PCI Compliance

What is PCI Compliance?

PCI Compliance refers to the adherence to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. Established by the major credit card brands, PCI DSS aims to protect against credit card fraud through increased controls around cardholder data. Compliance is mandatory for all entities involved in payment card processing, including merchants, processors, acquirers, issuers, and service providers. PCI DSS covers a range of requirements, including maintaining a secure network, protecting cardholder data, managing vulnerabilities, implementing strong access control measures, regularly monitoring and testing networks, and maintaining an information security policy. Achieving and maintaining PCI Compliance helps businesses prevent security breaches and theft of payment card data, ensuring the trust of customers and partners.

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Assess

The first step is to identify cardholder data, and information, take an inventory of your IT assets and business processes for payment card processing, and analyze them for vulnerabilities that could expose cardholder data. This is the first step in determining action.

Remediate

Fix vulnerabilities and eliminate the storage of cardholder data unless it's necessary for business reasons. This step involves addressing any security gaps found during the assessment phase and ensuring that cardholder data is processed and stored securely.

Report

Compile and submit required remediation validation records and compliance reports to the acquiring bank. This often includes completing a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) or undergoing an audit by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), depends on size.

Maintain

Implement and maintain a PCI DSS compliance program to protect cardholder data. This includes regularly monitoring and testing networks, maintaining strong access controls, keeping security policies up to date, and educating staff about their roles in maintaining compliance.

12 Foundations of PCI Compliance

  • Install and maintain a firewall configuration
  • Do not use vendor-supplied defaults
  • Protect stored cardholder data
  • Use and regularly update antivirus software or programs
  • Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
  • Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know
  • Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access
  • Restrict physical access to cardholder data
  • Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
  • Regularly test security systems and processes
  • Maintain a policy that addresses information security for employees and contractors

Benefits of PCI Compliance

Engaging a professional IT company for PCI Compliance significantly benefits businesses by leveraging their expertise and experience to efficiently navigate the complex requirements of PCI DSS. This collaboration not only saves time and reduces costs but also enhances security measures beyond the minimum standards, providing ongoing support to ensure continuous compliance. It mitigates risks associated with data breaches and non-compliance, offers customized solutions tailored to specific business needs, and allows companies to focus on their core functions. Additionally, access to advanced technologies and comprehensive support in documentation and staff training ensures businesses maintain a strong security posture, safeguarding both customer data and the company’s reputation. This approach is a strategic investment in protecting and enhancing business operations in the digital payment landscape.

The Critical Importance of Managing PCI Compliance

Failing to manage PCI Compliance exposes businesses to a multitude of risks, including the potential for data breaches, which can lead to significant financial penalties, legal consequences, and operational disruptions. Such lapses in compliance can undermine customer trust and damage a company’s reputation, potentially resulting in long-term financial and reputational harm. The consequences extend beyond immediate financial loss, encompassing increased costs associated with addressing breaches, enhancing security post-incident, and potential revocation of the ability to process payment card transactions. Effectively managing PCI Compliance is essential not only for safeguarding sensitive cardholder information but also for ensuring the sustainability and growth of the business in a secure and trusted environment.

Reasons to Switch!

Switching to Tech-Mar for PCI compliance provides businesses with a strategic advantage in securing payment card transactions and adhering to industry standards. Tech-Mar specializes in implementing robust security measures that align with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), ensuring businesses not only meet but exceed compliance requirements. Opting for Tech-Mar brings access to expert knowledge and cutting-edge technology, tailored to address specific vulnerabilities and enhance overall data protection. This move can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches, financial penalties, and reputational damage associated with non-compliance. Additionally, Tech-Mar’s proactive approach to maintaining and updating security protocols ensures that businesses stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and compliance regulations. By entrusting PCI compliance to Tech-Mar, businesses can focus on their core operations with the confidence that their payment processing systems are secure, compliant, and optimized for both efficiency and customer trust.

What our clients think....

Taylor Mouledoux

Partner – Looper Goodwine P.C.

“It’s been our pleasure to work with the Tech-Mar team over the past few years.  As a small firm, we rely heavily on Tech-Mar for all our IT needs, and they consistently deliver in a timely and professional manner.   Tech-Mar has been a great partner and we appreciate all they do for our firm.”

