WONDE "Data Management Licence"

[Koldov]

So, top left of that screen we have - wonde basic Upgrade

 

Also, if we click on 'Activity Log, it tells us we need to 'Upgrade to use this feature'.

 

[andy_b]

Yeah mines still the same as @k-strider - nothing to suggest basic / premium on any of the logos.

[Zammo]

Can anyone give me the exact subject line of the email so I can see if any of our schools have paid it?

[Rob_D]

Can anyone give me the exact subject line of the email so I can see if any of our schools have paid it?

 

The subject on the invoice email we got was: "INV-WP-[8 digit invoice number]" from a post.exro.com email address.

The email saying our "free period" was about to run out was titled: "Wonde | Data Management Licence".

[Koldov]

Unfortunately I didn't take any notice of what the logo said (if anything) before I downgraded...

 

Can you actually use 'Activity Log' ?

 

Also, I presume that (and I'm not sure how or why) our accounts were moved to a 'free trial' somehow, now this has expired we have been invoiced. Whether this was entirely without our permission I can't honestly say (I'm not on the communication email list from Wonde and I don't regularly check the admin portal) and if I'm blunt our BM is a little gung-ho and known to be a bit of a 'button pusher', so it's entirely possible they've agreed at some point (though not at all certain).

 

Maybe either you've paid, or your accounts were never moved to a free trial? I can't see any other explanation, but as I don't know how or why our account was moved on to a free trial I couldn't even guess why yours wasn't...

Edited July 14, 2023 by Koldov

[DrCheese]

Also, I presume that (and I'm not sure how or why) our accounts were moved to a 'free trial' somehow, now this has expired we have been invoiced. Whether this was entirely without our permission I can't honestly say (I'm not on the communication email list from Wonde and I don't regularly check the admin portal) and if I'm blunt our BM is a little gung-ho and known to be a bit of a 'button pusher', so it's entirely possible they've agreed at some point (though not at all certain).

 

 

Your presumption is right - They moved us all to a "Free trial" at some point & then invoiced us all once the "Trial" had expired. Totally without our permission.

[GrumbleDook]

Morning all. In conversation with Claire Archibald over at Education Data Hub, Derbyshire County Council, she has been pressing Wonde on this and has said I can share the following response from Wonde (please note, any Bold is from Claire to me as part of our discussion)

 

The Wonde Platform, as previously in use at xxxxx Infant School, provides a range of tools in addition to securely sharing your MIS Data, such as; the App directory, Activity reports and App security information.

These features are specifically designed to empower schools with the process of managing and controlling access to their school data, and have been developed from the feedback we have received from schools. In order to enable us to continue to deliver a high level of service with these tools and respond to further feedback to develop additional enhanced features, we have introduced a subscription for the Wonde Platform.

Wonde is committed to helping all schools securely manage their data. If the additional tools within the Wonde Platform are not of benefit to your school, our new Wonde Basic solution can be used by your school and is free of charge (as chosen for use at xxxxx CofE Infant School).

We are communicating the introduction of the subscription to schools via email (the email to xxxxxx CofE Infant School was sent on the 27th April 2023). Within that email the additional features (beyond the ability to securely share MIS data with your third party apps) are detailed, as well as the cost and timescale of receiving an invoice. The email also communicates the choice for a school to use the free Wonde Basic solution.

Wonde takes its position in the education sector seriously regarding the role we play in helping to ensure the protection of school personal data. We have invested, and continue to invest, significant resources to allow us to ensure that we are acting as a facilitator of best practice in the data processing chain between schools and the apps that they use.

We also aim to provide further assurance to our school and app partners around our secure and compliant information processing practices through our externally audited security accreditations ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications (copies of which can be provided upon request).

We also take any queries around data protection very seriously. We treat it as a priority and engage appropriately qualified personnel (including specialist solicitors) to better understand any such query and resolve it in a timely and professional manner. Data protection is obviously a technical and complicated area of law which does require some level of interpretation. Hence why we always seek specific legal advice in respect of any issue that needs addressing. We are grateful for the feedback from you and your DPO as we believe that continually engaging with our school users (e.g. we take such feedback through Wonde’s MAT forums) assists us in maintaining the high standards that we hold ourselves to.

In relation to the point raised by your DPO that as a data processor, Wonde is obligated to ‘carry out all instructions of the data controller (i.e the school)’ this goes to the heart of the obligations of the data processor. We have received specific legal advice in respect of our Wonde Platform and were advised that our approach to data protection was compliant.

 

If a school considers that any additional functionality to the platform would assist them further in managing their personal data, the school would normally discuss this with us and (if applicable) the relevant app provider. We will then consider whether it is technically and commercially feasible to add such functionality. However, as detailed in the legal advice we have received, we are not required, by UK GDPR or otherwise, to add additional or change any existing functionality based on a school’s request.

In line with that process, we thank you for your query regarding the Access Control tool. As you know, the Access control feature assists schools in managing how data is shared down to an individual or group user level and, as an enhanced feature, is included within the Wonde Platform at, what we believe to be, a justifiably fair and reasonable cost. Regarding your concern that making Access Control a paid for feature risks Wonde’s compliance with its role of a data processor as defined by UK GDPR, as stated above Wonde takes its responsibility in helping to ensure the protection of school personal information seriously. Whilst our legal advice has given us comfort that our approach remains compliant with our data protection obligations, we are also committed to an open dialogue with our school users. As such we will be reviewing your comments regarding the Access Control features inclusion within the Wonde platform. Whilst this review is being carried out, access to the Access Control feature will be available to all Wonde Platform users, whether they have chosen to use the Wonde or Wonde Basic platforms.

 

We are grateful to yourself and your DPO for contacting us. We hope the above information answers your queries.

We will ensure you are kept informed as this review is carried out. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions in the meantime.

 

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Kudos to Claire for getting Wonde to rethink things and it shows you what a proactive DPO can do.