http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ en webmaster@pivotalpayments.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-09T19:33:39+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/the-latest-payment-processing-security-threat-bored-employees-19659769/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/the-latest-payment-processing-security-threat-bored-employees-19659769/ Though many companies are aware of the payment processing security threats posed by external hackers, and many even acknowledge the risks of disgruntled employees, there is one subset of potential hackers that many companies overlook - bored employees. Security and Fraud 2010-03-09T19:33:39+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/attention-to-payment-processing-security-keeps-merchants-from-being-an-easy-target-19659765/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/attention-to-payment-processing-security-keeps-merchants-from-being-an-easy-target-19659765/ Vigilantly enforcing payment processing security measures is not only crucial for keeping a merchant protected from fraud attempts, it can also help minimize the number of risks. Security and Fraud 2010-03-09T19:33:07+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/restricting-access-control-crucial-to-payment-processing-security-expert-says-19659763/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/restricting-access-control-crucial-to-payment-processing-security-expert-says-19659763/ Though there are many requirements set forth by the PCI DSS, one of the most important is access restriction. Security and Fraud 2010-03-09T19:31:08+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/automated-gathering-of-controls-data-can-help-audit-preparation-yearround-payment-processing-security-19657074/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/automated-gathering-of-controls-data-can-help-audit-preparation-yearround-payment-processing-security-19657074/ Gathering controls data is not just useful for pre-audit preparation - it should be part of a company's year-round payment processing security policies. Security and Fraud 2010-03-08T19:23:01+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/2010-budget-proposals-include-debit-and-credit-card-processing-regulation-measures-19657070/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/2010-budget-proposals-include-debit-and-credit-card-processing-regulation-measures-19657070/ In the 2010 budget proposal released late last week, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty pushed further for regulation of the debit and credit card processing industry. Credit Card Processing 2010-03-08T19:20:24+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/as-consumer-security-fears-escalate-american-express-voted-most-trusted-brand-19657058/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/as-consumer-security-fears-escalate-american-express-voted-most-trusted-brand-19657058/ Among increasing consumer concerns about privacy and payment processing security, American Express secured the top ranking for consumer trust, according to the Ponemon Institute. Security and Fraud 2010-03-08T19:12:41+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-security-measures-should-be-about-more-than-roi-tco-19657054/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-security-measures-should-be-about-more-than-roi-tco-19657054/ All too often, the motivations behind payment processing security measures are return on investment and total cost of ownership - not security. Security and Fraud 2010-03-08T19:08:07+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/tokenization-has-benefits-but-is-still-a-sticky-issue-19654587/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/tokenization-has-benefits-but-is-still-a-sticky-issue-19654587/ Tokenization has seen a good deal of attention in recent months, as it presents a way for merchants to improve their payment processing security while also potentially reducing PCI compliance costs. Yet it may complicate other aspects of a business, reported SearchSecurity.com. Security and Fraud 2010-03-05T21:02:48+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/growing-debit-card-popularity-to-change-payment-processing-landscape-19651969/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/growing-debit-card-popularity-to-change-payment-processing-landscape-19651969/ Though the economic downturn may be coming to pass, some of its effects - such as the increasing shift away from credit card processing and toward debit card processing - may linger. Merchant Account 2010-03-04T19:04:07+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-sscs-new-qsa-certification-program-presents-potential-drawbacks-19651960/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-sscs-new-qsa-certification-program-presents-potential-drawbacks-19651960/ The PCI Security Standards Council is expected to release the details of a new QSA certification program in the next few months, allowing internal auditors at Level 1 and Level 2 merchants to become certified to conduct the company's annual PCI assessment. Security and Fraud 2010-03-04T19:02:38+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/responding-to-consumer-concerns-retailers-more-proactive-about-payment-processing-security-19651958/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/responding-to-consumer-concerns-retailers-more-proactive-about-payment-processing-security-19651958/ An increasing number of retailers are prioritizing security concerns - not just defensively but also proactively - with the understanding that consumers are more vigilant than ever about the safety of their cardholder data. Security and Fraud 2010-03-04T18:56:06+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/interac-urges-merchants-to-invest-in-payment-processing-security-measures-19650639/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/interac-urges-merchants-to-invest-in-payment-processing-security-measures-19650639/ In honor of Fraud Prevention Month, debit card payment processing network Interac has released a reminder to Canadian consumers and merchants that, while debit card processing is generally secure and chip technology has made it even more so, both parties should still follow the appropriate payment processing security measures. Security and Fraud 2010-03-04T13:53:39+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/verifone-reports-strong-revenue-cash-flow-performance-for-q1-2010-19649415/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/verifone-reports-strong-revenue-cash-flow-performance-for-q1-2010-19649415/ VeriFone, one of the leading global providers of POS terminals, reported Wednesday that its net revenues for the fiscal first quarter of 2010 rose to US$223.4 million, compared to US$217.8 million in the previous quarter and US$214 million in the first quarter of 2009. