Data security is a hot topic. And for good reason. In the 12 months to March 2023, 47% of Australians reported that they’d been advised of a breach involving their data. Data protection is always paramount, especially when it comes to your payment security.
It’s something we take very seriously at Smartpay, with strict measures in place to ensure payment security with our Smartpay Zero Cost™ EFTPOS. In this article, we explore the issue of payment security and why you can have confidence in the robustness of our payment solutions.
If the media coverage is anything to go by, the bad guys – the hackers and cybercriminals – look like they’re winning! That’s certainly not the case. Not even close.
The reality is that payment infrastructure varies from country to country. In Australia, we’re in a good position. Compared to other countries, we have fewer payment processors and other third-party service providers handling our payment data. That means fewer people in the chain so we have greater control over security practices.
Card payments have grown rapidly over the last few years. That’s not going to change any time soon. We all have a part to play in payment security to stay a step ahead of the hackers.
Our top priority is keeping your business secure. We constantly evaluate our software applications and terminal hardware against local and global security standards. The result is peace of mind that your payments and customer data are safe.
Our EFTPOS terminals do most of the heavy lifting for you. Both the hardware and the software are developed to strict standards with security features built in to prevent both hardware and software tampering. Our terminals are compliant with the latest software and are certified by the Australian Payments Clearing Association, the organisation that manages and governs Australia’s payment systems.
When you use your EFTPOS terminal to take a card payment, the transaction data is scrambled before it even leaves the terminal. As that data moves through the authorisation process, we have further measures in place to protect the data and the payment. Ours is an integrated solution that doesn’t require unencrypted data at any stage of the process. And that’s a really good thing for payment security.
For you and your customers, it’s a straightforward and speedy process. But your terminal is working at lightning speed to make it happen that way.
If you’re processing or storing credit card information in your business, you’re responsible for card data security. Here are a few tips to keep your business and customers secure.
If you lease a Smartpay terminal, we provide free remote software updates and hardware upgrades. We’re all about keeping payments secure. If you use a different EFTPOS provider, make sure to ask how they release the latest software and security updates to your payment terminal, and if there’s a cost to you to complete this upgrade.
Make sure your hardware is used only by authorised and trained operators. Verify service technicians and supervise their visits. Physically inspect your terminal regularly to check for tampering or unidentified additions.
Develop a policy for how to handle credit card information. If you must collect or store credit card data, make sure it’s held securely in a locked container or secured computer file. Don’t store full card data in one place and only provide access to the people who really need it. Don’t keep data for longer than you need and always dispose of card data carefully and thoroughly.
Use up-to-date anti-virus software. Always change passwords from their factory defaults, use strong passwords that include a variety of characters and update them regularly. Avoid unsecured networks or public Wi-Fi for your payment processing devices.
If you have surveillance cameras installed, ensure they can’t inadvertently capture your customers’ PIN entry process or even use a privacy screen on the terminal.
Make sure you and your staff are alert to possible card fraud and suspicious behaviour.
If you’re unsure about your responsibilities or have questions about Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) compliance, contact your acquiring bank for information and advice.
Want to stay ahead of payment security?
Choosing the right payment provider can make all the difference to your payment security. Smartpay Zero Cost™ EFTPOS is our safe and secure payment solution. Built with leading security features, it’s the peace of mind you need in your business.
or Contact Sales on 1800 953 424
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