|
|
 |
 |
|
| Benefits of Account Information Security | | |
Why was the AIS program developed?
Our ultimate goal is to protect the Visa brand and increase cardholder confidence while shopping in the physical and virtual marketplace.
Continuing media reports of hacking incidences, stolen credit card numbers, and identity theft have triggered concern about information security, not only amongst consumers, merchants, Visa and its members, but also government and regulators.
The AIS program is designed to protect sensitive account and transaction information in the Visa acceptance environment. It protects the interests of all payment participants, including members, merchants and cardholders - in both the physical and virtual worlds.
| |
What are the benefits of the AIS program?
By implementing and adhering to the Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security requirements, you will be taking an important step towards better protecting your customers' information from potential hacking and fraud.
As well as protecting your customers, appropriate data security limits your risk exposure and minimizes the losses and operational expense that stem from compromised cardholder account information. The financial and resource outlay to meet the PCI requirements is minimal compared with the costs associated with the reactive hiring of security and public relations specialists, or the loss of significant revenue and goodwill that can result from a compromise.
Thus, the AIS program can help you by:
Promoting your brand's integrity and boosting consumer confidence in your business Increasing sales and business due to increased consumer confidence Protecting you against potential loss of revenue and unwanted investigative and legal costs Reducing the risk of unwanted media attention as a result of a compromise Providing you with greater awareness of security measures and preventative options available Reducing cardholder disputes and associated costs resulting from fraudulent transactions generated by compromised data (upon global take-up of the AIS program).
| |
What is the feedback from merchants and payment processors?
Since the inception of the AIS Program, Visa has received positive feedback from merchants and service providers who have assessed their compliance with AIS program requirements. Their feedback has been that the assessment process has helped them identify and address important areas of vulnerability.
Visa listened to the merchant community to develop a "practical yet comprehensive" program that would protect sensitive account and transaction information in the Visa acceptance environment.
The AIS program establishes payment card industry data security standards for merchants and agents to protect the confidentiality, availability and integrity of sensitive cardholder data. The AIS program helps merchants and agents evaluate and improve their organizational, physical, and logical controls of data security and is a requirement for all merchants participating in the Visa acceptance environment. Cardholders ultimately win when their accounts are protected.
| | | |
|
|
|
