| These days, compliance with the industry's | | | | and take the burden off of the sellers and |
| security practices is one of the most | | | | allow them to focus more on making sales. |
| significant concerns regarding ecommerce | | | | |
| hosting. In the year 2004, an association of | | | | Ecommerce hosting ratings can be found at |
| credit card providers developed the Payment | | | | opinion sites throughout the Web. However, an |
| Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards. | | | | opinion from an unknown is no guarantee of |
| While they were at first only recommendations | | | | satisfaction; you need solid references as |
| for keeping consumers' personal information | | | | well. You will be doing business with them |
| secure, they now have the force of contract | | | | for a long time. Is your hosting provider |
| in most merchant agreements. And since | | | | PCI-compliant? Are they trustworthy? Do they |
| customers are more willing to deal with a | | | | have a good reputation? Demand and check |
| company which protects their credit | | | | references. |
| information, these guidelines are helpful to | | | | |
| everyone involved. | | | | While security is certainly a major factor to |
| | | | consider when looking at ecommerce hosting, |
| Today's standards are comprised of twelve | | | | you should also check out the other benefits |
| main regulations, each divided into numerous | | | | ecommerce solutions have to offer. Hosting |
| sub-regulations. These range from technology | | | | firms often pair up with their clients to |
| guidelines to carefully defined | | | | offer online shopping cart software too. It |
| administrative practices. One of the | | | | is extremely helpful if your hosting provider |
| technology regulations involves the | | | | has software expertise, since this can often |
| encryption of information during its storage | | | | result in better technical support for you. |
| and transmittal. A firm must also maintain | | | | In the end, that means your site will be down |
| control over both physical and digital access | | | | less often and your customers will find their |
| to the information. | | | | shopping experience a more comfortable one. |
| | | | |
| PCI standards should be followed by any | | | | Starting an ecommerce business that makes |
| company that processes, transmits or stores | | | | money is not simple. It is easy to obsess |
| credit card information. For smaller | | | | over the interesting side of things, choosing |
| companies, this is not the easiest thing in | | | | what you will sell and how you will |
| the world to accomplish. To assist them, | | | | advertise. However, far more important to |
| there are many PCI-compliant ecommerce | | | | most people is the understanding their |
| solutions available to them and range from | | | | information is secure from prying eyes. |
| online shopping cart software to ecommerce | | | | Similarly, you have obligations enabling |
| hosting. These options insure PCI compliance | | | | continued use of credit cards. |