In the modern business environment, companies must accept credit card payments if they want to remain viable. Only a few primarily cash or cash-only operations still thrive, and even many businesses that historically transacted in cash now accept credit card payments via smartphone applications and portable devices. Progressive companies and more traditional brick-and-mortar organizations need to ensure they are constantly focused on security, particularly in today’s advanced, technological environment.
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard is an information security standard that was developed to protect user data and create a formalized standard for all companies that accept credit card payments. You will learn about the PCI Data Security Standard extensively in information security school, but we are going to discuss a bit of it right now.
What is PCI Compliance?
There are two extremely important aspects to running a business. The first and foremost goal is to make a profit to protect employees’ job security, and the second is to maintain secure transactions to protect customers’ sensitive information. These are two things that tend to go hand in hand, and with that being the case, you need to make sure that you have a PCI-compliant system in place. You will notice that every business has a Point of Sale, or a POS, which is where the customer checks out and makes their purchases.
Each POS is equipped with a card reader, and this needs to be behind a PCI-compliant firewall. Ultimately, PCI compliance is very important for many different types of stores and businesses in various industries. Convenience stores, for example, can make use of a PCI-compliant system to deal with a fast-paced environment in which most customers will be surrendering their payment information very quickly.
PCI Compliant Firewalls
A PCI-compliant firewall is one that can protect a customer’s sensitive information while remaining efficient to ensure maximum profits. Finding a balance between security and efficiency can be difficult, but that is where industry professionals like you will enter the picture. When you are setting up one of these systems, you will undergo a formal testing and approval process to ensure that customer information is well protected.
Auditors who approve your system will want you to demonstrate that you have an enforceable change process for the various firewall policies which involves a change report. One of the biggest problems is that many systems today do not have a change process, or they have one that is outdated or too lax. The best way to develop a sound change process is to automate it entirely, so keep that in mind when you are setting up your system.
Information Security Education
Information security education is critical in developing the next generation of security professionals and bridging the current talent gap. There are many different things for you to learn and quite a few ways for you to branch out within the industry. The big question is which direction you want to go. No matter what, you will need to have the right education if you want to partake in information security. By attending our information technology school, you will have a much better chance of joining the career that you want.
We not only offer industry-relevant equipment and hands-on training, but we also offer training from highly experienced instructors who have worked in the field that you wish to join. If you are serious about entering the field and making a significant difference in the IT security world, then now would be a great time for you to give us a call and start the enrollment process. Financial aid is available for those who qualify as well, so do not let your financial situation deter you from gaining a wonderful education and pursuing the career of your dreams!
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