WALTHAM, MA--(Marketwire - Jul 31, 2012) - Security Management Partners (SMP), an independent information security consulting firm, today announced its certification as a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). To achieve this certification, SMP has fulfilled the rigorous testing and training requirements of the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. The company is now one of a preferred group of providers qualified to assess any organization's compliance to the PCI DSS standards.
The PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) consists of a specific framework of twelve requirements for developing comprehensive payment card data security processes in order to protect consumers and businesses who utilize credit, debit, ATM, prepaid and POS cards and relevant products. As a Qualified Security Assessor, Security Management Partners can evaluate the compliance of any organization against the PCI DSS requirements, including retailers, financial institutions, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, e-merchants, and others that acquire, transmit, process or store data containing confidential payment card information that must be protected and kept private.
SMP President, James P. Achille, commented, "Members, merchants, and service providers who do not adhere to the PCI DSS are at significant risk of losing processing privileges or incurring substantial fines for each infraction -- up to $500,000 per incident. In response to the growing number of SMP clients seeking this service, we're pleased to include payment card industry services in our comprehensive portfolio of IT security assessments."
Achille continued, "SMP has a long-standing reputation as a leading independent IT auditor, especially throughout in New England. By adding Qualified Security Assessor to our brand, we're ensuring our clients and prospects can rely on SMP to deliver the resources needed to achieve payment data card security."
For additional information on Security Management Partners' Payment Card Industry consulting services, please visit: http://www.smpone.com/Sections-read-134.html
About Security Management Partners
Since 2001 SMP has kept an intense focus on the design and delivery of services that identify, test and provide remediation advice. SMP helps to eliminate external and internal information security risks while ensuring that companies can adhere to today's evolving compliance rules. By not selling any hardware or software products, Security Management Partners maintains 100% neutrality in all of its assessments. For more information, please visit: www.smpone.com or call (781) 890-7671.