Africa Data Centres Nairobi has announced that is now Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant. It is the is the first neutral data centre to be certified PCI DSS in Nairobi, and this, together with Uptime Institute Tier III and ISO 27001 certification, is an industry-first edge in East Africa.
PCI DSS standards were created in 2004 by the founding members of the PCI Security Standards Council to keep the growing number of high-profile security breaches in check. These companies include American Express, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa among several others.
PCI DSS’s main aim is to lower the risk of debit and credit card data loss in the event of a security incident. It basically provides standards for how breaches can be prevented and detected and how to react in the event of a security incident. It also provides protection for merchants and cardholders alike, and reassures customers that a Web site is safe and secure.
Dan Kwach, General Manager East Africa for Africa Data Centres, had this to say, “At Africa Data Centres, we believe that facilitating an environment where security and compliance are integral to everything we do, and not simply another hassle, is key to our success. When it comes to security, every standard and measure helps, and while there is no silver bullet, ongoing compliance checks when done appropriately help to harden the environment, and improve the security posture of the facility as a whole.”