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-03-03T22:47:57+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/how-to-convince-the-ceo-to-invest-in-payment-processing-security-19646889/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/how-to-convince-the-ceo-to-invest-in-payment-processing-security-19646889/ Many business professionals - especially in IT departments - understand the importance of implementing and maintaining proper payment processing security measures. But what happens when the person in charge of the company's purse strings does not understand this concern, and is reluctant to invest money in achieving PCI compliance? Security and Fraud 2010-03-02T22:39:55+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/businesses-should-develop-contingency-plan-for-payment-processing-breaches-19646879/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/businesses-should-develop-contingency-plan-for-payment-processing-breaches-19646879/ Though proper payment processing security measures can significantly lower the risk of a security breach, savvy small business owners should still have contingency plans in place in case a breach occurs, the Better Business Bureau advised. Security and Fraud 2010-03-02T22:36:11+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/mastercard-visa-profit-forecasts-upwardly-revised-thanks-to-prepaid-card-popularity-19646874/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/mastercard-visa-profit-forecasts-upwardly-revised-thanks-to-prepaid-card-popularity-19646874/ The increasing popularity of prepaid cards has led to an upward revision of MasterCard and Visa's performance forecast, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. Merchant Account 2010-03-02T22:29:47+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/real-gdp-increases-in-q4-2009-and-december-driven-by-consumer-spending-19644262/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/real-gdp-increases-in-q4-2009-and-december-driven-by-consumer-spending-19644262/ Canadian real gross domestic product continued to rise both in the fourth quarter of 2009 and in December of that year, driven largely by strong consumer spending. Merchant Account 2010-03-01T23:25:20+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/restricting-access-is-most-important-aspect-of-payment-processing-security--and-least-practiced-19644259/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/restricting-access-is-most-important-aspect-of-payment-processing-security--and-least-practiced-19644259/ Restricting access to payment processing data is considered the most important aspect of PCI DSS compliance - yet it is also the aspect merchants struggle with most. Security and Fraud 2010-03-01T23:24:04+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/optimism-improves-among-canadian-smes-19644257/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/optimism-improves-among-canadian-smes-19644257/ The majority of Canadian businesses expect revenues to rebound in the coming year, as optimism about economic recovery improves, said a recent study. Merchant Account 2010-03-01T23:19:23+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/credit-card-processing-appeals-to-consumers-psychological-tendencies-19638579/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/credit-card-processing-appeals-to-consumers-psychological-tendencies-19638579/ Electronic payment processing options are growing in popularity, threatening to make cash and cheque payments soon extinct. But while many credit card companies or banks will say that the popularity of credit and debit cards can be found in rewards programs or other incentives, their popularity may simply be a result of psychology. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-26T21:08:51+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/canadian-businesses-consumers-regain-spending-power-as-employment-and-profits-rise-19638583/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/canadian-businesses-consumers-regain-spending-power-as-employment-and-profits-rise-19638583/ This week was a positive one for Canada in terms of spending power, for both consumers and businesses. Merchant Account 2010-02-25T21:13:36+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/miss-a-scan-you-may-still-be-compliant--but-dont-make-a-habit-of-it-19638580/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/miss-a-scan-you-may-still-be-compliant--but-dont-make-a-habit-of-it-19638580/ Requirement 11.2 of the PCI DSS states that merchants must pass a vulnerability scan for each of the past four quarters to be deemed compliant. But what happens if a merchant misses a scan? Do they have to wait another four quarters to pass an audit? Security and Fraud 2010-02-25T21:10:50+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/qsas-urge-pci-ssc-to-release-guidelines-on-cloud-computing-and-pci-compliance-19635825/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/qsas-urge-pci-ssc-to-release-guidelines-on-cloud-computing-and-pci-compliance-19635825/ The use of cloud computing and virtualization has been skyrocketing in recent years, as businesses find they can cut IT costs and improve efficiency by switching to cloud-based models. Security and Fraud 2010-02-24T23:07:36+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/survey-reveals-businesses-confused-unconvinced-by-pci-dss-19635824/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/survey-reveals-businesses-confused-unconvinced-by-pci-dss-19635824/ A significant number of businesses are confused by the PCI compliance requirements, said a recent survey, posing serious risks to payment processing security for both consumers and merchants. Security and Fraud 2010-02-24T23:06:36+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/hyatt-visa-and-chase-form-alliance-release-visabranded-rewards-card-19635821/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/hyatt-visa-and-chase-form-alliance-release-visabranded-rewards-card-19635821/ The push to incentivize consumers to ramp up their credit card processing activity continued this week, with Visa, Chase and Hyatt Hotels announcing the release of a Visa-branded credit card that earns points through Hyatt's loyalty program. