Virtualization and automation software company Parallels has announced it is partnering with Trustwave, a provider of on-demand data security and payment card industry compliance management solutions, to provide cloud services providers with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance validation solutions.
PCI DSS is the payment card industry security requirement for entities that store, process or transmit cardholder data, and it has been endorsed by most major card brands, including Visa, MasterCard Worldwide, Discover Network, American Express and JCB.
Trustwave will provide PCI DSS services and solutions to Parallels’ customers, including the TrustKeeper on-demand compliance management program, which provides customers with the automated tools necessary to validate PCI DSS compliance such as the required quarterly network vulnerability scans. Businesses that have a Web presence will be able to display Trustwave’s Trusted Commerce site security seal. The Trusted Commerce seal simultaneously displays both an organization’s compliance with the PCI DSS and their use of an SSL certificate with one seal.
“With the PCI DSS and beyond, it was critical that security be a primary focus to ensure the integrity and privacy of our cloud services providers,” said Soeren von Varchmin, Parallels’ vice president of software as a service. “Working with a trusted and strategic partner like Trustwave was extremely beneficial to address PCI DSS compliance.”
Additionally, Parallels will refer partners to additional Trustwave technology and services to support real-time compliance. Such services include TrustKeeper Agent, an on-site monitoring software that performs policy checks and inspects for prohibited data storage on any system in which it is installed.
“Typically, the cloud services provider is handling the physical requirements associated with PCI DSS validation, which in turn, facilitates their customer compliance efforts,” said Trustwave Chairman and CEO Robert J. McCullen. “Trustwave’s technology will secure Parallels’ partners and their network environment while strengthening their own security posture.”
Earlier this month, Parallels launched the public beta of Parallels Panel 10 SMB Edition-a hosted control panel software aimed at helping hosting and cloud services providers broaden their offerings and better meet small to medium-size business needs. The solution introduces Parallels Partner Marketplace, which Parallels said enables hosters to enter the software-as-a-service (SAAS) market and provides SMBs access to a number of IT and business applications, including e-commerce, customer relationship management, human resources, accounting, video conferencing, Web content management and e-mail.
Parallels also said Panel 10 SMB edition helps hosters develop new revenue streams by offering their midmarket customers add-on applications like SpamAssassin, Helpdesk, Tomcat, ColdFusion and MSSQL for increased average revenue per user (ARPU). The company offers hundreds of commercial business applications through its APS Catalog and also offers a “power plan” that grants end users (SMBs) access to the entire application library. Other features include a site builder tool to help create professional-looking Websites; roles-based user setup, which allows users to see only the tools designated for them; and collaboration and productivity tools such as time tracking, CRM, file sharing and blogs.
