In the Era of Remote Work, How Do You Secure Your Payments Data?
In the Era of Remote Work, How Do You Secure Your Payments Data?
Businesses around the world are still adapting to the new virtual reality as a result of the pandemic, which includes managing a remote workforce. For those responsible for securing payment systems, this can present new, unknown territory.
Consumers have flocked to online channels in droves for everything from groceries to medical appointments to educational needs. This shift has caused a massive demand for an increased number of IT and support teams who understand the complexities of managing online channels. As many of these employees continue to work from home, it also begs the question “how do you secure your payments data?” We’ll walk through a few ways organizations can do this.
Make Sure Employees Have Security Awareness Training
New, at-home working environments pose new security risks. It’s paramount that your employees are educated on these risks as well as the ways to minimize them and avoid vulnerabilities and breaches to the extent that they may be responsible. They should understand how to properly handle sensitive information from their home office. Security awareness training should include some of the following:
How to update anti-malware, firewall, and other security software and ensure patches are up to date
Password best practices
How to utilize encrypted communications channels for network access
Eliminate Unnecessary Exposure to Sensitive Payment Data
This applies to both in-office and at-home workspaces. The best way to adhere to PCI compliance guidelines and protect payment card data is to ensure that it doesn’t pass through unnecessary hands, computers, or networks. This includes salespeople, customer support personnel, or anyone else who doesn’t need access to cardholder data. The easiest way to accomplish this is to allow customers to make their own payments online as much as possible. Ensuring that payments are not touched by employees maintains compliance and reduces the risk of a breach.
Leverage Data Encryption
Device security should be a top priority for organizations across the board. Any company devices -- whether laptops, smartphones, or other internet-ready devices -- should be secured and protected against vulnerabilities related to employees’ personal networks and devices. If staff must process payments received via phone or mail, then PCI Validated P2PE (Point-to-Point Encryption) is the easiest way for employees to process payments without routing sensitive credit card data through the business’ (or employees’) computers or network infrastructure from a PCI compliance perspective. Utilizing additional security measures like WPA2 and corporate VPNs can add an extra layer of security that keeps sensitive information safe.
Use Real-Time Analytics
Real-time analytics provide a window into key insights that can help identify issues early. This is especially imperative in the era of remote workforces where payments and customer support teams are spread out around the state, country, and globe. Real-time analytics across all touchpoints can help the right people identify risks, vulnerabilities, issues, and any other eye-raising activity quickly and make the necessary adjustments.
Get Expert Help
There is a lot to consider with the shift toward digital payments and remote workforces. Whether you have a robust, dispersed payments organization or a one-man department, Arrow Payments can help you streamline your payments operations, transition more payments to online channels, implement P2PE, and maintain security across the board. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more about how we can help augment your team.