Engagement readiness
Written Controls Before Higher-Risk Work Begins
A website disclaimer is not a substitute for assignment-specific contracts, client certification, data controls and specialist review.
Possible engagement documents
Depending on the matter, Aperture may require one or more of the following before work begins:
- Master Services Agreement
- Statement of Work
- Client Purpose and Lawful-Use Certification
- Data Processing and Security Addendum
- US Regulatory Exclusions Schedule
- Subcontractor or Specialist Terms
- Incident Response and Data-Retention Schedule
What the written scope should establish
- the client and authorised decision-maker;
- the research purpose and intended use;
- relevant countries, states and jurisdictions;
- questions, exclusions and source limits;
- permitted data types and transfer method;
- deliverables, distribution and third-party reliance;
- licensing, consumer-report, sanctions and export-control exclusions;
- fees, milestones, taxes and payment terms;
- retention, deletion, security and incident procedures;
- governing law, dispute process and termination rights.
Not a public promise of universal readiness
Publication of this page does not mean Aperture has accepted every type of regulated or sensitive work. Each assignment remains subject to capability, legal, ethical, conflict, security and capacity review. Where necessary, independent US and South African legal, tax, privacy, security or licensing advice should be obtained.
Beyond the contract
Controls continue after the agreement is signed.
- Conflict and independence status remains visible.
- Original client evidence is preserved separately from working copies where material.
- Serious criticism is assessed for right of reply.
- Privacy, dignity, copyright and lawful-use restrictions apply throughout.
- Findings remain tied to scope, evidence cut-off and permitted reliance.
- Corrections, updates, supersession and withdrawal are recorded rather than hidden.
Acceptance control
Every matter is accepted, restricted, deferred or declined on its actual scope.
Before substantive work, Aperture considers lawful authority, intended use, confidentiality, conflict, jurisdiction and licensing, privacy, copyright, security, right of reply, specialist dependencies, evidence access and deadline.
- Accepted
- Accepted with scope restrictions
- Accepted subject to legal review
- Accepted subject to specialist review
- Further information required
- Declined
Acceptance, payment and commencement are separate control points.
- Aperture issues the formal proposal, fixed-fee quotation and identified Engagement Terms.
- The client accepts without amendment by an unequivocal authorised email.
- Aperture sends the secure PayFast payment link by email.
- The required amount must settle as agreed.
- Aperture confirms commencement and the operative timetable.
Late settlement can affect time-sensitive work and reserved capacity. No urgency representation changes the payment condition unless Aperture expressly agrees otherwise in writing.