Managing PCI DSS compliance for multi-location businesses and Point-of-Sale (POS) locations is particularly challenging and time consuming. Acumera conveniently bundles Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) compliance tools and support to streamline workflow and to ultimately enhance protection against advanced threats. With years of experience assisting organizations since the inception of PCI DSS compliance, we ensure your peace of mind and security.
PCI readiness services from Acumera is designed to assist companies with achieving and maintaining PCI 4.0 compliance. Acumera offers a full suite of tools and expert support to streamline compliance management, and free up your time and resources to concentrate on driving your business forward.
Acumera provides everything you need, from the SAQ assistance portal to the status of your vulnerability scans, in one PCI DSS compliance management portal
The Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) for PCI DSS is an arduous task for retailers. The SAQ Portal Acumera provides, guides you to the correct SAQ version and paperwork process
Reduce your financial risk associated with a data security incident by providing coverage for forensic investigations, card brand fines, and consumer notification expenses
Our internal network vulnerability management initiates a scan of your internal network to address PCI DSS requirements
External scans identify security weaknesses in your network that an adversary could exploit and lead to a breach or network outages
Credit card data breaches have unfortunately become common occurrences for many restaurants, retail, and other businesses that accept credit card or digital payments. So much so, that breaches hardly make the news these days, which might lead some to believe the danger has been reduced.
Regrettably, numerous electronic threats and physical security issues are still present in restaurant and retail establishments. We want to provide knowledge that organizations can utilize in protecting themselves from credit card theft.
As we rapidly migrate toward a cashless society consumers expect and deserve to feel safe and secure when presenting credit cards during transactions. Read below for our Six Simple Rules For Safe Credit Card Handling to ensure you and your business are prepared.
Train employees to understand and deny the use of any unauthorized external device, such as a “skimmer”, used to record credit card information. Criminals have been known to be brazen enough to approach employees requesting to install devices in order to record credit card information.
A majority of the time, it is the employee that is caught and prosecuted, not the criminal. It may seem like easy money; however, it can easily mean jail time for the employee involved.
At times, companies may choose to keep credit card data for means of convenience. This practice, however efficient it may seem, is not safe.
Cardholder information must be kept in a locked drawer, with very limited access to the data. Once you factor this security in, many businesses realize that collecting data during each individual purchase is a more efficient method while also holding less risk for the business.
If you don’t need it, destroy it, and do so properly.
Destroy all physical credit card data when it no longer serves a practical purpose. Acumera’s Credit Card Handling video details several methods to properly dispose of physical credit card data.
Do not send sensitive credit card or banking information via email. Period.
As an aside, ensure that employees are trained to understand that your company will never request individual cardholder data under any circumstances. Any attempts to request such information should be notified to a manager immediately.
Sometimes we are forgetful. If a customer mistakenly leaves their card in your establishment, contact them the same day to inform them your business is in possession of the card and that it will be destroyed if not properly claimed within a specific amount of time.
We advise no more than a 24-hour window. However, we urge you to check with your management team for your company’s specific policies relating to this practice.
If the consumer does return after the specified time, politely inform them that you properly destroyed their card in order to protect their information and to ensure their security.
If something seems suspicious, report it. If you see credit cards being stored in an unsafe manner, report it to the proper management team so it may be corrected.
Additionally, regularly inspecting the cash wrap area for any evidence of physical hardware tampering is strongly recommended to combat security threats.
