South Florida PCI QSA Company introduces SAQ PCI Compliance Program

Sept. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Coral Springs, FL – September 21, 2010 – 1st Secure IT now offers an affordable solution to meet PCI compliance requirements.  The new program targets level 2, 3 & 4 merchants that must complete the Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and vulnerability scans by an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV).   The PCI SSC requires that all level 2, 3 & 4 merchants verify their PCI compliance by completing the SAQ and, depending on the merchant credit card processing environment, complete a vulnerability scan of any web-facing systems.  1st Secure IT is authorized to provide PCI compliance audit services to businesses that accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB Bank cards including Level 1 - Level 4 merchants, Service Providers, and Payment Gateways.
Mark Akins of 1st Secure IT (www.1stsecureIT.com) says that the new SAQ Compliance program is designed to help the smaller merchant complete the PCI certification requirements.    Akins adds, “We receive numerous calls from the Pizza Shop or Beauty Salon owner with concerns on how to complete the PCI requirements and more importantly, how much will it cost.  Our program is designed to meet the requirement within the merchants’ budget, but the real value is the personalized service that we provide to each merchant.”  Akins continues, “In many cases, the merchant does not see how the PCI requirement adds value to their business, we see this differently.  Consumers are very cautious with who they do business with, to give the consumer reassurance, we provide a PCI Validation seal to be displayed on the merchants web-site upon successful completion of the PCI Certification requirement.  This adds significant value by increasing consumer confidence.”
Adding to Akins comments, Steve Dewsnap of 1st Secure IT says the new SAQ Program fills a gap in compliance consulting for small merchants. “The smaller merchants’ must focus on maintaining and growing their business and typically do not have the resources to maintain a compliance program like the larger merchants.  We help the merchant gain an understanding of the PCI Data Security Standards and point out potential vulnerabilities they may be overlooked.”  
Visit www.1stsecurteIT.com for more information about 1st Secure IT, PCI compliance, or the various other security audit services they offer.

About 1st Secure IT, LLC
1st Secure IT, LLC is a global information systems security firm that provides high end and specialized consulting services and products.

Through numerous engagements, 1st Secure IT has developed a profound understanding of the various Data Security Standards (PCI DSS, EI3PA, SOX, HIPAA, FFIEC). Additionally, they have a proven ability to assess, audit, and review an organization's compliance to those standards while providing a repository of proven methods, knowledge, ideas, tools and best practices.

In today's world computer security is not a luxury; it is a necessity. To this end, organizations that understand and implement the security measures that are required by these standards not only avoid costly fines, but also can reduce the risk of an actual data loss and more importantly gain peace of mind.

Visit 1st Secure IT online at www.1stsecurteIT.com.

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1st Secure IT is a QSA company for the PCI and provides assessments for PCI Compliance. Additionally, 1st Secure IT offers consulting and auditing services for HIPAA, SOX, FFIEC and EI3PA.