How to Become PCI Compliant

When you accept credit cards and debit cards for business, security should be a top priority – especially as electronic data theft and credit card fraud continue to become more and more complex in today’s technology-driven market. Compliance with PCI DSS standards is not just a suggestion, it’s a requirement. Many merchants may still be unsure about what PCI compliance refers to, and how to become PCI compliant. As a leading authority in credit card processing and data security technology, the BluePay team is committed to helping merchants achieve PCI compliance.

Understand the importance of PCI compliance.

The first step to achieving PCI compliance involves fully understanding what it is and the importance of secure credit card processing. The Payment Card Industry (PCI) developed the Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to ensure security for consumers and businesses during credit card, debit card and electronic check transactions. While upfront costs for PCI compliant advanced risk tools may seem high for many small merchants, the consequences of compromised data can lead to much higher fees and possible loss of business.

Protect your business and your customers.

Complying with PCI standards involves putting the right security measures in place to protect your business and your customers. For example, storing unnecessary customer data is one of the most common PCI violations; tokenization is a PCI compliant security feature that eliminates stored data by storing “tokens” instead of actual credit card numbers. End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is another feature that encrypts credit card data while the data is in transit – from point of swipe to authorization.

Assess your data security (SAQ).

While some merchants may be required to undergo onsite data security assessment, others may assess their compliance through self-evaluation, or the PCI DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). The PCI DSS SAQ involves questions regarding PCI requirements. 

Stay up-to-date on payment processing technology.

As electronic theft continues to evolve, so must your data security system. Staying on top of the latest in data security technology helps ensure your PCI compliance. Keep up-to-date on industry news and the latest products in credit card processing and security systems. Know the latest credit card scams and fraud techniques, and keep your employees updated on how to recognize credit card fraud attempts. When you’re always in-the-know, you can better protect your business.

Count on BluePay!

BluePay’s full suite of credit card processing products complies with PCI DSS standards. We are experts in credit card processing and data security. For more information on PCI compliance, contact us today.