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-24T23:05:27+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/protect-payment-processing-data-by-educating-employees-on-hacking-techniques-19635819/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/protect-payment-processing-data-by-educating-employees-on-hacking-techniques-19635819/ Small businesses often think they are invulnerable to security breaches because there is not as much valuable data stored on their servers as there would be for larger firms. Security and Fraud 2010-02-24T23:03:37+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/american-express-canada-and-costco-partner-to-offer-rewards-credit-card-19632957/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/american-express-canada-and-costco-partner-to-offer-rewards-credit-card-19632957/ Businesses whose merchant services include American Express processing may soon see a spike in their credit card processing activity, as American Express Canada announced this week the release of a co-branded card with Costco Wholesale, called the TrueEarnings Card. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-23T22:19:08+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/mastercard-named-top-global-prepaid-card-provider-19632955/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/mastercard-named-top-global-prepaid-card-provider-19632955/ Of all the players in the growing prepaid card industry, MasterCard seems to be at the top. Merchant Account 2010-02-23T22:17:31+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-security-initiatives-can-backfire-if-not-wellplanned-19632949/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-security-initiatives-can-backfire-if-not-wellplanned-19632949/ Updating payment processing security infrastructure, policies and technology in an attempt to become PCI compliant or to reduce the scope of PCI DSS requirements is an admirable thing, but when not done properly, it can end up making the situation worse. Security and Fraud 2010-02-23T22:15:16+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/chip-and-pin-not-cureall-for-pci-compliance-expert-says-19630318/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/chip-and-pin-not-cureall-for-pci-compliance-expert-says-19630318/ While chip and pin technology has managed to reduce the number of payment processing fraud incidents, it is not a panacea for PCI compliance, reminded payment processing security expert Walter Conway. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-02-22T23:09:31+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/emvco-to-investigate-chip-and-pin-security-breach-research-19630314/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/emvco-to-investigate-chip-and-pin-security-breach-research-19630314/ In light of the recent release of a paper from Cambridge University researchers that found an exploit in the chip and pin payment processing security system, the organization responsible for chip and pin's specification, EMVCo, announced it will be conducting independent research to investigate the paper's claims. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-02-22T23:08:04+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/business-should-audit-payment-processing-access-controls-utilize-zero-trust-model-19630310/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/business-should-audit-payment-processing-access-controls-utilize-zero-trust-model-19630310/ An intricate payment processing security system can be effective, but if its access controls are lacking, it immediately loses most of its value. Security and Fraud 2010-02-22T23:06:41+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-pci-auditinspired-security-overhauls-unsustainable-risky-19627398/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-pci-auditinspired-security-overhauls-unsustainable-risky-19627398/ A number of organisations, when faced with a PCI compliance audit, spend enormous amounts of time and energy to put controls in place and hit all the points on the checklist. Yet many do not - and cannot - sustain these measures, leaving them to spend all that time and energy over again for the next audit. Security and Fraud 2010-02-19T20:10:57+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/retail-sales-rise-04-in-december-resuming-upward-trend-19627397/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/retail-sales-rise-04-in-december-resuming-upward-trend-19627397/ Canadian merchants likely saw a spike in their debit and credit card processing activity in December, as the country's retail sales rose by 0.4 percent to largely offset November's declines, Statistics Canada reported Friday. Merchant Account 2010-02-19T20:09:52+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pos-terminal-market-declines-in-2009-largely-a-result-of-softwares-reliability-19627396/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pos-terminal-market-declines-in-2009-largely-a-result-of-softwares-reliability-19627396/ The point-of-sale terminal market has not been immune to the tough economy, as most retail segments held off on purchasing or replacing POS terminals, according to the latest North American market report from IHL Group, a global research and advisory firm for retail and hospitality technology. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-02-19T20:08:33+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-security-standards-council-makes-third-change-to-audio-recording-rules-19624970/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-security-standards-council-makes-third-change-to-audio-recording-rules-19624970/ In its third revision since the beginning of 2010 - the previous being just weeks ago - the PCI Security Standards Council has revised its rules regarding audio recordings of payment processing data. Security and Fraud 2010-02-18T22:11:31+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/it-grc-systems-can-help-retailers-manage-pci-compliance-reduce-costs-19624960/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/it-grc-systems-can-help-retailers-manage-pci-compliance-reduce-costs-19624960/ With the requirements of payment processing security changing constantly, it can be difficult for merchants to keep up.
Security and Fraud 2010-02-18T22:04:30+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/chip-and-pin-exploit-found-by-uk-researchers-19624959/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/chip-and-pin-exploit-found-by-uk-researchers-19624959/ Canadian merchants using chip and pin POS terminals may be interested in knowing that UK researchers have found a relatively simple exploit in the chip and pin system, which enables fraudulent cards to be processed without a PIN code - transactions that still appear as PIN-verified. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-02-18T22:02:51+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/td-canada-trust-ceo-lauds-payment-processing-code-of-conduct-19622368/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/td-canada-trust-ceo-lauds-payment-processing-code-of-conduct-19622368/ Payment processing industry players have been relatively vocal about the Canadian code of conduct for debit and credit card processing, the final version of which is expected to be released in the next couple weeks. The latest voice in the debate was Tim Hockey, president and CEO of Toronto-Dominion Canada Trust. Merchant Account 2010-02-17T21:48:26+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-social-media-poses-threat-to-sme-payment-processing-data-security-19622364/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-social-media-poses-threat-to-sme-payment-processing-data-security-19622364/ One of the most popular emergent media platforms, though it presents valuable marketing and communication opportunities for small business, can also be one of the most threatening to payment processing data security, said a recent study. Security and Fraud 2010-02-17T21:45:27+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/ontario-sees-200-incidents-of-debit-card-fraud-merchants-urged-to-check-pos-terminals-19622360/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/ontario-sees-200-incidents-of-debit-card-fraud-merchants-urged-to-check-pos-terminals-19622360/ Businesses in Ontario whose merchant services include debit card processing may have been - or may soon be - targets of debit card fraud, as there have been approximately 200 incidents of debit card fraud, the Canadian Press reports. Security and Fraud 2010-02-17T21:43:59+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/expert-payment-processing-security-technology-is-meaningless-without-employee-training-19619825/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/expert-payment-processing-security-technology-is-meaningless-without-employee-training-19619825/ Though many small businesses think that having the latest and greatest in payment processing security technology will make the secure and compliant, this is not necessarily the case - especially if there is a high turnover rate for the employees that are trained in the technology, said one industry expert. Security and Fraud 2010-02-16T22:01:44+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/olympic-games-cause-surge-in-visa-payment-processing-activity-in-british-columbia-19619819/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/olympic-games-cause-surge-in-visa-payment-processing-activity-in-british-columbia-19619819/ Businesses in the Vancouver and Whistler areas whose merchant services include Visa acceptance have already seen a spike in their payment processing activity from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Visa announced this week. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-16T21:58:24+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/cfib-competition-bureaus-interac-decision-regrettable-19619816/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/cfib-competition-bureaus-interac-decision-regrettable-19619816/ The Competition Bureau of Canada has decided not to allow Interac to shift from a nonprofit model to a for-profit model, and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is crying foul. Merchant Account 2010-02-16T21:53:30+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/recessionary-concerns-cause-shift-to-prepaid-debit-cards-19617253/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/recessionary-concerns-cause-shift-to-prepaid-debit-cards-19617253/ The recession may be fostering a wariness of revolving credit in younger generations, causing a spike in the prepaid card market, payment processing blog GetDebit.com reported. Merchant Account 2010-02-15T22:17:15+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/debit-card-processing-network-interac-denied-forprofit-status-change-19617236/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/debit-card-processing-network-interac-denied-forprofit-status-change-19617236/ The Competition Bureau of Canada has just announced that it denied debit card processing network Interac's request to shift from a nonprofit model to a for-profit model, "to prevent Interac from engaging in anti-competitive practices designed to substantially lessen competition." Merchant Account 2010-02-15T21:56:23+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/visas-olympic-sponsorship-by-the-numbers-19617235/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/visas-olympic-sponsorship-by-the-numbers-19617235/ Visa has been the official sponsor of the Olympic Games since 1986, and consequently, it is the only credit card processing method available for Olympic attendees, athletes and coaches. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-15T21:54:28+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/tokenization-encryption-can-kill-two-birds-with-one-stone--if-done-correctly-19614557/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/tokenization-encryption-can-kill-two-birds-with-one-stone--if-done-correctly-19614557/ Tokenization and end-to-end encryption can both improve payment processing security and reduce an organisation's PCI scope, thereby saving them money on the PCI compliance process. Yet many organisations are failing to properly implement these technologies, and are therefore losing some of their return on investment, one expert wrote. Security and Fraud 2010-02-15T21:47:33+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/visa-to-eliminate-signatures-for-card-and-debit-transactions-of-25-or-less-19614582/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/visa-to-eliminate-signatures-for-card-and-debit-transactions-of-25-or-less-19614582/ In a move that may be soon carried over to the Canadian payment processing industry, Visa announced this week that it will no longer require customers to sign for purchases of $25 or less. Merchant Account 2010-02-12T22:07:21+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/tokenization-can-reduce-pci-compliance-expense-improve-payment-processing-security-19614547/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/tokenization-can-reduce-pci-compliance-expense-improve-payment-processing-security-19614547/ For businesses whose merchant services include debit and credit card processing, maintaining PCI compliance can be seen as expensive and arduous. However, the cost and frustration of a payment processing security breach far outweigh those involved with PCI compliance. Security and Fraud 2010-02-12T21:44:09+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-compliance-may-be-bitter-pill-to-swallow-but-its-for-merchants-own-good-19613307/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-compliance-may-be-bitter-pill-to-swallow-but-its-for-merchants-own-good-19613307/ The PCI DSS may be complex and even burdensome for small and midsize organisations, but "complaining about it will not get companies anywhere," reported IT security publication SC Magazine. Security and Fraud 2010-02-12T14:45:12+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/store-music-choice-may-affect-retailers-credit-card-processing-activity-19613287/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/store-music-choice-may-affect-retailers-credit-card-processing-activity-19613287/ Retailers looking to boost their credit card processing activity may want to take a good look at the music they are playing in stores, said a recent report. Merchant Account 2010-02-12T14:38:10+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-banks-to-increase-card-rewards-programs-debit-card-marketing-19612032/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-banks-to-increase-card-rewards-programs-debit-card-marketing-19612032/ Businesses are not the only ones struggling in the recession - banks and financial institutions are having a tough time as well. Consequently, banks are expected to increase their rewards programs and marketing efforts, especially with debit cards, said a recent report - a trend that will also provide benefits to businesses whose merchant services include debit and credit card processing. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-11T22:35:47+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-hospitality-food-and-beverage-industries-most-vulnerable-to-payment-processing-breaches-19609276/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-hospitality-food-and-beverage-industries-most-vulnerable-to-payment-processing-breaches-19609276/ Merchants in the hospitality and food service industries may be the most vulnerable to payment processing breaches, largely due to a lack of proactive security testing, a recent report found. Security and Fraud 2010-02-10T20:02:58+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-suggests-debit-cards-more-secure-than-credit-cards-19609275/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-suggests-debit-cards-more-secure-than-credit-cards-19609275/ Debit cards may be safer than credit cards when it comes to the risk of identity fraud, according to a new report from Javelin Strategy & Research. Security and Fraud 2010-02-10T20:00:23+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/credit-card-direct-mail-volume-on-the-rise-study-says-19609273/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/credit-card-direct-mail-volume-on-the-rise-study-says-19609273/ Echoing earlier reports, the volume of direct mail credit card offers is starting to rebound as consumers get more financially stable and resuming their credit card processing activity, global market research firm Synovate reported. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-10T19:58:32+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/prepaid-payroll-cards-gaining-popularity-says-mercator-report-19607948/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/prepaid-payroll-cards-gaining-popularity-says-mercator-report-19607948/ In yet another reason business should add prepaid card processing to their merchant services, payment processing research firm Mercator Advisory Group reported Tuesday that prepaid cards are gaining popularity as a payroll option. Merchant Account 2010-02-10T14:15:39+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/selectcore-unveils-first-canadian-reloadable-prepaid-card-sold-at-retail-stores-19606796/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/selectcore-unveils-first-canadian-reloadable-prepaid-card-sold-at-retail-stores-19606796/ Canadian businesses whose merchant services include prepaid card processing may soon see a spike in their payment processing activity, as prepaid telecom and prepaid financial services firm SelectCore announced Tuesday the launch of the country's first reloadable prepaid card sold in retail locations. Merchant Account 2010-02-09T22:40:38+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/jump-on-the-debit-card-processing-bandwagon-verifone-exec-tells-merchants-19606793/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/jump-on-the-debit-card-processing-bandwagon-verifone-exec-tells-merchants-19606793/ With the growing popularity of debit cards - thanks in part to the recession and the fear of debt that it has instilled in many consumers - it is more important than ever for businesses to include debit card acceptance in their merchant services, said VeriFone director Scott Henry. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-02-09T22:39:21+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/proper-access-control-key-to-payment-processing-security-19604150/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/proper-access-control-key-to-payment-processing-security-19604150/ For businesses whose merchant services include debit and credit card processing, protecting cardholder data is of the utmost importance. Security and Fraud 2010-02-08T23:11:29+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/financial-consumer-agency-of-canada-updates-credit-card-selector-tool-19604138/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/financial-consumer-agency-of-canada-updates-credit-card-selector-tool-19604138/ Canadian credit card processing may see a small boost as consumers get some help finding the right credit cards for them, thanks to an updated credit card selector tool released by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-08T23:02:25+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/reputational-damages-are-worst-thing-that-can-happen-in-payment-processing-breaches-19604132/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/reputational-damages-are-worst-thing-that-can-happen-in-payment-processing-breaches-19604132/ Although there are many negative consequences that come in the aftermath of a payment processing breach, not all of them are related to fines and lawsuits - many merchants underestimate the damage that breaches can cause to their business' reputation and client base. Security and Fraud 2010-02-08T22:59:06+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/debit-card-popularity-credit-card-processing-rebound-behind-visa-and-mastercard-performance-19604129/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/debit-card-popularity-credit-card-processing-rebound-behind-visa-and-mastercard-performance-19604129/ Behind the high quarterly earnings and revenues announced by Visa and MasterCard last week was an indication that debit transactions are continuing to experience significant growth while credit card processing, which has been slow in recent years thanks to the recession, may soon rebound. