IMGCAP(1)]
Getting merchants to protect their payment systems not only defends transactions from would-be thieves, but it can reduce headaches and financial losses for ISOs and sales agents. At Electronic Commerce International Inc., a Las Vegas-based ISO, CEO Jim Anderson believes there is a story to tell about security and payments. His ISO is putting together a "storybook" that outlines what the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is, why it is important and what its role is in securing a payment network. Anderson tells CardLine sister publication ISO&Agent Weekly the ISO will use the guide to train agents who can then educate merchants. "As long as we can educate the merchant, it makes sense," Anderson says. Ideally, Anderson would like all of the merchant's employees to have some payment-security training. Electronic Commerce's security vendor, ControlScan Inc., an Atlanta-based company, developed training videos for merchant employees, Anderson says. Merchants then ask the employees to sign a statement acknowledging that they watched the videos. Admittedly, such documentation would not absolve a merchant in a breach, Anderson says, but is a good safeguard nonetheless. At First American Payment Systems LP, a Fort Worth, Texas-based ISO, Kevin Jones, vice president of sales and marketing, says the merchant is ultimately responsible for ensuring the integrity of its payment system, but "it is our responsibility to educate merchants."
