Merchants that rely on a PCI compliance program to stay compliant and protect their business often find themselves dissatisfied or frustrated by all kinds of problems including lack of support, expensive contracts, and many more.
Getting the best help from the right partner is vital for your business. Especially when dealing with complexities like PCI compliance and securing sensitive information. And while it may be complex, PCI compliance is essential. Which is why it’s so important to have the right resources and support in your corner.
Merchants that rely on a PCI program to stay compliant and protect their business often find themselves dissatisfied or frustrated by all kinds of problems including lack of support, expensive contracts, and many more.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the more common issues merchants face when working with PCI programs, and we’ll also provide solutions so you can resolve, improve, and switch to a PCI program that meets your needs in the ways you want.
A PCI program’s role is to take the guesswork out of becoming PCI compliant. And with 12 requirements, there are a lot of details a business needs to cover to become compliant. From firewalls and multi-factor authentication, to anti-malware solutions and company security policies, any business owner can easily get confused and overwhelmed if they are previously steeped in the world of cybersecurity.
So when a PCI program lacks the support an organization needs, their presence can feel pointless. While they may help you get started or answer basic questions, your business undoubtedly has specific needs and industry-unique requirements that they might not have the support you want. Small customer support teams, limited support staff hours, and representatives with limited knowledge are all common frustrations merchants deal with in regard to PCI programs.
When finding the right PCI program, make sure they have customer support resources you want and that you review their hours, their expertise, and their ability to get things done in a timely manner.
PCI compliance involves a lot of external factors, software, and third-party resources. And when your PCI program is limited on what it can provide in terms of security resources, it can be incredibly frustrating to have to track them down yourself and link various PCI-related software and systems together. Working with a PCI program with obvious constraints and limitations will mean that your business and your security has similar constraints and limitations.
Check to see if your PCI program has options for anti-malware, penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, security policy templates, and firewall guidance in addition to the other PCI requirements. If not, you’ll spend a lot of time tracking those elements down and dealing with dozens of contacts to coordinate with.
Pick a security team with broad resources that meets your needs and then some, so that no matter how you grow, your PCI program can grow with you.
Another unpredictable element of working with certain PCI program providers is how volatile pricing can get.
Just like any industry with subscription based pricing, your contract or the current plan you’re signed up for can transform and get jacked up in an instant. This includes what services or resources you have access to and what kind of support you’re given based on what you’re paying.
Unfortunately, this becomes a huge problem if you’ve signed a contract and are locked into their service, making switching or shifting your plan a nightmare. And most of all, once you’ve set up your whole business with a PCI program, you can feel tied to their services and don’t want to disrupt your business’s reliance. Switching can feel nearly impossible.
It’s important to check out your PCI program’s policy on canceling or switching before you sign up. Ensure that you have flexibility to upgrade, downgrade, or abandon your plan when it no longer serves your needs. If a PCI program feels like it locks you in too much, consider finding an option that is more in line with your business plans.
It’s also smart to review if the PCI program has had prior price hikes or rapid price updates in the recent past, this can be indicative of an unpredictable pricing model.
Many merchants have run into issues with their PCI program’s validation process. Annual validation is a necessity for all businesses that want to remain PCI compliant, which is why it can be very frustrating when the process around regularly validating your PCI compliance is complicated and has gaps. A PCI program is meant to eliminate many of the difficulties surrounding validation, and take over several of the responsibilities. If too many complexities or hurdles arise during validation, it can make you wonder why you're with your current program.
As you review your business needs, consider what yearly validation may look like for you. And weigh what you’re willing to handle yourself and what you want assistance with.
Validation should be smooth and somewhat seamless, and you should be able to shift a lot of what overwhelms or confuses you to your program.
Among the more difficult elements of PCI is working with third-party providers necessary to your business and ensuring they are compliant. Even if everything about your business is protected, secure, and up to date, there are always the elements you can’t control. As a business owner, there are a number of third-party collaborators you have to work with to function properly. It can often fall upon you to verify which of your providers is compliant, which can take a lot of tracking down, messaging, waiting, and effort. If your PCI program either doesn’t provide the third-party services you need or can’t help in determining compliance, it can quickly become a huge time suck.
See what services your PCI program offers and you could save yourself a lot of hassle.
Try finding a program that covers as many of your needs as possible and rest assured that your organization is compliant without having to track down details and work with difficult customer service representatives.
There’s no getting around it: 12 requirements is a lot. And trying to understand and become compliant with each of them takes time and effort and commitment. Especially when several of them are complex, require third-party help, and take a great deal of time to set up. Without external help and guidance, the requirements might as well be in another language. PCI programs that place the burden on you to untangle the complexities of each requirement aren’t programs that are worth your time and money. Each requirement is equally important and your business won’t get far (and won’t be protected) by skimming them or hoping for the best.
Additionally, one of the most complex and tricky to understand aspects of PCI is taking the first step, which is filling out an SAQ (Self-Assessment Questionnaire). Depending on your business, you’ll need to fill out a specific version of the SAQ that correlates to the way your business accepts payment information, stores it, and many other details. Without proper help, it can be unbelievably confusing. And even if you think you’ve got proper help, it can be nerve-wracking if you don’t feel confident that your PCI program is sure and can back up their claims about which SAQ you should fill out. It being the first step, it’s arguably the most important, because it helps you determine several other aspects of PCI compliance and can save you a great deal of work and time.
Finding a program that is confident in simplifying the SAQ process for you as well as quickly helping you identify which SAQ applies to your business is vital, since it’s the first step. Don’t settle for anything less and avoid any program that puts the burden of determining your SAQ on you. You deserve help and guidance from the very beginning of your PCI journey.
The right PCI program will simplify, translate, and walk you through each requirement step by step.
While it may take time and several calls/meetings, it’ll be worth it in the long run as your customers stay safe and your business stays protected and prepared.
If you find that your PCI program is lacking in any of the ways described above, the good news is that switching to a better program like SecurityMetrics is easy. Even if you’re currently in a contract with another PCI program, we’ve made it simple and painless, no matter your business size or industry.
SecurityMetrics is a more robust, easy-to-understand, and industry-trusted PCI program.
One that prioritizes your business, your time, and your wallet. SecurityMetrics have been experts in PCI and cybersecurity for over 20 years with over 800,000 customers as counting.
From PCI requirement guidance and simplified SAQs to our cybersecurity resources like Shopping Cart Monitor and Vulnerability Scanning, we have what you’re missing. See what you’re missing and explore what a world of difference SecurityMetrics is for your business.
Don’t waste time with a PCI program that doesn’t deliver and leaves you frustrated.
Remember to find a flexible program that is loaded with resources, offers the support you need when you need it, is cost-efficient, and will guide you through your compliance journey every step of the way. Your business is worth it and your future self will thank you.
Check out SecurityMetrics to get started and get better PCI help today.
.svg)