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-08T22:57:43+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/unemployment-rate-falls-to-83-as-economy-adds-43000-jobs-19601376/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/unemployment-rate-falls-to-83-as-economy-adds-43000-jobs-19601376/ The Canadian economy got one step closer to recovery this week as the unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent to 8.3 percent in January, Statistics Canada reported Friday. Merchant Account 2010-02-05T19:23:00+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/expert-pci-compliance-not-optional-and-noncompliance-can-get-costly-19601374/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/expert-pci-compliance-not-optional-and-noncompliance-can-get-costly-19601374/ Payment processing security - and the requisite PCI-DSS compliance - can be daunting to businesses of any size, but especially for smaller merchants that do not have an IT department to help them make sense of the requirements. Security and Fraud 2010-02-05T19:18:00+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/mastercard-reports-13-billion-net-revenue-for-q4-2009-as-payment-processing-volume-increases-19601369/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/mastercard-reports-13-billion-net-revenue-for-q4-2009-as-payment-processing-volume-increases-19601369/ Fueled by increased payment processing and cross-border volumes, MasterCard reported a fourth quarter 2009 net income of $294 million, or $2.24 per diluted share, the company announced Thursday. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-05T19:16:00+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/heartland-payment-systems-beefs-up-payment-processing-security-with-endtoend-encryption-tokenization-19598937/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/heartland-payment-systems-beefs-up-payment-processing-security-with-endtoend-encryption-tokenization-19598937/ Few other companies have been burned in payment processing security like Heartland Payment Systems has. So what do the security initiatives look like from a company whose stakes are so high? They are extensive, for one. Security and Fraud 2010-02-04T22:02:30+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/visa-posts-1q-2010-earnings-driven-by-higher-debit-and-credit-card-processing-19598934/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/visa-posts-1q-2010-earnings-driven-by-higher-debit-and-credit-card-processing-19598934/ Increased use of credit and debit cards as well as rebounded consumer spending have led to solid first quarter earnings for payment processing giant Visa, the company announced Wednesday. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-04T22:02:22+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-security-standards-council-busy-with-more-than-just-pcidss-revisions-19598930/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-security-standards-council-busy-with-more-than-just-pcidss-revisions-19598930/ Though the new version of the PCI-DSS, the governing set of security regulations for the payment processing industry, is due out in October of this year, businesses whose merchant services include debit and credit card processing will likely hear from the PCI Security Standards Council before October. Security and Fraud 2010-02-04T21:56:48+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/consumers-more-concerned-with-paying-off-credit-cards-than-mortgages-19596314/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/consumers-more-concerned-with-paying-off-credit-cards-than-mortgages-19596314/ Are credit cards more important than mortgages? Credit Card Processing 2010-02-03T19:27:45+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-ssc-changes-rules-regarding-audio-recordings-of-payment-processing-data-19596313/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-ssc-changes-rules-regarding-audio-recordings-of-payment-processing-data-19596313/ The PCI Security Standards Council has updated its FAQ section, changing the rules regarding payment processing information stored on audio recordings. Security and Fraud 2010-02-03T19:24:20+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/malwares-cousin-crimeware-can-threaten-payment-processing-security-19596312/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/malwares-cousin-crimeware-can-threaten-payment-processing-security-19596312/ Threats to payment processing security do not just come in the form of credit and debit card skimming or employee theft of cardholder data - certain types of internet-facilitated malware, called crimeware, can be extremely damaging to payment processing security, said a recent report. Security and Fraud 2010-02-03T19:22:32+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-payment-processing-breaches-more-expensive-than-ever-19593890/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/report-payment-processing-breaches-more-expensive-than-ever-19593890/ Though never cheap, data breaches are getting more expensive than ever. Security and Fraud 2010-02-02T22:35:33+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-hacks-for-the-common-good-19593889/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-hacks-for-the-common-good-19593889/ When it comes to the fight for payment processing security, knowledge may be the best weapon. Security and Fraud 2010-02-02T22:34:15+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/qsa-pci-compliance-not-possible-in-the-public-cloud--yet-19593887/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/qsa-pci-compliance-not-possible-in-the-public-cloud--yet-19593887/ With the recent explosion of cloud computing, many companies have wondered how the technology fits with their payment processing compliance and security initiatives. Security and Fraud 2010-02-02T22:32:49+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pos-terminal-upgrades-pci-compliance-initiatives-top-retailer-priorities-and-planned-spending-19593885/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pos-terminal-upgrades-pci-compliance-initiatives-top-retailer-priorities-and-planned-spending-19593885/ Retailers are expected to invest more in merchant services such as POS terminals and PCI compliance in the coming year, according to a report from the IHL Group and RISNews. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-02-02T22:30:21+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/contrary-to-rumors-operating-systems-are-out-of-scope-for-pci-dss-19593882/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/contrary-to-rumors-operating-systems-are-out-of-scope-for-pci-dss-19593882/ Some merchants may have received a letter from a POS terminal vendor saying that Microsoft will discontinue its support of the Windows 200 operating system effective July 1, 2010, a move that would make any merchants using the OS immediately non-compliant. Security and Fraud 2010-02-02T22:28:21+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/webinar-to-help-business-owners-understand-accomplish-pci-compliance-19591244/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/webinar-to-help-business-owners-understand-accomplish-pci-compliance-19591244/ The PCI DSS and everything else involved in PCI compliance can be intimidating to businesses, especially smaller companies that do not have the resources to support a dedicated payment processing team or manager. Security and Fraud 2010-02-01T23:18:32+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/credit-card-offers-rise-in-q4-2009-reversing-threeyear-decline-19591210/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/credit-card-offers-rise-in-q4-2009-reversing-threeyear-decline-19591210/ In a positive indication of the health of the credit card processing industry, direct mail credit card offers reversed a three-year decline to post growth in the fourth quarter of 2009, Mintel Comperemedia recently reported. Credit Card Processing 2010-02-01T23:03:13+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/small-businesses-can-negotiate-threequarters-of-payment-processing-fees-expert-says-19588516/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/small-businesses-can-negotiate-threequarters-of-payment-processing-fees-expert-says-19588516/ Many businesses want to add debit and credit card processing to their merchant services, but are deterred by the fees associated with doing so. Merchant Account 2010-01-29T23:18:54+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/study-payment-processing-data-most-common-target-of-security-breaches-19588514/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/study-payment-processing-data-most-common-target-of-security-breaches-19588514/ In yet another example of the importance of proper PCI compliance, payment processing data was found to be the most vulnerable information to breaches and theft, according to a recent study. Security and Fraud 2010-01-29T23:15:35+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/heartland-ceo-robert-carr-advocates-sharing-of-payment-processing-breach-information-19585557/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/heartland-ceo-robert-carr-advocates-sharing-of-payment-processing-breach-information-19585557/ Considering the damage caused by the massive Heartland Payment Systems security breach, it may have been tempting for the company and its CEO, Robert Carr, to hide away from the spotlight and avoid talking about the incident. Security and Fraud 2010-01-29T00:25:21+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/simple-strategies-to-protect-payment-processing-data-19585556/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/simple-strategies-to-protect-payment-processing-data-19585556/ Not all payment processing security measures require expensive technology deployments - some data protection efforts are relatively simple, said business services firm Cintas. Security and Fraud 2010-01-29T00:23:47+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-industry-uses-rewards-points-to-support-haiti-relief-efforts-19585555/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/payment-processing-industry-uses-rewards-points-to-support-haiti-relief-efforts-19585555/ After the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti recently, there has been an outpouring of support from consumers and businesses alike. Now the payment processing industry is doing its part. Credit Card Processing 2010-01-29T00:22:13+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-compliance-gets-sticky-in-the-cloud-19585554/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-compliance-gets-sticky-in-the-cloud-19585554/ Cloud computing, for all of the benefits it brings both business and individual users, can create a sticky situation with compliance regulations such as payment processing's PCI DSS requirements. Security and Fraud 2010-01-29T00:20:49+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/rbc-visa-to-offer-cocacolashaped-prepaid-card-for-olympic-athletes-coaches-19585553/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/rbc-visa-to-offer-cocacolashaped-prepaid-card-for-olympic-athletes-coaches-19585553/ With the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games just weeks away, companies in all industries are ramping up their Olympic-themed promotions, and the merchant services industry is no exception. Visa, the official sponsor of the Olympic Games, has seen most of the attention. