Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS)

In addition to HIPAA, storing patient’s credit card information will likely Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (“PCI DSS”). PCI DSS consists of a minimum set of security standards necessary to protect cardholder data. These standards are not issued by a governmental entity but instead apply to businesses pursuant to their contracts with the individual card schemes (e.g. Visa, American Express, Mastercard).
The PCI DSS divides businesses into four tiers depending on the volume and type of transaction processed and imposes different standards on each tier. In addition to the tiered approach, the PCI DSS imposes minimum standards on all businesses that store and process card data electronically, including the installation of a firewall configuration to protect data and the prohibition on the use of vendor-supplied default passwords, just to name a few. Businesses that do not comply with these standards can be fined by one of the various card schemes or have their contract canceled. 

If you keep credit cards on file in a readable format you're putting your business at risk!
Years ago, it used to be the only way to have an 'auto-debit' was to write down or make a copy of the patient's credit card information, then have a poor staff member manually key-enter the payment into the credit card terminal.
Those days are long gone thanks to advanced technology, credit card fraud, and identity theft! In July 2010 the credit card industry came up with rules and regulations that outline how businesses must handle and protect cardholder data. This is referred to as PCI DSS Compliance (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards). There are steep fines for violating PCI DSS, however, these rules are in place to protect the business and the consumer.
This is why you want to use a company like CashPractice.com. We securely store and encrypt cardholder data, but you still have the responsibility as a business owner to make sure your business is PCI DSS Compliant.

 


PCI DSS Certification is a procedure implemented to perform a review of your data SECURITY PRACTICES. This procedure will review if you are currently processing credit cards using approved equipment, POS software, and/or hosted Virtual Terminal under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) requirements, as described below.

  • Build and Maintain a Secure Network
  • Requirement 1: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data
  • Requirement 2: Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters
  • Protect Cardholder Data
  • Requirement 3: Protect stored cardholder data
  • Requirement 4: Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks
  • Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
  • Requirement 5: Use and regularly update anti-virus software
  • Requirement 6: Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
  • Implement Strong Access Control Measures
  • Requirement 7: Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know
  • Requirement 8: Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access
  • Requirement 9: Restrict physical access to cardholder data
  • Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
  • Requirement 10: Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
  • Requirement 11: Regularly test security systems and processes
  • Maintain an Information Security Policy
  • Requirement 12: Maintain a policy that addresses information security

 

Source: