Explaining PCI Compliant Website Security Scans

Best business practices, especially when it comes to online safety and security, is something all business owners should consider – regardless of the size of their companies or the amount (if any) of online sales.

With an average of 5,000 new vulnerabilities discovered each year, regular or continuous vulnerability scanning is an essential security best practice.Recent studies show that over 70% of security threats are directed at web applications due to the quantity and value of the information they contain, a problem that's particularly acute for online merchants.

PCI stands for the Payment Card Industry. The main credit card companies all got together and organized a Security Standards Council which in turn created a data security standard. They require that all online merchants be compliant with their standards. PCI compliant security scans check to determine whether or not these web applications spoken of earlier have vulnerabilities. It checks for other possible places where clients or websites could be compromised by a virus or hacker.

Trusted website security companies like Trust Guard provide a report after scanning the server or website. The report gives business owners and/or their IT support staff the information they need to repair the vulnerabilities, if any. When businesses scan their site daily, there is a significantly lower chance that hackers or viruses will infiltrate their website and servers.

Every business that accepts and stores credit card data must demonstrate compliance with PCI DSS, but the complexities of securing business networks present considerable challenges, especially for smaller businesses with limited IT resources. However, security scanning packages can be obtained for a reasonable fee. In fact, Scanning companies that offer security seals for scanned businesses to display on their websites will find that sales will increase and conversion rates will improve. This is because online consumer trust scanned sites more than they trust non-scanned sites – as well they should.

The PCI Scan Service requires no hardware or software to be installed and managed. Inserting a small snippet of code on the website page is all that is required to both scan the site and display the trust seal and accompanying certificate. The seal and certificate demonstrates the business’ commitment to keep their site safe for themselves and their customers.

For additional questions about PCI Compliant Website Security Scans, visit Trust Guard today.