JANUS
Associates earns Visa USA’s
prestigious qualification as a Qualified
Data Security Company
Stamford, CT., February
16, 2006…JANUS Associates today
announced its qualification as a PCI
Qualified Data Security Company (QDSC)
by Visa USA. This qualification authorizes
JANUS to perform PCI Data On-Site
Security Audits required of level
1 merchants and levels 1 and 2 service
providers to validate compliance with
the PCI Data Security Standards. JANUS
is one of a few select companies nationwide
that is qualified to perform these
mandatory annual security assessments.
Visa requires the
use of QDSCs to perform on-site security
audits using its PCI Security Audit
Procedures to validate compliance
with the PCI Data Security Standard.
This standard is the result of collaboration
between Visa and MasterCard to create
common industry security requirements
that improve credit and charge card
security for consumers. In addition,
American Express, Discover Card, JCB,
and American Express have also endorsed
the PCI Data Security Standard. Visa
states that, "a key component
of success is merchant and service
provider compliance. When PCI Data
Security Standard requirements are
enforced, they can provide a well-aimed
defense against data exposure and
compromise." Failure to comply
with these regulations could result
in fines reaching as high as $500,000
imposed on the Acquirer for their
merchants and contracted service providers
that are proven not compliant at the
time of a breach.
Patricia Fisher, President
of JANUS, stated that “neither
consumers nor credit and charge card
companies will tolerate weak security
practices any longer. The major card
companies have agreed to stringent
security practices against which all
their merchants and service providers
must adhere. As a result, consumers’
information will be better protected.”
Level 1 merchants and service providers
levels 1 and 2 will be required to
pass rigorous security audits each
year in order to maintain their good
standing with the card companies.
According to Fisher, “JANUS
is honored to have qualified to provide
these audits and ensure everyone’s
need for safe, secure purchase transactions.”
In addition to the
QDSC corporate designation, six JANUS
security engineers have earned qualification
as Qualified Data Security Professionals
(QDSP) from Visa USA after undergoing
thorough background screenings, successful
completion of required coursework,
and a rigorous written exam. All six
qualified security professionals will
function in leadership positions on
JANUS’ PCI compliance teams
charged with conducting the on-site
security audits for merchants and
service providers.
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