If you accept credit cards, you must be compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standard.

 But it’s not just you and your staff that have to adhere to these rules. Compliance also extends to the companies or individuals that maintain your IT systems. Why? They have potential access to your customers’ private data.

Your New England IT Company must meet the PCI standards you are required to adhere by, NO EXCEPTIONS.

PCI violations also breach your merchant agreement and can put your processing power at risk. Companies who end up on the Terminated Merchant File (TMF) are unable to process credit cards. This causes crippling effects, and in most cases it’s game over for businesses that rely on taking credit cards for payment.

PCI Levels are set by the number of annual credit card transactions processed. The lowest requirement is Level 4 going up to the highest standards at Level 1.

Data breaches cause PCI level escalation regardless of transaction amount.

Here are the transaction levels that you need to be aware of to make sure you and your IT Company have met the requirements outlined in the PCI DSS:

• Level 4 – Less than 20,000 transactions per year
• Level 3 – 20,000 to 1 million transactions per year
• Level 2 – 1 to 6 million transactions per year
• Level 1 – Over 6 million transactions per year

PCI Compliance Requirements extend through your entire operations,
from website to customer service desk.

Vertical IT is a PCI Compliant New England IT Support company with experience building and maintaining secure networks, protecting cardholder data, vulnerability management plans, access control measures, ongoing monitoring and testing, and developing your information security policy to meet required PCI standards.

Don’t fall for the common misconception that only large companies have to be concerned with PCI.

Any company of any industry or size that deals with credit cards is responsible for adhering to the PCI standards, and the penalties for violation could leave you closing your doors for good. Don’t risk it!

Protect your customers, protect your employees, and protect your livelihood – Call Vertical IT at (888) 505-8215 or email info@verticalitcorp.com to work with a PCI Compliant New England IT Support Company!