| Is your credit card information at risk when you visit | | | | information they need and disconnect before you even |
| your local retailer? We all would like to believe that our | | | | realize that something has happened. This information |
| local retailer or favorite restaurant is keeping your | | | | is then openly sold on the Internet. Is your Wireless |
| personal and credit/debit card information secure and | | | | network secured with the best security encryption and |
| out of the hands of those who want to commit fraud | | | | mechanisms to ensure your customers' information is |
| against many honest people doing business today. This | | | | secure? |
| is what I thought once I received my Visa bill one | | | | What can your business do?oInvest in a technology |
| month to see $1,500.00 of liquor purchases and pizzas | | | | audit - An evaluation of your computer network by a |
| on my monthly statement. I was a victim of Credit | | | | certified professional will easily show you areas of |
| Card fraud. | | | | vulnerabilities within your computer network and |
| According to a number of industry experts, smaller | | | | Internet/Wireless security. An audit when completed |
| business and retailers are not taking the required steps | | | | successfully will list all areas that require attention with |
| to ensure that the credit and debit card purchases | | | | recommendations to get you on the road towards |
| made by their patrons are secure. Even today, credit | | | | compliance.oHire the best IT support - Once your |
| card information is still being stored on local computer | | | | evaluation is completed, having a trusted IT partner and |
| systems that are not protected or up to date. Many | | | | advisor will ensure that your business systems stay up |
| small businesses are failing to protect their networks | | | | to date. This will ensure that you are protected from |
| with firewall solutions that can protect retailers from | | | | newly identified security threats that exist on the |
| trojans and other malicious code from being installed | | | | Internet and how these issues may affect your |
| on systems because of inappropriate web surfing | | | | business systems. Hiring a Microsoft Small Business |
| being allowed in smaller retailers or attempts at stealing | | | | Specialist and SonicWALL Gold Partner will ensure |
| information via wireless connections or over the | | | | that your network is properly cared for.oUpgrade |
| Internet. | | | | systems and software - It may become necessary to |
| Until recently, the payment card industry's training was | | | | update your computer systems and your software to |
| not up to par to educate small business merchants in | | | | the versions that address the requirements laid out by |
| what it took to ensure their transaction information | | | | the credit card and financial institutions. The latest |
| was occurring in a secure manner. As of the end of | | | | versions of Windows and Microsoft Office are |
| July 2007, Visa USA has started to require that some | | | | available and offer update security systems to protect |
| 250 or so credit card processors begin to share their | | | | your business.oLearn more about PCI DSS - What is |
| plans to ensure that all credit card transactions happen | | | | PCI DSS? PCI Data Security Standards ensure that |
| in a secure manner. | | | | your customer's information is stored securely and that |
| In May of this year, the State of Minnesota passed the | | | | transactions occur in a secured manner. It is critically |
| Plastic Card Security Act. The act clearly states that | | | | important that you invest the time to learn how the |
| any business that wishes to do business in Minnesota | | | | rules and requirements detailed in Payment Card |
| must comply with the regulations around storing credit | | | | Infrastructure compliance. Ignorance of the upcoming |
| card information. The law took effect in August and | | | | and current changes may just be the beginning of your |
| holds the business owner and business liable for the | | | | challenges. On top of the investments needed once a |
| costs associated with breaches or fraudulent | | | | breach has occurred many businesses may also have |
| transactions. | | | | fines related to due diligence not being done in your |
| Why does credit card still occur in today's | | | | business. |
| world?oLack of knowledge - Many small business | | | | Many small business, restaurants and retail owners are |
| owners, retailers and restaurant owners are busy in | | | | not computer people, running out to the local computer |
| their day to day businesses (working in their business | | | | or office supply store and investing in a low cost |
| and not on their business) and not up to speed with | | | | router is not enough to secure your business. It is a |
| the current regulations to secure their patrons | | | | must to have a small business specialist and security |
| information from unauthorized use.oOut of date | | | | professional that can recommend the right solution for |
| systems - Many smaller based businesses do not | | | | you. Unified Threat Management firewalls can protect |
| have the resources to keep their computer systems | | | | your business in the manner that will ensure your |
| up to date to ensure that credit card numbers are not | | | | customer's payment card information is secured the |
| stored on systems or they run older versions of | | | | threats on the Internet, secured from hacking attempts |
| software that does not offer the encryption needed | | | | and other business threats that are introduced when |
| when processing credit or debit transactions.oLack of | | | | an employee uses the Internet or your systems for |
| perimeter security - I have seen this many times in | | | | inappropriate use. |
| small business, they fail to secure their systems with a | | | | Also a computer support company that can take the |
| robust and scalable firewall solution. They usually plug | | | | hassle of technology off your plate with a structured |
| their Internet connection right into the back of their | | | | maintenance plan that consists of monitoring your |
| computer and do not employ a proper firewall solution | | | | network, managing your systems and proactive |
| or they purchase a router from their local office supply | | | | support may just save your business from the loss of |
| store that has no unified threat management security | | | | creditability associated with a breach or the hefty fines |
| built into these devices. Firewalls such as the | | | | that may occur when a breach occurs on your |
| SonicWALL TZ180 will ensure that restaurants, | | | | network. |
| retailers and small business are secure from threats on | | | | Hackers are out there 24/7, Internet and network |
| the Internet today, protect from network intrusions, | | | | security is not just a local problem. Hackers can be on |
| spyware and virus attacks and inappropriate Internet | | | | the other side of the world or parked outside your |
| use.oOpen wireless - Hackers can easily get into your | | | | restaurant or business. What are you willing to lose by |
| system through an open wireless connection in a | | | | not taking steps today to secure your business from |
| matter of seconds, they can connect, get the | | | | those trying to exploit it? |