A revised supplementary guidance document entitled ‘Protecting Telephone-Based Payment Card Data’* was issued in November by PCI SSC (Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council), providing additional advice for businesses on taking payments over the telephone, reducing the risk of fraudulent activity and ensuring that cardholder data is kept secure during every transaction. The document, that […]
Many of us know that using American Express as a method of payment at businesses across the UK and the world has been notoriously hit and miss in the past. Put off by high transaction fees, many merchants chose to reject payments via Amex, opting to limit payments to the more preferred card schemes of […]
The shopping season will very soon be upon us when shoppers go crazy for a bargain on Black Friday and hunt frantically for the perfect gifts for Christmas. How a business handles this increase in trade can take some planning, ensuring your systems are ready for the rise in demand to keep the business going […]
Did you know that there are still three million businesses in the UK that don’t accept payment by credit card? A risky decision when the recent study also showed that one in six British shoppers now choose only to pay by card*. While making it easier for your customers to pay is an obvious way […]
According to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), reported data security incidents rose significantly in the final quarter, Jan-Mar, of the 2017/18 financial year, up 17% from the previous quarter with the five most common causes put down to human error. While some of this increase could be related to greater consumer awareness of data protection […]
There’s always more to setting up a small business than you think. Whether it’s unexpected legal fees, higher-than-you-thought tax obligations or data security and compliance costs that you didn’t know existed, at a time when you’re trying to get a business off the ground and cash flow is low and irregular, you could do without […]
Being put on hold or being passed between different departments are some of the biggest bugbears for 21st century consumers. But for businesses, especially SMEs, managing incoming calls and taking card payments over the phone creates all sorts of challenges and risks. ‘Card not present’ (or CNP) payments involve a much higher chance of fraud […]
If you haven’t considered installing an IVR payments system before then now might be the time. As a business owner or manager, you’ll often be faced with the challenging task of sourcing ways to increase productivity and cut costs while maintaining the same high standard of service for your customers. If you haven’t done so […]
With PCI DSS 3.2 now in place plus the forthcoming introduction of GDPR legislation next month, businesses are finding their focus is being forced to shift ever more towards the security of customer data. For many businesses, the road to compliance can appear daunting and costly. So what is the best way to tackle these […]
The new PCI DSS version 3.2 arrived in February, changing the way that compliance is assessed with one crucial new addition – businesses are now required to provide evidence of continuous compliance all year round. We know from experience that many businesses have in the past taken a denial and panic approach to PCI DSS, […]
The new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out that every company should have a designated individual overseeing data protection – not in terms of deciding what data to store, but ensuring that procedures and policies are in place and knowing what to do should a breach occur. And the same goes for PCI […]
We all know that cyber attacks and data hacks are on the rise. Once again, experts are predicting that 2018 will be another record year for the number of cyber security attacks and data breaches affecting businesses of all shapes and sizes. Yet, despite the warnings, a startling number of businesses still don’t have adequate […]
For many businesses, the Black Friday / Cyber Monday weekend is a very lucrative time of year, scooping incredible profits, winning market share and gaining new customers. But it can also cause the biggest headache, facing the fight against cyber security hacks and data breaches. Busy businesses and increased sale volumes lead to stretched teams […]
From the very beginning, we knew that there was a gap in the market to offer small and medium sized businesses a solution to their card payment processing needs that would at the same time address their PCI DSS compliance obligations. Having just celebrated our second birthday, we thought we’d take the time to look […]
October sees the 5th anniversary of European Cyber Security Month (ECSM), the EU’s awareness campaign that takes place each year across Europe. The aim is to “raise awareness of cyber security threats, promote cyber security among citizens and organisations; and provide resources to protect themselves online, through education and sharing of good practices.” (www.cybersecuritymonth.eu) Week […]
Next year sees the introduction of the EU’s new data legislation, General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR. It applies to any organisation storing or processing personal data both using automated systems or manual filing and replaces the Data Protection Act that has been in place since 1998. But what does the introduction of this new […]
As technology continues to move to cloud-based software, so is that of business phone lines with less reliance on physical phone systems and more requirements for hosted telephony solutions. Hosted phone systems differ from the traditional fixed phone line as they are hosted on an external server and entirely managed offsite with no need for […]
How a hosted telephony solution can give you an advantage over your rivals What differentiates you from your competitors? Every company needs a competitive edge to survive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. And with consumers more willing to shop around, it’s important to look at all the ways in which you can gain an advantage. […]
PCI DSS compliance regulations apply to any business that store payment card data and process card transactions be it over the phone or online. In modern enterprise, this encompasses a lot of businesses. But what does PCI DSS compliance mean for start-ups? And what can they do to ensure that they reach the appropriate compliance […]
If you’re a business owner looking to replace your call-answering system, then there’s a chance that you sometimes feel flummoxed by the options out there and daunted by finding the right system to suit your business operations. An automated IVR solution will probably be something you’ve looked at, but what is it? And could it […]