The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) applies to companies of any size that accept credit card payments. If your company intends to accept card payment, and store, process or transmit cardholder data, you need to host your data securely with a PCI compliant hosting provider.
What Is PCI Compliance? PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance entails following the standards set forth by the industry. This is mandatory for all merchants that process, transmit, or store any cardholder data. If you accept payment through any form of payment card, then you are held responsible for becoming and remaining compliant. Whether you conduct business over the phone or in the mail, in store, or online, you still qualify as a merchant and are accountable to the industry standards. All credit card brands support the standard, including: Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. To show your compliance as a business, you must possess a secure collection of customer data that is tamper-proof and ready for analysis. You also need to prove that data protection controls are in use, and that you have an auto-alert system that continually monitors access and usage of data.
Level 1: Your company has over 6 million Visa and/or Mastercard transactions processed per year. This level requires yearly on-site reviews by an internal auditor, and a network scan by an approved scanning vendor (ASV). Level 2: You have 1 million to 6 million Visa and/or Mastercard transactions processed per year. You must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) annually, and this level requires a network scan with an approved scanning vendor.
Confident customers are more likely to be repeat customers, and to recommend you to others. Compliance improves your reputation with acquirers and payment brands -- the partners you need in order to do business. Compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. It helps prevent security breaches and theft of payment card data, not just today, but in the future. As data compromise becomes ever more sophisticated, it becomes ever more difficult for an individual merchant to stay ahead of the threats. The PCI Security Standards Council is constantly working to monitor threats and improve the industry's means of dealing with them, through enhancements to Security Standards and by the training of security professionals.
Aside from escaping monetary losses, there are numerous advantages to keeping your business compliant. Improving organizational security will help fend off hackers so that you can rest assured that cardholders' information is safe from harm. This will help build up your customer base, as happy and confident shoppers turn into repeat customers. Your overall brand image will be positive, showing your company as a responsible and productive member in the market that not only adheres to but also promotes PCI compliance. Business partners and investors will become confident in your capabilities as a company, and you will sleep more soundly at night knowing that you are doing everything in your power to protect your firm.
What Is PCI Compliance? PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance entails following the standards set forth by the industry. This is mandatory for all merchants that process, transmit, or store any cardholder data. If you accept payment through any form of payment card, then you are held responsible for becoming and remaining compliant. Whether you conduct business over the phone or in the mail, in store, or online, you still qualify as a merchant and are accountable to the industry standards. All credit card brands support the standard, including: Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. To show your compliance as a business, you must possess a secure collection of customer data that is tamper-proof and ready for analysis. You also need to prove that data protection controls are in use, and that you have an auto-alert system that continually monitors access and usage of data.
Level 1: Your company has over 6 million Visa and/or Mastercard transactions processed per year. This level requires yearly on-site reviews by an internal auditor, and a network scan by an approved scanning vendor (ASV). Level 2: You have 1 million to 6 million Visa and/or Mastercard transactions processed per year. You must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) annually, and this level requires a network scan with an approved scanning vendor.
Confident customers are more likely to be repeat customers, and to recommend you to others. Compliance improves your reputation with acquirers and payment brands -- the partners you need in order to do business. Compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. It helps prevent security breaches and theft of payment card data, not just today, but in the future. As data compromise becomes ever more sophisticated, it becomes ever more difficult for an individual merchant to stay ahead of the threats. The PCI Security Standards Council is constantly working to monitor threats and improve the industry's means of dealing with them, through enhancements to Security Standards and by the training of security professionals.
Aside from escaping monetary losses, there are numerous advantages to keeping your business compliant. Improving organizational security will help fend off hackers so that you can rest assured that cardholders' information is safe from harm. This will help build up your customer base, as happy and confident shoppers turn into repeat customers. Your overall brand image will be positive, showing your company as a responsible and productive member in the market that not only adheres to but also promotes PCI compliance. Business partners and investors will become confident in your capabilities as a company, and you will sleep more soundly at night knowing that you are doing everything in your power to protect your firm.
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Learn more about the pci compliance standards. Stop by Kate Bailey's site where you can find out all about the payment card industry compliance standards and what they can do for you.
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