The PCI SVA was formed in January 2007 to work with the retail and payment card industries to develop an efficient and cost-effective way to achieve compliance with the PCI Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), a global benchmark intended to improve security throughout the entire payment card transaction process.

PCI SVA members, all with strong experience in delivering PCI compliance solutions to thousands of customers, will use their combined knowledge to support the objectives of the PCI Security Standards Council - securing sensitive data processed by merchant partners with best-of-breed PCI DSS solutions that address the needs of system integrators and business users.

Speaking to attendees at the recent Advanced PCI DSS Conference in New York, Jennifer Fischer, director of enterprise risk and compliance at Visa, noted that more than 60% of merchants are still not in compliance with PCI DSS standards. All organisations that store, process or transmit credit card payments are required to demonstrate compliance with PCI DSS by 30 June 2007. Those who aren't will face severe penalties and fines.

PCI SVA members aim to ease the ever-increasing compliance concerns of PCI DSS by sharing best practice information and real world experience gained over decades of securing systems.

PCI SVA's founding members are leading data security firms ConfigureSoft, Cyber-Ark, Modulo Security, Proginet, Protegrity USA, Reflex Security and Safe-Net.

"We welcome all our new PCI SVA members, and look forward to working with them to develop and offer solutions that will enhance the payment card industry and merchants abilities to protect and secure private consumer information and other sensitive data," said David Taylor, president and CEO, of the PCI SVA.