eCentric Switch, a leading South African Payment Service Provider announced that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council as a new Participating Organization. eCentric Switch will work with the Council to achieve and improve payment data security worldwide through the on-going development of the PCI Security Standards, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), PIN Transaction Security (PTS) requirements and the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS).

Endorsed by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., the PCI Security Standards require merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data protection. To enhance payment data security globally while embracing new technologies as they are developed, the Council relies on involvement of those across the payments processing chain.

As a Participating Organization, eCentric Switch adds its voice to the standards setting process and will receive previews of drafts of standards and supporting materials in order to provide feedback to shape their final versions, as well as engage a growing community of more than 600 organizations united to improve payment security.

eCentric Switch will also have the opportunity to recommend new initiatives for consideration to the PCI Security Standards Council, participate in exclusive webinars and question and answer sessions with Council representatives, and review and discuss new versions of the PCI Security Standards while sharing cross-sector experiences and best practices at the annual Community Meetings.

“Providing secure and trusted solutions to our clients is absolutely crucial for our business” said Mike Scott, CEO of eCentric Switch. “This is why we were one of the first PSPs (Payment Service Provider) to obtain PCI DSS certification in 2010. With security attacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, keeping card holder data secure and protecting our customers’ brand is an on-going challenge. The opportunity to contribute as a Participating Organisation ensures that eCentric Switch will be able to contribute to payment card data protection standards and continue to stay ahead of the payment security threats, to the benefit of our customers.”