deliver relevant advertisements to you based on your interests and to measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. They may track your browsing habits across different websites. We may use Google Ads and Microsoft Bing for advertising purposes. 

• Purpose: Website advertising. 

• Duration: Persistent, varying by service. 

• First-party/Third-party: Primarily third-party (e.g., Google Ads, Microsoft Bing). 

• Data Processed: Anonymised usage data, IP addresses, browser/device data. 

• Consent: Required. You will be prompted to manage your cookie preferences on your first visit via a cookie consent banner. 

4. Third-Party Cookies

In addition to our own cookies, we may also use various third-party cookies for analytics, advertising, and other purposes to report usage statistics of the Service, refine advertisements, and so on. For a comprehensive list of third-party service providers that may set cookies, please refer to the “Third-Party Processors” document, which is available upon request by contacting our support team. 

For detailed information on the specific cookies, their providers, types, purposes, and durations, please refer to the “Cookies Used on SmartHost Websites” tables at the end of this policy. 

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

On your first visit to our website, you will see a cookie consent banner allowing you to manage your cookie preferences. Our cookie banner allows you to accept or reject cookies by category (e.g., analytics, advertising), with only essential cookies set by default unless otherwise permitted. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. 

You can also manage or disable cookies through your web browser settings. Most browsers allow you to: 

• View what cookies you have and delete them on an individual basis. 

• Block third-party cookies. 

• Block cookies from particular sites. 

• Block all cookies from being set. 

• Delete all cookies when you close your browser. 

For specific instructions on managing cookies in your browser, please refer to the help documentation for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or other browsers you may use. 

Please note that if you disable or refuse cookies, some parts of our website may not function correctly or may become inaccessible. 

6. Your Rights

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time where consent is the legal basis for processing. This includes your consent for cookies. You can exercise this right by adjusting your cookie preferences on our website or through your browser settings. 

For more information about your data protection rights, please refer to our Privacy Policy, Section 10: “Your GDPR Rights”. 

7. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Updates will be posted on this page with an updated ‘Effective Date’. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. 

8. Contact Us

For any questions or concerns regarding this Cookie Policy, please contact us: 

SmartHost Web Services Limited  
Email: support@smarthost.ie  
Phone: +353 (0)1 901 9700  
Website: www.smarthost.ie 

For data protection queries, including exercising your rights, please contact our Data Protection Contact at:  
Email: management@smarthost.ie  

 

Cookies Used on SmartHost Websites 

This section provides details about the specific cookies used on smarthost.ie and portal.smarthost.ie based on the homepage scans. This list will be updated periodically as our services evolve. 

Cookies on smarthost.ie (Main Website) 

Cookies on portal.smarthost.ie (Client Portal)