Is Your Website PCI Compliant?

Lately I have been doing a lot of research on PCI compliance. This is due to the fact that I have been hearing a great deal about the value online businesses becoming PCI compliant. Online shoppers are a lot more careful about what websites they visit these days. The threat of identity fraud and credit card fraud grows stronger every day and they want to know that their personal information is safe and secure. This is a really good reason that you should make sure your website is PCI compliant. Your customers will trust your site which means more sales for you. However, besides drawing more customers to your website, the main reason that you need to be PCI compliant is because it's required.

If you are really serious about having a successful online business, then you will most likely want to accept credit cards on your site. Every online business that processes card transactions is obligated to become PCI compliant. In order for you website to be PCI compliant, you must follow the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. Being PCI compliant also entails a daily or quarterly scan of your website. This should be conducted by an approved PCI scanning vendor, otherwise known as an ASV. You will also be required to complete out a SAQ (Self Assessment Questionnaire). The requirements for PCI compliance may be slightly different depending on your merchant level. There are four different merchant levels, and if you aren't sure which one your business falls under, you should find this out first.

Ok, so you are probably thinking this is just all a bunch of abbreviations and confusion. We all feel that way about PCI compliance, and although it is somewhat complicated, it is super important. A website that I have found to be extremely helpful in the matter of PCI compliance is Trust Guard. Their site provides loads of useful information regarding PCI compliance and PCI scanning. They also offer trust seals that you can post on your site once you are PCI compliant that will confirm this to your customers. So get going and just get it over with. Not only are you protecting your website and its customers as required by law, but you will probably even see a boost in sales as you will gain more trust from your customers.