PCI DSS Compliance
From the world's largest corporations to small Internet stores, compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is vital for all merchants who accept electronic payments, online or offline, because nothing is more important than keeping your customer’s payment data secure. The size of your business will determine the specific compliance requirements that must be met. Note that enforcement of merchant compliance is managed by the individual payment brands and not by CoCard International LLC. — the same is true for non-compliance penalties.
CoCard International LLC. is here to help merchants through the process of maintaining and enhancing their PCI Data Security Standards Compliance, providing education and training resources about protecting payment card data with the PCI Security Standards.CCI Makes Becoming Compliant Practically Effortless.
What is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)?
The PCI Data Security Standard represents a common set of industry tools and measurements to help ensure the safe handling of sensitive information. Initially created by aligning Visa's Account Information Security (AIS)/Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP) programs with MasterCard's Site Data Protection (SDP) program, the standard provides an actionable framework for developing a robust account data security process — including preventing, detecting and reacting to security incidents. The updated version, version 1.1, developed by the founding members of the PCI Security Standards Council, became effective with the launch of the PCI Security Standards Council.
Why you should comply with PCI Data Security Standards:
Compliance with data security standards can bring major benefits to businesses of all sizes, while failure to comply can have serious and long-term negative consequences. Here are some reasons why one should comply.
- Compliance with the PCI DSS means that your systems are secure, and customers can trust you with their sensitive payment card information
- Trust means your customers have confidence in doing business with you
- 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
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 PCI Security Standards and by the training of security professionals When you stay compliant, you are part of the solution – a united, global response to fighting payment card data compromise
Compliance has indirect benefits as well.
Through your efforts to comply with PCI Security Standards, you’ll likely be better prepared to comply with other regulations as they come along, such as HIPAA, SOX, etc. You’ll have a basis for a corporate security strategy You will likely identify ways to improve the efficiency of your IT infrastructure.
But if you are not compliant, it could be disastrous.
Compromised data negatively affects consumers, merchants, and financial institutions. Just one incident can severely damage your reputation and your ability to conduct business effectively, far into the future. Account data breaches can lead to catastrophic loss of sales, relationships and standing in your community, and depressed share price if yours is a public company.
If there were a data breach and your business were not PCI Compliant, the results could produce
- Lawsuits
- Insurance claims
- Cancelled accounts
- Payment card issuer fines
- Government fines