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PCI Compliance

One of the hottest topics in Web services today is PCI Compliance - a term referring to the new standards for improving e-commerce security.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements designed to ensure that all organizations that process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. The requirements apply to any merchant that has a Merchant ID (MID). Adherence to this new standard is referred to as PCI Compliance.

To manage PCI DSS, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC - www.pcisecuritystandards.org), an independent body created by the major payment card brands (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and JCB.). Their mission is focus on improving payment account security throughout the transaction process (from user data entry through, credit card clearance, processing, and production of the transaction receipt).

An organization's PCI compliance is assured through independent companies, known as Qualified Security Assessors (QSA). These assessors are usually hired by credit card processors and banking institutions to ensure their payment processes meet the PCI standards.

The first contact many of our clients have with PCI Compliance is when they are contacted by a QSA. Potomac Digitek works with these QSAs on client Web site compliance issues, helping our clients become PCI certified.

If you have been contacted by a QSA or your bank about PCI Compliance, you can turn to Potomac Digitek to help you understand and meet these new compliance rules.

Additional online sources of PCI information and issues
  1. Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
  2. PCI Security Standards Council
  3. Control Scan's PCI education site (very helpful FAQ page)

Winning Web Sites

SAF Site Society of American Foresters
The Society of American Foresters web site (www.safnet.org) was recently recognized in the prestigious Web Marketing Association's WebAward competitions, placing it among "the best of the best" for non-profit association web sites.

The Web Marketing Association presented SAF's 2009 Standard of Excellence WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Website Development. The judges evaluated entries based on seven criteria: design, ease of use, copywriting, interactivity, use of technology, innovation, and content. The SAF site received a complete facelift in 2009, with updated graphics, reorganized and information. In the results from the contest, the SAF received its highest marks in Design, Content, Interactivity, and Copywiting.

Association for Laboratory Automation
In addition, the Association for Laboratory Automation also took home a coveted SNAP Excel Award for Online Publication - Wiki for its LabAutopedia feature, complete with articles, courses, and helpful videos.

These are just the latest in Potomac Digitek's long history of winning industry awards. To date our sites have won more than 50 awards sponsored by organizations such as:

Award Organizations


See our awards page for details.