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Theresa Wilson Director of People Operations Theresa oversees the strategic direction and operational excellence of the People Operations function at Acumera. With over 20 years experience, she is tasked with crafting the strategy and roadmap to optimize the effectiveness of our team while aligning with Acumera’s values and strategic objectives. Additionally, Theresa offers counsel to senior leadership in matters related to people leadership to ensure the successful implementation of key company initiatives. |
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Bret McCants Senior Vice President Customer Service As Senior Vice President of Customer Service, Bret oversees support for all Acumera customers. Having decades of proven success in the Telecommunications, Utility, and Saas industries, Bret has advocated for residential, business, and industrial customers his entire career. FCR (First Contact Resolution) is the goal of the Acumera Support Center. Before joining Acumera, Bret held the role of COO for WellAware, Inc., an oilfield SaaS company. Prior to that, he was the COO for Knology, Inc, a provider of voice, video, and data service. Bret holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University. |
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Richard Newman Chief Revenue Officer Richard Newman has more than 20 years of experience in retail and hospitality applications and infrastructure and is responsible for the Company’s overall sales. He was a founder of Reliant, a leading provider of edge computing platforms that was acquired by Acumera in 2022. Beyond sales and strategy, Richard has a deeply technical background that extends into software development, devops, security and the operation of systems infrastructure at scale. |
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Phil Stead Vice President, Platform Sales Phil Stead (CISSP, QIR, CISM, ISA) is responsible for leading the expansion of Acumera’s Reliant Platform. This includes the design of secure systems to process payments and meet PCI requirements in store systems, enhancement of the platform to meet emerging requirements, and direct client engagement. He brings over 15 years of experience in the leadership, development, integration and support for retail solutions. Before joining the Acumera team, Phil served as a Partner at Reliant (acquired by Acumera in 2022). Previously, he was Director — Store Systems & Implementation for KWI — a SaaS retail technology solution provider — where he led all front-end Point-Of-Sale development and implementation efforts spanning over 125 different global retail brands. |
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William (Bill) Morrow Chief Executive Officer William (Bill) Morrow, Chairman of the Board of Acumera, focuses on growth through efficient allocation of resources, all targeted at exceeding client expectations. Bill founded and ran several companies in the telecommunications and data-security markets. His last company CSIdentity became the dominant provider of data analytics and security services for the identity theft space prior to being acquired by Experian, PLC. Bill also owns ranches, a small resort and a convenience store in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. |
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Brett Stewart Chief Technology Officer As Chief Technology Officer at Acumera, Brett oversees the installation and operation of secure, PCI DSS-Compliant networks to thousands of retail locations of Acumera customers. He has been awarded more than 80 patents relating to communications semiconductors, WiFi, and network security. Before founding Acumera, Brett was Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Wayport (provider of WiFi to McDonald’s and Starbucks locations worldwide) and Director of Business Development for Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a global semiconductor company). |
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Roberto Chang Executive Vice President, Operations As EVP of Operations, Roberto oversees the constant optimization of processes and activities, supporting Acumera’s fast-paced growth by developing and implementing efficient operations and cost-effective systems. Roberto has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles in customer experience, marketing, pricing and product management fields in the telecommunications and financial industries. Roberto received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, Peru and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. |
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Dirk Heinen Senior Vice President, Client Advocate Dirk delivers executive management for Acumera’s team, providing managed network security and automation services for the payment systems and operations of multi-site businesses. Before founding Acumera, Dirk served as vice president of operations at Wayport and senior vice president of operations for Multimedia Games. |
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Dan Gleeson Vice President, Sales Dan is a proven technology-driven sales leader with experience in launching, marketing, and selling industry-leading software and hardware technology. Most recently Dan held the position of Director of North American Sales with Diebold Nixdorf, Inc. leading a new division for the fuel and convenience industry. Prior to that position, Dan spent ten years with Dover Fueling Solutions (formerly Wayne, a GE Energy Business) as Director of Sales, Technology Solutions. |
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DeWayne Mangan Senior Vice President, Technology Operations DeWayne helps Acumera deliver the Advocate Champion Defender support promise by leading the Infrastructure and Client Support teams. His decades of experience in customer support, telecommunications, and enterprise networking help these teams deliver reliable services and support experiences where the customer always comes first. Prior to joining Acumera, DeWayne held or created practically every role within the Information Technology department during a lengthy career at Concordia University Texas. |
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Jason Davis Vice President of Customer Support As Vice President of Customer Support, Jason focuses on two primary goals: Deliver a world class service experience to Acumera’s customers, enabling them to grow and support their businesses, and continually develop and challenge a talented team of network engineers to grow as leaders themselves. With over 2 decades as an IT Professional and manager, Jason brings technical expertise and experienced leadership to any situation. Excellent communication skills and inquisitive approach to problem solving help enhance his contribution to the organization and people he serves. Jason uses past experiences, process efficiencies, and technology tools to enable Acumera’s Support Teams to continually improve, always striving to deliver excellent service. |
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Geetha Nagaraj Director (India Operations) With over 23 years of rich IT experience, Geetha heads Acumera’s India operations. Geetha has played a pivotal role in several acquisitions in the past, ensuring seamless transition for both employees and clients, alike. Her hard working and competitive nature acts as a catalyst to combat any challenge without compromising on quality. Her functional prowess of human resources, finance, and general administration experience enabled her to help build companies from scratch. Geetha excels as a champion leader with excellent people management skills and is a great motivator to her peers throughout the organization. |
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Stacy Reis Chief Financial Officer Stacy is a business-focused leader with over 20 years experience in entrepreneurial start-ups as well as global, publicly traded companies. She’s responsible for leading the financial and administrative teams and setting the financial strategy of the company. She’s passionate about both processes and people; driving towards efficiency, accuracy, and automation while creating strong relationships, building teams, and driving strong culture within the organization. |
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Cynthia Foster Vice President, Business Process Excellence Cynthia is a Six Sigma Black Belt with 25 years of experience enabling strategic high-growth initiatives. Utilizing various methodologies to support and empower the organization, she drives our teams toward the successful outcome of the company’s global strategic objectives, ensuring adherence to Acumera’s values of Vigilance, Ownership, Integrity, Championship, and Empowerment. |
