Ecommerce Hosting And Security Concerns
In 2004, a group of credit card companies banded together to create the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards. Complying with those standards is critical in ecommerce hosting, as these guidelines are now usually contractually enforced in merchant agreements. Compliance also is good for your business, because consumers hearing about credit information security breaches want to spend their money with companies who protect their data.
Currently there are 12 major requirements which include everything from technical guidelines to well laid out business practices. One of the technical requirements is the encryption of data for storage and transmission. Who has access to the data both digitally and physically must also be rigorously controlled
PCI standards should be followed by any company that processes, transmits or stores credit card information. For smaller companies, this is not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish. To assist them, there are many PCI-compliant ecommerce solutions available to them and range from online shopping cart software to ecommerce hosting. These options insure PCI compliance and take the burden off of the sellers and allow them to focus more on making sales.
Ecommerce hosting ratings can be found at opinion sites throughout the Web. However, an opinion from an unknown is no guarantee of satisfaction; you need solid references as well. You will be doing business with them for a long time. Is your hosting provider PCI-compliant? Are they trustworthy? Do they have a good reputation? Demand and check references.
Other benefits available in ecommerce solutions besides security features found in ecommerce hosting should be evaluated. Many hosting companies will frequently work with their customers and provide online shopping cart software. When your hosting provider understands your software, they can provide great benefits as well, including excellent technical support. In doing so, you will experience less downtime and a web site which your customers are happy shopping on.
Running a successful ecommerce store can be challenging. It's easy to focus on only product selection along with marketing strategies. Probably the most important thing is to ease your customers mind about giving out their personal and bank information when shopping at your site. Making sure you partner with a secure and PCI-compliant ecommerce hosting provider will make the most sense in the long run.
A consortium of credit card companies created the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards in 2004. Originally guidelines for safeguarding consumers' private data they are now contractually enforced in most merchant agreements. Any company that processes, transmits or stores credit card information should follow PCI standards. For smaller companies, this is not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish. To assist them, there are many PCI-compliant ecommerce solutions available to them and range from online shopping cart software to ecommerce hosting. These options insure PCI compliance and take the burden off of the sellers and allow them to focus more on making sales.
Published December 1st, 2007
Filed in Business, Ecommerce, Home Business, Internet