Dhiraj Dudeja

Chief Commercial Officer, NESR

“Tech-MAR has been with our organization from the start and has been able to provide support to both the Houston office as well as provide high level consulting, IT security and management services and solutions to our operations across the Globe.  Because of their knowledge, responsiveness, and capabilities, we have been able to depend on the Tech-MAR team to help NESR grow over the years.  We have been able to focus on our business while allowing the Tech-MAR team in concert with our internal IT team to manage the complex technology systems for the organization.”

Randy Whittaker

General Manager – Gulf Logistics Inc.

“After partnering with Tech-MAR our organization was able to upgrade hardware, software, and our network security. Tech-MAR propelled us onto the cloud and maintains our secure environment which has increased our productivity and efficiency by major strides.”

Brooks Bassler

Owner/Founder – BB’s Tex-Orleans

“Tech-MAR has been our partner for many years now and has been instrumental in the growth of our group of restaurants.  Before Tech-MAR, we were forced to manage different vendors for all the areas of technology we depend on in our business today.  Today Tech-MAR handles all of our technology systems and provides next level support when we have a problem.  We have been able to focus on our business while allowing the Tech-MAR team to build, manage, maintain and support the critical technology systems we require to run our restaurants day in and day out.”

Anuj Arun Shah, J.D., Ph.D.

Owner - Law Office of Anuj A. Shah, P.C.

“Our Firm has been with Tech-MAR since 2021, and we have never looked back. Their support team is first rate and incredibly prompt, which lets us focus on our business (and sleep better at night!). 

 We are currently in the midst of a transition, and Ben and his team are handling everything with incredible skill and professionalism, as they always do. 

 I can't say enough good things about Tech-Mar, and our office is immensely pleased that we brought them on board for our IT needs!”

Steven Newman

CEO – Aquadrill Offshore

“We’re a small start-up office and needed some responsive hands-on support to get us up and running.  We talked to a couple of firms, and Tech-MAR seemed to be the best – competitive pricing (important for a small start-up), comprehensive proposal covering all of our needs (even some needs we didn’t know we needed, but ended up being critical), and excellent execution and delivery (under-promised and over-delivered).  Things worked on day one, and the ongoing support is timely and responsive.  Tech-MAR have proven to be a valuable partner in our business.”

John Briscoe

Senior Finance Advisor – Aquadrill Offshore

“I just want to pass along very positive feedback from John Roche in London about the Tech-Mar team, support and transition that came up on our management call this morning.  John was very complimentary about how things have gone so far, not that there wasn’t a bump or two with shipping, and that your team did a great job of making sure everything happened and the London team was up and running by the cut-over.  Thanks for this, I was very comfortable that the local support would be very good, remote set up and support on a very tight timeline would always be more challenging and we appreciate the excellent work.”

Kayla Warren

Account Executive, Iscential Insurance

“Tech-Mar does an excellent job for their clients. Any and every time I've had a question or issue, no matter how small or large, I have always been treated like a VIP. And They resolve the issues very quickly.”

Candace Demary

Owner - Law Office of Candace B. Demary, PLLC

“I have been a customer of Tech-Mar for many years.  They have provided me consistently great service for a reasonable price.  I have a very small business, but they always treat me like their biggest client.”

Amy Polak

Owner & Co-Founder – Entre Results

“Tech-Mar is an excellent IT solution provider for any business, large or small.  The staff are very responsive and they are all highly knowledgeable in their field.  Before I started working with Tech-Mar, my computer was so slow and there was a lot of time wasted.  After speaking with Ben, he recommended a laptop that has been a game changer.  The monthly subscription is also a huge added benefit because they automatically update my software and ensure my computer is running in tip top shape.  They also run security scans to make sure my computer is protected.  Whenever I need them, they are there!”

Alicia V. Garcia

Owner - Law Office of Alicia V. Garcia

“I use Tech-Mar Enterprises for my company's IT needs. They are reliable, prompt and extremely responsive when I need them!  I highly recommend them for your IT needs, whether it is for your personal computer or your business, you have a great IT team on your side.  I will give them 5 stars out of 5!”

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