Types of PCI Compliance Services

When choosing the right server to become PCI compliant, you should be aware of the different types of PC compliance services that are offered. PCI compliance services include regular security scans and audits by outside vendors to guarantee that a site is PCI compliant. These services can also point your company’s IT staff in the right direction as far implementing the latest security requirements go.

The Security Scan
One service is a security scan. If you electronically store credit card data after initial sale authorization, or if your processing systems have Internet connectivity, a scan by an approved scanning vendor is necessary.

A security scan involves an automatic tool that looks over a business or service provider’s payment systems for weaknesses or vulnerabilities. The scan will pinpoint vulnerabilities in operating systems and other services and devices that can be used by Internet and computer hackers to target the private network.

Every 90 days a business must present a passing scan. Businesses and service providers should give documentation, like successful scan reports, to the acquirer or service provider.

PCI Standards for Services
The payment card industry gives standards for security scans, encrypted transmissions, activity monitoring and logical and physical access controls in order to safeguard a hosting atmosphere. PCI compliant services give the benefit of devoted IP addresses, admin access, dedicated CPU and RAM, protected storage, control management panels and high-performance servers.

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The Security of PCI Compliance Hosting

The increasing amount of Internet attacks has triggered much anxiety for businesses and organizations that handle online transactions, process credit cards and store credit card information. These businesses and organizations must use additional security procedures for safeguarding customer data, but even the best security services have been attacked and compromised in recent years.

One way to stay secure is to utilize PCI compliance hosting for your website. Almost all online businesses are required to host their sites with web hosting providers that have PCI compliant servers. These servers use extra security measures like firewalls and top-of-the-line anti-virus software, while also acting as the best source for storing sensitive payment information.

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3 PCI Compliant Hosting FAQs

When it comes to PCI compliant hosting, it’s not unusual to have lots of questions. PCI compliance is very important for businesses that make online transactions or process payment cards, but when navigating the ins and outs of what is and isn’t required, it can get tough.

Here are three frequently asked questions regarding PCI compliant hosting:

Is Becoming PCI Compliant an Expensive Process?
Think of it this way: Becoming PCI compliant is worth the expense compared to getting hacked or being penalized by the payment card industry. PCI fines are extremely high, beginning in the $10,000 range, even for small businesses. Bringing in an outside firm to take care of your PCI compliance needs is also a more financially advantageous option compared to bringing on a full- or part-time security expert.

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PCI Compliance Services – A Must for Any Online Business

The ever-increasing number of cyber crimes has raised many concerns for businesses and other organizations that make online transactions or process payment cards. These organizations must take additional measures for protecting consumer data, but even robust security setups have been compromised in recent years.

The payment card industry (PCI) requires anyone handling payment information online to comply with certain data security standards (DSS). As a result, many online retailers and other businesses need to shop for PCI compliance services. Continue reading

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Is Your Site PCI Compliant?

Every reputable online merchant knows that the security of credit card information is essential in order to maintain and grow the business. You certainly aren’t going to be successful if your customers are having their financial information stolen. But did you know that PCI compliance requires hosting that meets certain criteria specified by the payment card industry?

Taking a step back, do you even know what PCI compliance is? The payment card industry (PCI) has attempted to make data security a little easier for online merchants by publishing a set of security standards that are the benchmark for the industry. Sure, you could go your own way and set up your own data security protocols, but why take the time when a blueprint has been handed to you already?

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PCI Compliance, Web Hosting and You

There is a lot of confusion among online merchants about what exactly PCI compliance is, and what they must do in order to be PCI compliant. Online merchants, banks, and anyone else planning to handle payment card information on the web must adhere to certain security standards established in conjunction with all the major players in the payment card industry (VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and JCB).

PCI compliance web hosting is a centerpiece of these standards. There are thousands of companies out there who advertise web hosting services. But only some of these companies are familiar with and follow the PCI DSS (Data Security Standard). If you are obligated to follow the PCI DSS (and if you process credit or debit card information on your site, you are), you must ensure that you are choosing a PCI compliant hosting provider as well.

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3 Reasons Why You Need PCI Hosting

The payment card industry (PCI) has established data security standards for online merchants to follow. One component of these standards is the need for PCI compliant hosting of e-commerce sites. Why is PCI hosting so important?

1. Your Customers Demand It
Even though it would be hard to find more than a handful of our customers who even know what PCI hosting means, every one of your customers expects data security and appropriate information protection practices when transacting business on your site. PCI hosting is one more way you can show that you respect the privacy and data security needs of your customers.

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Secure Your Future With PCI Compliant Hosting

There has been a TON of information that has been written and posted in the last few years concerning PCI compliance. Many articles have detailed the very real and dangerous threat of identity theft and just how this translates into a serious and potentially damaging problem for a merchant. The threat was real even before the economy began to struggle, but now has become even greater considering the amount of people who are unemployed, struggling, and downright desperate.

Just what is “PCI compliance” or PCI hosting? “PCI” stands for Payment Car Industry and there are established compliance standards that the credit card industry (VISA/MasterCard primarily) have developed and that ALL merchants who agree to accept credit cards must abide by in order to do so. Most merchants do not even know that these standards exist, but that does not change the fact that they are indeed responsible for adhering to them.

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Top 3 Tips For PCI Compliant Hosting

Many people are not sure exactly what pci compliant hosting involves. Many companies, especially companies who sell goods over the internet, process credit card orders over the internet. PCI hosting is way of processing the credit card information to insure that it is as secure as it possibly can be. As a way of encouraging this, and making it easier for individual merchants to implement, the industry has put together Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards to guide merchants in making sure  their payment systems are secure.

Merchants who process payments over the internet are ranked at a number of levels. An individual merchant’s level is determined by the dollar value of the credit card transactions they process annually. As the merchant’s purchases more credit card receipts, their level increases.

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Do You Need PCI Compliant Hosting?

If you are going to be managing any credit card transactions on a website, it is important to have pci compliant hosting. With it, you will be able to offer payment services and handle sensitive client data. Online merchants and banks are two types of organizations in particular that require pci compliance. If you are thinking about developing a business that will require you to handle that kind of information, you need to think about meeting the PCI DSS requirements for compliance before you get started. A lot of merchants and organizations fail to do this and it makes things much more challenging later on.

Companies need reliable pci compliant hosting, not just because they need to follow regulatory standards, but because they are concerned about the security of their customers’ information. There are plenty of other advantages to it as well. With the right hosting plans, your company will be able to enjoy numerous financial and management benefits. Thanks to continuous monitoring, the framework of your business will always be compliant. This is handled by the hosting provider, freeing up the technical staff of your company to focus on other business concerns and tasks.

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