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-01-29T00:19:41+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-ssc-new-version-of-pci-dss-will-focus-on-guidance-not-major-changes-19582481/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-ssc-new-version-of-pci-dss-will-focus-on-guidance-not-major-changes-19582481/ Rumors have been swirling in the merchant services industry about what will and will not be included in the next version of the PCI DSS. Security and Fraud 2010-01-27T19:04:45+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/listen-up-merchants-some-payment-processing-fees-may-be-negotiable-19582479/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/listen-up-merchants-some-payment-processing-fees-may-be-negotiable-19582479/ Many businesses whose merchant services include debit and credit card processing may feel burdened by the transaction fees imposed by banks and credit card issuers. Yet merchants take heart: Some of the costs associated with payment processing may be negotiable. Merchant Account 2010-01-27T19:03:46+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/why-pci-compliance-goes-beyond--and-is-more-important-than--the-pci-audit-19582472/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/why-pci-compliance-goes-beyond--and-is-more-important-than--the-pci-audit-19582472/ When it comes to payment processing security, many organisations focus on passing the PCI compliance audit. Once that certificate is signed, their focus on payment processing security falls to the wayside. Security and Fraud 2010-01-27T19:02:34+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/how-to-salvage-customers--and-the-companys-reputation--after-a-payment-processing-breach-19582462/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/how-to-salvage-customers--and-the-companys-reputation--after-a-payment-processing-breach-19582462/ A data breach can be extremely expensive, as well as damaging to a company's reputation and customer loyalty. But it doesn't have to be, reported Renee Oricchio for Inc. magazine's technology blog. Security and Fraud 2010-01-27T18:59:36+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/studies-indicate-consumers-spend-more-when-using-credit-debit-cards-19579871/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/studies-indicate-consumers-spend-more-when-using-credit-debit-cards-19579871/ It seems anecdotally true that people spend more when paying with credit or debit card versus cash. However, studies have shown that this is actually the case, making it a smart move for businesses to include debit and credit card processing in their merchant services. Credit Card Processing 2010-01-26T22:57:57+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/canadian-consumer-confidence-surges-suggesting-increased-spending-19579870/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/canadian-consumer-confidence-surges-suggesting-increased-spending-19579870/ Canadian businesses may be able to expect an increase in consumer spending as consumer confidence skyrockets, as found in the latest Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-01-26T22:56:44+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/outsourcing-security-information-management-can-help-reduce-it-costs-increase-payment-processing-security-19579868/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/outsourcing-security-information-management-can-help-reduce-it-costs-increase-payment-processing-security-19579868/ Ensuring payment processing security and PCI compliance can be a full-time job, as it requires frequent monitoring as well as constant log collection and reporting. Security and Fraud 2010-01-26T22:55:40+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/retail-sales-decline-in-november-following-three-months-of-growth-19577076/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/retail-sales-decline-in-november-following-three-months-of-growth-19577076/ For businesses in the retail industry, going above and beyond customer experience expectations is more important than ever as sales have declined for the first time in the past four months, Statistics Canada recently reported. Point-of-Sale Terminals 2010-01-25T21:55:17+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/dont-forget-to-protect-encryption-keys-expert-says-19577074/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/dont-forget-to-protect-encryption-keys-expert-says-19577074/ As security threats proliferate and payment processing security measures become more important than ever, an increasing number of businesses with merchant accounts are turning to security measures that go beyond PCI DSS mandates, such as end-to-end encryption. Security and Fraud 2010-01-25T21:49:09+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/nine-people-arrested-for-debit-card-fraud-pin-pad-tampering-in-ontario-19577072/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/nine-people-arrested-for-debit-card-fraud-pin-pad-tampering-in-ontario-19577072/ Ontario and Durham officials have arrested nine people in the latest incident of debit card fraud and tampering, causing thousands of dollars in losses to a number of businesses across Ontario and the Greater Toronto area. Security and Fraud 2010-01-25T21:47:44+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/does-the-pci-dss-punish-secure-merchants-for-the-sake-of-insecure-ones-19577070/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/does-the-pci-dss-punish-secure-merchants-for-the-sake-of-insecure-ones-19577070/ The debate continues about the effectiveness of the PCI DSS in creating and enforcing a more secure environment for payment processing, with IT expert Mike Vizard the latest to add to the skepticism. Security and Fraud 2010-01-25T21:45:36+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/qsa-says-using-both-endtoend-encryption-and-tokenization-might-be-unnecessary-19574405/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/qsa-says-using-both-endtoend-encryption-and-tokenization-might-be-unnecessary-19574405/ PCI compliance is an issue for companies large and small, with many focusing on tokenization and end-to-end encryption for their security purposes, but one expert questions if both options are really necessary. Security and Fraud 2010-01-22T22:04:13+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-dss-friend-or-foe-the-debate-continues-19571936/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-dss-friend-or-foe-the-debate-continues-19571936/ The debate about payment processing security has long been raging, but it ramped up recently thanks to a string of high-level security breaches and the in-process revision of the PCI DSS. Security and Fraud 2010-01-21T23:21:37+00:00 http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-compliance-still-a-struggle-standardisation-may-help-19571934/ http://www.pivotalpayments.com/ca/industry-news/pci-compliance-still-a-struggle-standardisation-may-help-19571934/ Payment processing security is still a difficult process for many businesses with merchant accounts - especially small, Level 4 merchants - leaving many organisations unprotected. But the solution is not necessarily the adoption of new security technologies - the key is standardisation, said a recent report. Security and Fraud 2010-01-21T23:20:21+00:00