Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Networking

    PCI: The Panacea for Everything Other than Security

    By
    Evan Schuman
    -
    January 24, 2008
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      A Chicago man has an older car that he’s not wildly in love with, but it’s good transportation.

      He’s not into the car’s appearance, figuring that the paint job is for the entertainment of everyone else. He cares about what’s on the inside.

      One day he’s in a parking lot and discovers that someone placed a huge scratch along the right side of the car. His insurance company inspects and awards him a large check to have the car completely repainted. Instead, the man uses the check to buy a new state-of-the-art audio system.

      The way that Chicagoan views his insurance check is how many IT leaders see PCI requirements. At last week’s National Retail Federation show, the aisles were crowded and the enthusiasm was unmistakable. With the dire financial warnings of imminent economic collapse, the show should have been deserted. The difference was PCI.

      The PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), or just PCI, is officially about security, although most security folk have already grown tired of saying that “PCI-compliant” is to “secure” as “filed a tax return by April 15” is to “honest.” PCI is a list of security ideals, but strict adherence to that list certainly doesn’t mean that a retailer is secure. It’s a fine starting point, but it’s little beyond that.

      To the extent that some retailers view a letter declaring that they’re now considered PCI-compliant as a license for them to not worry about security until next year’s PCI assessment, there’s a case to be made that PCI might even undermine good data security as it offers a false sense of security. It’s akin to believing that strict adherence to the USDA Food Pyramid will necessarily deliver a healthy and balanced diet.

      New statistics from Visa showed PCI compliance sharply increasing among the largest retailers (Levels 1 and 2), but Visa excluded some 340 noncompliant large retailers from consideration by simply extending its deadline.

      So PCI is nice, but it’s hardly the cure-all for data security. But some IT managers are finding it to be a nice budget cure-all. The threat of fines and exclusion from preferred credit card fees is scaring many retail chief financial officers to approve lots of money designed to fix PCI-identified shortcomings.

      CIOs and IT directors-being the wise and crafty devils that they are-have chosen to use the PCI-freed-up funds to make major improvements in everything from POS to the supply chain to CRM.

      For many of the purchases, it’s quite legitimate. If a chain’s POS systems are antiquated, a thorough PCI program could certainly justify upgrading them. As long as you have to upgrade them, why not add some contactless payment support and some mobile integrations and perhaps an under-cart scan while you’re at it?

      The truth is that the next wave of retail applications-with their heavy emphasis on wireless capabilities of all sorts-will bring with them an ocean of new security problems. Ostensibly, they’ll be addressed by the next wave of PCI requirements, which will free up more dollars for investment.

      Yessiree, FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, in the time-honored IBM tradition) has never been a stranger to technology purchases. But it’s nice this time to have the FUD being used by IT.

      Retail Center Editor Evan Schuman has tracked high-tech issues since 1987, has been opinionated long before that and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon. He can be reached at [email protected].

      To read earlier retail technology opinion columns from Evan Schuman, please click here.

      Evan Schuman
      Evan Schuman is the editor of CIOInsight.com's Retail industry center. He has covered retail technology issues since 1988 for Ziff-Davis, CMP Media, IDG, Penton, Lebhar-Friedman, VNU, BusinessWeek, Business 2.0 and United Press International, among others. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]rise.com.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×