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What is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS)?

PCI-DSS is a GLOBAL standard and requires that organizations handling payment card data:

  • Build and maintain a secure network
  • Protect cardholder data
  • Maintain a vulnerability management program
  • Implement strong access control measures
  • Regularly monitor and test networks
  • Develop and maintain an information security policy

Any system that — or any system that is connected to a system that –  stores, processes or transmits cardholder data is considered to be “In Scope”.  The organization must comply with the PCI-DSS for everything that is “In Scope”.

PCI Compliance Background Information

  • Total credit cards in circulation in the United States in 2010:
    • Visa: 269 million, MasterCard: 171 million, American Express: 49 million
    • Visa and MasterCard debit cards add another 520 million to these figures
  • Typical projects to achieve PCI Compliance are usually:
    • Very large (thousands of man hours of effort)
    • Time consuming (months, or even years, in duration)
    • Resource intensive (require headcount and specific skill sets)
    • Expensive (average annual audit spend is $225k, 10% spend more than $500k)
  • These projects are also Continuous:
    • 54% of QSAs say their clients find PCI DSS is too costly
    • 52% of QSAs say their clients are not managing their data security
    • Restricting access to cardholder data is problematic

    Achieving compliance can involve costs ranging from more than $100,000 (Level 3 merchants ) to more than $1 million for Level 1 merchants. (Source: Gartner)

    PeepSafe is Level 1 PCI DSS compliant and is hosted by Level 1 PCI DSS compliant hosting providers.

    Managed controls include:

    • Firewalls and Intrusion Detection
    • Annual Penetration Testing
    • Anti-Virus and Patch Management
    • Centralized Logging and Monitoring
    • Physical Security
    • Quarterly Scans (internal and external)
    • SSL Certification
    • File Integrity Monitoring

    Note: These are ALL controls that you would need to implement in your corporate environment if you did not use PeepSafe.

    What are the Benefits of Using ExoIS?

  • PeepSafe is a purpose-built, secure environment that helps customers achieve cost-effective compliance
  • Our products are supported and endorsed by major credit card brands, acquirers and QSAs globally
  • ExoIS maintains strong relationships with the PCI Security Standards Council
  • As a Qualified Security Assessor Company, we are versed in the latest versions of the PCI-DSS and accurate interpretation of controls.  Our mission is to assist merchants in reducing their PCI scope before referring them to one of our QSA partners for final sign off
  • Our Chief Security Strategist served on the PCI Board of Advisors for over 3 years and participated in several taskforces and special interest groups
  • PeepSafe customers include large and small businesses with both simple and complex environments in multiple vertical markets
  • We offer international coverage in both North America and Europe