| With so many threats coming from around the world | | | | that specialize in monitoring a business' system |
| targeting a company's data, which includes their | | | | remotely to ensure PCI compliance. These companies |
| customer's data, the business industry created PCI | | | | monitor traffic coming in and out of the businesses |
| compliance standards to protect sensitive information. | | | | host system and will detect any breaches and stop it, |
| PCI Compliance is a global mandated set of standards | | | | and then alert the business right way. As well, these |
| that businesses must implement and follow in order to | | | | companies reduce the risks of data loss which includes |
| protect their information, customer information, and | | | | stopping Phishing, spam, Trojan, and virus threats. |
| transaction information. The purpose is to ensure | | | | Other common areas of PCI violation include hackers |
| appropriate security to customers by assuring that | | | | gaining access to certain files on the host, directory |
| businesses meet their security standards. | | | | browsing, security mechanisms, as well as |
| Once the business implements the PCI standards, and | | | | unauthorized use of services such as mail relaying, and |
| prove they have implemented these standards, they | | | | hackers gaining access to information that allows them |
| become PCI compliant. There are a number of areas | | | | to launch attacks against the host, and gaining access |
| that are common to PCI violation. One such area that | | | | to open ports. |
| needs protection is making sure the business has all of | | | | When enlisting the services of a PCI compliant service |
| the appropriate applications and hardware devices to | | | | provider, a business will benefit because their business |
| prevent hackers. This includes making sure | | | | will have reduced or eliminated vulnerabilities, earn |
| vulnerabilities such as preventing remote hackers from | | | | customer trust, protect customer personal data, |
| access to file-system read and write capabilities, | | | | protect your business from financial penalties and |
| sealing back door entry, and preventing hackers from | | | | lawsuits, and maintain the host systems infrastructure. |
| leaving Trojans and viruses on the host's server. | | | | The savings one will achieve by using a PCI Compliant |
| Compliance involves such remedies as the appropriate | | | | Service Provider can be hundreds of thousands of |
| firewalls and host monitoring and tracking. | | | | dollars as well as save their business because they |
| Another area of compliance violation is businesses not | | | | stopped an event such as a breach that could have |
| implementing all of the security policies such as not | | | | affected millions of customers. |
| sharing passwords, not writing credit card numbers | | | | PCI Compliance is not only essential to business |
| down on paper, and not properly destroying hard | | | | security, it is also mandatory. A customer's information |
| copies of transaction information such as shredding | | | | must be protected to prevent credit card fraud and |
| everything before sending it out to be disposed. | | | | identity theft. Every business should take the |
| Other areas of common PCI violations is hackers | | | | appropriate measures such as hiring a PCI Compliance |
| penetrating server systems because a business has | | | | Service Provider. If a business does not remain PCI |
| not acquired assistance from a PCI compliant service | | | | compliant, the consequences can be devastating such |
| provider that constantly monitor, test, and track | | | | as a company losing millions of dollars, losing |
| systems. There are PCI compliant service providers | | | | customers, and even losing the business. |