IT Security Tip #19: If You Handle, Process, or Store Client Credit Cards

If you handle, process or store credit cards in any manner, you are required to comply with PCI DSS or Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. This is a set of LEGAL requirements you must abide by to maintain a secure environment. If you violate them, you will incur serious fines and fees. 

Are you subject to them if you take credit card payments over the phone? Absolutely! If you have clients that pay you directly by credit card, you’re subject to these laws. However, there are various levels of security standards – but thinking you don’t process enough to matter or that “no one would want to hack us” is dangerous. All it takes is an employee writing down a credit card number in an e-mail or on a piece of paper to violate a law; and then you’ll be left with legal fees, fines and the reputational damage incurred when you have to contact your clients to let them know you weren’t properly storing or handling their credit cards.

Getting compliant – or finding out if you ARE compliant – isn’t a simple matter I can outline in a 1-2-3-step checklist. It requires an assessment of your specific environment and how you handle credit card information.

A great resource is the PCI Security Standards Council or www.pcisecuritystandards.org. If you want assistance in figuring out if you’re compliant, call us at 608-755-1524 for a free assessment.

Microsoft Tips for Office

Sign Your Messages With Style

In Outlook, open an email message and select Signature > Signatures > New. Name your signature, and then get creative with graphics, links, fonts, and colors.

Shortcut of the Week

Insert hyperlinks into Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

You can quickly insert a hyperlink in your Microsoft Word document, Excel spreadsheet, or PowerPoint presentation by highlighting text and pressing Ctrl+K together.

Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tidbits/

Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.

Sincerely,

James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524