One of the biggest hurdles to payment card processing security is for companies to remain compliant between audits. As we've reported on this blog, many don't. However, continuous review and monitoring is written into the new PCI 3.0 standards to prevent companies from overlooking their responsibility to evaluate practices on an ongoing basis. Instead of cramming for a PCI audit, businesses are expected to integrate assessment measures into their regular operations. 

Experts say that those expectations may be the most challenging difference between old PCI standards and the latest guidelines. 

"PCI DSS 3.0 inherently implies that organizations adopt continuous compliance and monitoring to reduce the risk of a breach...," writes Torsten George of Info Security Magazine. "This may pose a burden to many organizations that lack the resources to support these processes. Combing through data sets collected by silo-based security systems typically requires a legion of employees to connect the dots."

Companies that find their teams understaffed or lacking the bandwidth to give PCI compliance their full attention can begin taking steps to prepare now. Whether this means rearranging responsibilities within a company, creating a new position or contracting a third party to consult and advise payment card security efforts, businesses should have a game plan in place immediately. PCI 3.0 standards took effect at the beginning of 2015, so it's likely that many companies have already fallen behind. A more proactive approach to payment data security can reduce the risk of costly attacks. 

Contact us today to learn how VantageCard can support your company's efforts to keep customer data safe. As hackers become more creative, businesses that don't practice constant vigilance against compromises will be the most susceptible to breaches.