Home > Ask the Security Experts > Expert Archive: Security Management Questions & Answers > Protecting consumer data with a fraud and risk assessment policy
Ask The Security Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Protecting consumer data with a fraud and risk assessment policy

Mike Rothman, past SearchSecurity.com expert EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Mike Rothman, past SearchSecurity.com expert

Pose a Question
Other Security Categories
Meet all Security Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 19 August 2007
What should be the fraud and risk assessment policy at consumer banking cards' sales end?

>
Fraud mitigation and risk assessment are different things. I am interpreting this question to ask about policies that retailers and other merchants should be implementing relative to consumer banking cards. Many of the requirements for protecting cardholder information are specified in the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, commonly known as PCI DSS.

PCI DSS specifies 12 different requirements to secure cardholder data and requires a qualified assessor to examine a merchant's environment to ensure compliance. Penalties for non-compliance range from small fines to the inability to use a specific type of credit or debit card.

Specific to risk assessment, the PCI DSS standard requires that "security controls, limitations, network connections and restrictions" are tested at least annually. It also mandates quarterly use of a wireless analyzer to see if your Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable. Additionally, the regulation requires quarterly vulnerability scans to ensure that no known vulnerabilities put cardholder data at risk.

I strongly recommend that organizations also conduct a more formal penetration test, ideally performed by outside resources, at least once a year, and also use automated pen testing tools internally more often. Why? Because the bad guys are testing your network and applications every day. They are performing risk assessments all the time, trying to figure out how to compromise your systems, so you should use their same tools and techniques to find and remediate problems.

For more information:

  • In this tip, contributor Khalid Kark defines the framework that makes organizational risk management work in your enterprise.
  • In this expert response, Joel Dubin discusses whether or not tokenization can meet PCI DSS standards for storing credit card data.


  • BROWSE BY TAG
    Expert Archive: Security Management,   Security Audit, Compliance and Standards,   PCI Data Security Standard,   Enterprise Risk Management: Metrics and Assessments,   Information Security Management,   VIEW ALL TAGS

    Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   



    RELATED CONTENT
    Expert Archive: Security Management
    What is the GISP certification and how does it compare to the CISSP certification?
    Using a QSA to write up a PCI DSS report on compliance (ROC)
    How can gap analysis be applied to the security SDLC?
    Comparing cheap security products and appliances to costly appliances
    What are some tips on protecting my security budget in a poor economy?
    What value do research firms provide to their subscribing enterprises?
    What certificate offers the best ROI for an IT project manager?
    Is insider activity or outsider activity a bigger enterprise threat?
    How does information security prevent fraud in the enterprise?
    Differences between an SAS 70 data center and a Tier III data center

    PCI Data Security Standard
    PCI DSS compliance help: Using frameworks, technology to aid efforts
    Chip and PIN adoption
    Chip and PIN adoption serves lesson for U.S. payment industry
    Heartland CIO is critical of First Data's credit card tokenization plan
    Heartland CIO on end-to-end encryption, credit card tokenization
    Heartland CIO on PCI, E3 project
    Wireless network guidelines for PCI DSS compliance
    Visa probes tokens, encryption for PCI card data protection
    Feds push cybersecurity jobs, PCI DSS changes ahead.
    Voltage, RSA spar over tokenization, data protection

    Enterprise Risk Management: Metrics and Assessments
    How to justify information security spending on cloud computing
    Layoffs prompt insider threat fears, cybersecurity survey finds
    How to avoid Internet liability lawsuits
    Bruce Jones: Report Security and Risk Metrics in a Business-Friendly Way
    Bernie Rominski: Communicate Effectively with Management about Risk
    Best Policy and Risk Management Products
    Monitoring program data and internal controls for risk management
    Risk management strategy for an information technology solution provider
    Align your data protection efforts with GRC
    The basics of enterprise GRC project management
    Enterprise Risk Management: Metrics and Assessments Research

    RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
    Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
    PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard )  (SearchSecurity.com)

    RELATED RESOURCES
    2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
    Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
    Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



    Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
    Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
    Browse our Expert Advice



    Find Security Solutions for Your Business
    TechTarget Security Media
    Information Security View this month\\'s issue and subscribe today.
    Information Security Decisions Apply online for free conference admission.
    SearchSecurity.com
    HomeNewsMagazineMultimediaWhite PapersLearningAdviceTopicsEventsAbout Us

    About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
    TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

    TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




    All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2003 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
      TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts