This key certification, which was awarded by Visa following extensive guidance and auditing by One-SEC, enables Alaric customers to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), mandated by the major card schemes to protect sensitive data.

Visa has developed the Payment Application Best Practices (PABP) program to support software vendors in delivering secure payment applications that help ensure merchant compliance with PCI DSS. To be considered secure, these applications cannot retain full magnetic stripe data or CVV2 data and must support a merchant's ability to comply with PCI DSS requirements.

"Alaric fully supports measures that will enhance security within the payment industry. The VISA PABP program plays a vital role in maintaining consumer trust and the integrity of payment transactions. This recognition for our Authentic and Fractals solutions will assure our customers of our commitment to meet and maintain the highest possible data security standards," said Alaric Director, Peter Parke.

"We would like to commend Alaric on their excellent commitment in achieving their validation with the PABP for the Authentic and Fractals solutions. In addition, using the PABP-validated Authentic and Fractals solutions will further facilitate Alaric customers in achieving their own PCI DSS compliance, as required by the payment card industry," said One-SEC Director of Sales, Benj Hosack.

As card payment technology continues to evolve, card fraud has become ever more sophisticated, and any business that stores or transmits cardholder account data is a potential target. By following the procedures of PCI DSS, organisations can boost customer confidence and maintain consumer trust through a higher level of data security. The standard outlines the measures that merchants must take to ensure any cardholder data handled is secure, including installing and maintaining a secure network, protecting cardholder data, maintaining a vulnerability management programme, implementing strong access control measures, regularly monitoring and testing networks and maintaining an information security policy.