PCATS to Offer CIO Data Security Boot Camp at Annual Conference

ALEXANDRIA, Va., and Louisville, Colo. -- The Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards (PCATS) and NACS -- the Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing will partner with Coalfire Systems Inc., an information technology (IT) audit and compliance firm, to deliver an intensive one and one-half day boot camp to streamline payment card industry (PCI) compliance for retailers managing multiple stores.

The chief information officer (CIO) data security boot camp is part of the data security track, to be held Jan. 19-20, during the PCATS 2010 Annual Conference in New Orleans, the companies reported.

"Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance is a complex and ever-evolving subject affecting millions of businesses," said Scott Wood, executive director of PCATS in a company release. "There is a vast need for better information about what level of evidence must be provided to demonstrate PCI compliance in our marketplace. It is a relatively new standard and there is a lack of vendor-neutral information available."

At the boot camp, attendees will learn about PCI compliance requirements, including deadlines, merchant levels and reporting; including completing a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ). The training will also cover details about cardholder data and where it resides. The PCI compliance report and audit scope will be reviewed, as well as a complete overview of the 12-step process to validate compliance, according to PCATS.

"Merchants are demanding a more efficient process to validate their PCI compliance," said Rick Dakin, president at Coalfire. "NACS and PCATS are meeting that demand by sponsoring this PCI boot camp and providing a vendor-neutral program that should accelerate compliance and reduce costs. A streamlined PCI compliance program is possible, and demonstrating this is what we hope to accomplish with the hands-on boot camp."

The real cost of a data breach is more than most retailers think, and they're more at risk than they know, PCATS reported. Merchants that do not comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) may be subject to fines, card replacement costs, costly forensic audits and brand damage should a breach event occur.

Obtain additional details, view the agenda or register for the CIO data security boot camp on PCATS' Web site.

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