Cigital to Partner with PCI Security Standards Council to Improve Payment Data Security Worldwide

DULLES, Va. - Sept. 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Dulles, VA, September 8, 2014 — Cigital, Inc., the industry leader in software security solutions, announced today that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council as a new Participating Organization. Cigital will work with the Council to achieve and improve payment data security worldwide through the ongoing development of the PCI Security Standards, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), PIN Transaction Security (PTS) requirements and the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS).

Endorsed by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., the PCI Security Standards require merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data protection. To enhance payment data security globally while embracing new technologies as they are developed, the Council relies on involvement of those across the payments processing chain, from merchants and service providers to payment device manufacturers and software developers, financial institutions and processors.

As a Participating Organization, Cigital adds its voice to the standards setting process and will receive previews of drafts of standards and supporting materials in order to provide feedback to shape their final versions, as well as engage a growing community of more than 600 organizations united to improve payment security.

Cigital will also have the opportunity to recommend new initiatives for consideration to the PCI Security Standards Council, participate in exclusive webinars and question and answer sessions with Council representatives, and review and discuss new versions of the PCI Security Standards while sharing cross-sector experiences and best practices at the annual Community Meetings.

“In an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks on systems, adhering to the PCI DSS represents an entity’s best protection against network security threats and data breaches,” said Bob Russo, General Manager of the PCI Security Standards Council.  “By joining as a Participating Organization, Cigital demonstrates they are playing an active part in mitigating the threats and improving the security of the payment chain globally by driving the security standards to higher levels of adoption and strength.”

“Joining the PCI Security Standards Council represents our commitment to helping our customers achieve and maintain the highest level of compliance,” said John Wyatt, CEO of Cigital. “We look forward to being an active participant in the Council’s mission to increase awareness of best security practices amongst market leaders in payment solutions and finance.  We are also pleased to build on our long-standing record of helping organizations meet PCI DSS.”

About the PCI Security Standards Council

The PCI Security Standards Council is an open, global forum that is responsible for the development, management, education and awareness of the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and other standards that increase payment data security. Founded in 2006 by the major payment card brands American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., the Council has more than 600 Participating Organizations representing merchants, banks, processors and vendors worldwide. To learn more about playing a part in securing payment card data globally, please visit: pcisecuritystandards.org.

Connect with the PCI Council on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/pci-security-standards-council

Join the conversation on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PCISSC

About Cigital

Cigital, Inc. is the world’s leading software security services and products company.  Cigital helps organizations launch and mature software security initiatives, as well as design, build, and test secure software through a combination of expert consultants, Security Testing as a Service offerings, and effective training built on over twenty years of cutting-edge research and successful client engagements.  Cigital is headquartered outside Washington, D.C. with regional offices throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.  For more information visit: http://www.cigital.com