Hello Payment Card Industry (PCI) Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)

I’m honored to be joining the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) ranks. Credit card fraud and identity theft will always be a problem and it seems we continue to be painfully more and more aware of just how often it is breached by cyber-criminals. If you would like to know more about what… Read More

Dumb Luck: Why Security Breaches Are Like Playing Russian Roulette

“The future masters of technology must be light-hearted and intelligent. The machine easily masters the grim and the dumb.” Marshall McLuhan This quote has been a long standing personal favorite because it really illustrates on many levels the need to embrace the “Life Learner” concept; always pushing to enhance your own skill-set and capabilities. It… Read More

The New Social Security: When Social Media Meets Social Engineering

The convergence is upon us all; this influx of technology intermingled with information infused now in every possible facet of our business and personal lives. We live in the presence of infinite possibilities through technology. Business is being propelled into new trajectories never before possible. Out social spheres and human interpersonal interactions have all been… Read More

Hello PCA SHOP CERTIFIED® Auditor

I’m honored to be joining the Privacy Compliance Association’s SHOP CERTIFIED® Auditor ranks. Consumer privacy, identity theft and fraud will always be a problem and it seems we continue to be painfully more aware of just how often it is breached by cyber-criminals, employees, corporate executives, rogue nations and even our own government. If you would… Read More

The Inmates are Running the Asylum: Why Cyber-criminals are Winning.

I could tell you about the most recent incidents of cyber threats in the news, but with the explosion of cyber threats there would be little value in citing just a couple of cases. The shocking reality is that there have been literally thousands of actual breaches that have NOT been reported to law enforcement in just… Read More

PCI – The Supermassive Small Merchant Black Hole

Existing in the commerce galaxy, the vast majority of merchants are doing “traveling” or business without proper safety controls or rather, information security controls in place. While I know of no single solution or silver bullet that can be purchased or leveraged to ensure absolute information security, there are many ways your store and customer… Read More

Uninsured – Underinsured Information Highway Motorists

On the information freeway, the vast majority of the population is driving ninety miles per hour (144 KPH) without insurance; this includes business entities as well. In the United States, as in many other countries as well, the law dictates that a person possess a minimum level of automobile insurance to protect the financial stability… Read More

The PCI Challenge

It is frequently in the news.  Reports have been written.  Punitive and compensatory damages have been awarded.  Companies around the globe have been challenged to find the resources required to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The prime PCI DSS objective is to protect cardholder data. The prime objective of… Read More

Gearing Up for the Holidays? So Are Cyber-Criminals

Article Reprint: http://risnews.edgl.com/retail-best-practices/Gearing-Up-for-the-Holidays–So-Are-Cyber-Criminals40304 The holidays typically are the peak season for merchants. Yet at such a critical time of year many retailers still leave themselves vulnerable to significant e-commerce fraud – and the corresponding lost revenue and damaged brand reputation — because they don’t enforce or implement information security best practices throughout the year. While… Read More