It is great that your organization takes securing payment data seriously. Now is the time to take the next step forward and make a difference by becoming a PCI SSC Participating Organization, (PO). POs play a key role in both influencing the ongoing development of PCI Security Standards and programs, and in helping ensure that PCI Security Standards are implemented globally to secure payment data. POs represent companies from across industries and around the world, including retailers, airlines, hotels, banks, technology companies, payment processors and industry associations.
But are you aware of all the benefits available as a PO? Below I’ve outlined some benefits of the PO membership.
Connection
One of the key benefits as a PO is complimentary attendance to our Community Meetings. Featuring Council updates, regional insights, payment security industry reports, these meetings are an opportunity to network with colleagues, ask questions, share information and collaborate. These are fantastic events held in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific regions. POs also receive complimentary attendance to the Latin America Forum and India Town Hall.
This year as an impact of COVID-19, it has been necessary to move our events online. These online events will still feature an engaging agenda with updates from the Council and leaders in the payment security industry. While POs traditionally receive two complimentary passes to in-person events, this year each PO will receive five free tickets for the online events. Additional tickets can be purchased at a significantly reduced price. Registration is open now.
Insights
Another benefit for POs is the weekly PCI Monitor. This weekly digital newsletter provides the latest updates from the PCI SSC, including upcoming events, insights from the Council and training and participation opportunities.
Security training is a critical aspect of your organizations defence against cybercriminals and the PCI SSC offers a wide range of training courses for our POs often at significantly reduced prices or even free! Every PO receives two free computer-based PCI Awareness Training seats each year and discounts on PCI Professional (PCIP) training and Internal Security Assessor (ISA) training. Simply visit the Training and Qualification page on the PCI SSC website For more information.
Impact
As a standards body PCI SSC develops and maintains standards aimed at protecting card-based payment data throughout the payment lifecycle. Our standards are global, and it is imperative that they are applicable, relevant, and up to date wherever they are used. That is where our PO community play a most vital, even pivotal role. All PCI SSC standards are subjected to at least one RFC review, generally two, prior to release. Our PO community has the opportunity to review the standard and submit comments to help improve the document before it is released.
Our first RFC for the upcoming PCI DSS v4.0 release attracted over 3,200 comments. If you are thinking about becoming a PO now is the perfect time as the second RFC for PCI DSS v4.0 is due to start in September. Joining now gives you a great opportunity to make a difference and help shape the future of payment security.
It is not just through the RFC process that you can help improve payment security. Each year the PCI SSC requests nominations for ideas on guidance documents through our Special Interest Group process. These documents are suggested by our community, voted on by our community and written by our community and are there to help everyone. The nominations for our 2021 SIG are now open, so now is a great time to join as a PO and submit your idea.
As a Participating Organization you can nominate yourself for our Board of Advisors. This group is elected for a 2-year term and is instrumental in providing advice on payment security issues and offers guidance to the Council when developing standards, tools and support for the industry. The 2021–2022 nomination period runs from 14 September until 26 October 2020, followed by the election period from 9–20 November 2020. You can read more about the BOA in this blog post by Executive Director, Lance Johnson: Make a Difference: Serve on the 2021-2022 PCI SSC Board of Advisors
You have a great opportunity to make a difference, utilising all the benefits of your membership will help maximise that difference. Finally, you can be proud of being a PO by using the unique PO Member logo to tell the world that your organization helps protect card payment data.
There has never been a better time to join the PCI SSC as a Participating Organization. Join today and help secure payment data.
