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Jason Maloni
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Accredited Standards Committee X9 Developing New Merchant Data
Security Standard
Heartland Payment Systems to host planning meeting for brainstorming
technical approaches to protecting sensitive payment cardholder data
Princeton, NJ — April 29, 2009 — The Accredited Standards Committee X9 (ASC X9), accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is embarking on the development of a new standard to protect cardholder data in the electronic payments industry. ASC X9 develops, maintains and promotes standards for all financial services in the United States and pioneered standards for items including the credit card magnetic stripe and ATM systems.
In advance of formally launching this "Sensitive Card Data Protection Between Device and Acquiring System" initiative, Heartland Payment Systems is hosting a preliminary planning workshop on Thursday, May 7, in Plano, TX. There, data security experts and industry leaders will brainstorm technical approaches to protecting this data. Ideas generated at this meeting will be presented at ASC X9's initial standards development meeting on June 1-5 in Foster City, CA.
"This preliminary meeting marks an important step in expediting the development of next-generation data security solutions. Exchanging ideas is critical to the creation of a robust and public standard that protects the security of cardholder data and safeguards consumers and businesses nationwide," said Bob Carr, chairman and chief executive officer of Heartland Payment Systems. Heartland, one of the nation's largest payments processors, is a member of the ASC X9 working group. Carr is a strong proponent of information sharing and end-to-end encryption as a means to enhance consumer data security at all points of a payments transaction.
"All players in the payments industry have a mutual stake in protecting consumer information," said Dodd Roberts, president and chief executive officer of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). "It is essential that industry leaders work together to eliminate all risk to personal information. A meeting like this is critical to creating the solutions needed." The MAG, also a member of ASC X9, is a nonprofit industry association that brings together all parties in the payments industry to collaborate on issues and ensure the voice of merchants is represented.
About Heartland Payment Systems
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., a NYSE company trading under the symbol HPY, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll, check management and payments solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. For more information, please visit www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com and www.MerchantBillOfRights.com.
About ASC X9
The Accredited Standards Committee X9, Inc, is the only industry-wide forum that brings together bankers, securities professionals, manufacturers, regulators, associations, consultants and others in the financial services arena to address technical issues, find the best solutions and codify them as nationally and internationally accepted standards. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) officially accredited ASC X9 in 1984. In addition, ASC X9 is recognized as the official secretariat to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) committee TC 68 on Banking and Financial Services.
About the Merchant Advisory Group
The Merchant Advisory Group is a 501(c)6 nonprofit industry association that brings together all parties in the payment industry to collaborate on issues that concern everyone, and ensure the merchant voice is heard on such issues. The MAG is a vital source for educational and networking opportunities, best-practice sharing and information on new technologies. The group is supported primarily by merchant members and industry stakeholders such as acquirers, issuers and vendors. For more information, please visit www.MerchantAdvisoryGroup.org.