JUST CHECKING THE BOX ON A PCI COMPLIANCE PROJECT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!

Having a sixteen year background in payment processing and all that goes with it is constantly changing.  And in today’s data security environment it is critical to be engaged in protecting my clients best interest and that is their business.  Here are six excellent requirements for PCI Compliance an MSP must put in place:

Build and maintain a secure network

~Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholders data.

~Not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters.

Protect cardholders data

~Protect stored cardholders data.

~Encrypt transmission of cardholders data across open, public networks.

Maintain a vulnerability management program

~Use and regularly update anti-virus software.

~Develope and maintain secure systems and applications.

Implement strong access control measures

~Restrict access to cardholders data by businesses need-to-know.

~Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access.

~Restrict physical access to cardholders data.

Regularly monitor and test networks

~Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholders data.

~Regularly test security systems and processes.

Maintain an information security policy

~Maintain a policy that addresses information security.

It is important not only to educate our clients regarding data protection from terminal hardware and WiFi based terminals, the importance of PCI Compliance are the standards to which we operate as a group to ensure we are providing the best technology.  Thank you techtarget.com and Margaret Rouse from WhatIs.com