Direct Technology Unveils Payment Solutions for Retailers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Feb. 13, 2015 - PRLog -- Roseville, CA, 2/13/15 – Direct Technology (DT) unveiled its Payment Solutions Group, broadening its portfolio of technology consulting and software development services to include point-of-sale (PoS) payment solutions for retailers.  DT’s Payment Solutions Group provides merchants with custom integration of a PoS payment offering which aims to protect consumer card data.

“Retailers want to focus on their customers and building their core businesses,” said Dan Konieczny, president of Direct Technology. “In light of the recent data breaches, retailers are looking for smarter ways to safeguard their customers’ data.  Keeping up with day-to-day operations, while navigating thru the complexities of payment security can be burdensome for retail IT staff.”

“This is where we can help,” said Mark Hilleary, director of IT, Payment Solutions Group. “While the largest retailers may have the IT resources to take care of their payment integration in-house, many retailers do not. They are finding it more cost efficient to outsource the complexities of payment security, and free up their valuable IT resources.”  The Payment Solutions Group recently integrated a payment security solution for a major Sacramento-based retailer with 325-plus stores throughout the western U.S.

In the wake of high profile data breaches and growing concerns by consumers about credit card security, CIOs have made data security a top spending priority in 2015, according to a recent CIO survey conducted by Gartner, Inc.  Security experts suggest that retailers combat data theft by using a combination of security strategies, including encryption, EMV, secure mobile payments (Apple Pay), and the use of tokens to replace card data in retail systems.  In 2014 there were 20 publicly reported data breaches at major retailers, and more than 500 million credit card records were stolen, according to cybersecurity firm TrapX Security.

“Theft of consumer card data from merchants’ point-of-sale (PoS) systems, coupled with emerging payment technologies present new challenges for the payment industry,” added Hilleary.  “Retail IT staff are increasingly relying on payment solution providers to handle issues with data security.”

About DT’s Payment Solutions Group

The Payment Solutions Group provides retailers with payment consulting services, custom integration of PoS payment hardware and software, and payment-as-a-service (PaaS).  PaaS, a subscription-based model, allows the merchant to rely on the payment solutions provider to handle everything related to taking payments and keeping card data secure.    With its predictable cost, subscription-based structure, there are no initial capital expenditures for payment terminal hardware.  Having the PaaS provider manage the payment infrastructure means overall lower IT costs for hardware, software, and the internal IT resources needed to manage payment processing.  The Payment Solutions Group provides a multi-layered approach to payment security, which combines the three core security strategies of EMV, encryption, and tokenization:

EMV – EMV-enabled cards (named for Europay, MasterCard and Visa) have an embedded microprocessor chip which communicates with the payment terminal to help determine whether or not the card is authentic. EMV technology uses dynamic authentication capabilities, which significantly reduces card-present fraud.

Point-to-point encryption of cardholder data.  Debit/credit card data is encrypted from the moment of capture all the way to the processor.

Tokenization replaces sensitive card data with a non-sensitive equivalent, referred to as a token that has no extrinsic or exploitable meaning or value. Even if hackers access retail computer servers, there are no stored credit card numbers to steal.  Tokens such as casino chips and subway tokens have long been used to replace physical currency, and a similar concept can also be used in software to hide credit card numbers and other information.

About Direct Technology

Founded in 1995, Direct Technology (DT) is a leading technology consulting and software development firm with offices in Roseville, CA and Bellevue, WA.  DT provides expertise, solutions and services across three core practice areas:  integrated solutions and consulting, network technologies, and professional staffing and recruitment.  Its Fortune 500 and mid-market clientele span various industries, including retail, energy and utilities, healthcare, state government, and technology. A veteran-owned company, DT is passionate about helping veterans transition into civilian life by partnering with major corporations to accelerate training, recruitment, and employment.

Media Contact:

Dorothy Hilleary
Senior Marketing Manager, Direct Technology
Email:  dhilleary@directtechnology.com

www.directtechnology.com
www.paysecuritynews.com/payment-solutions