Proper education about payment security is critical in the fast-evolving world of transactions. Yet, many merchants are falling victim to misinformation about their payment systems, often leading to severe security breaches.
One of the most common misunderstandings in the payment industry involves PCI certified point-to-point encryption (P2PE). Some vendors falsely claim to offer this certified solution, misleading merchants and leaving their systems vulnerable.
Identifying a PCI Certified P2PE Solution
The simplest way to confirm whether your payment system features PCI certified P2PE is by checking the PCI Security Standards Council website. All officially certified P2PE solutions are listed in the ‘Approved Companies and Providers’ section.
For a vendor to be PCI certified for P2PE, they must meet stringent requirements, beyond just passing the 1,000-point PCI DSS audit check. The key criteria include:
1. Hardware-to-Hardware Encryption and Secure Devices
- The encryption and decryption process must occur hardware-to-hardware.
- The solution must use a Point-of-Interaction (POI) device with Secure Reading and Exchange of Data (SRED) functionality enabled.
2. PCI-Validated Secure Distribution Process
- POI devices must follow strictly controlled shipping, handling, installation, and tamper-evident packaging processes to ensure secure distribution.
3. Merchant Education with a P2PE Instruction Manual (PIM)
- Vendors must provide merchants with a PIM to guide them through device use, storage, returns, and PCI reporting.
Without fulfilling all these requirements, a vendor is likely delivering an uncertified tokenization or end-to-end encryption solution—which does not offer the same level of security.
Why Uncertified Solutions Are Bad for Business
An uncertified solution doesn’t remove a merchant’s Point of Sale (POS) system and network from the scope of PCI DSS compliance. This leaves the business exposed to potential attacks and the burden of ensuring compliance with all 300+ PCI DSS standards, as opposed to only 19 required in a true PCI certified P2PE solution.
By contrast, a PCI certified P2PE solution encrypts payment data from the moment of swipe to the payment processor. This means the payment information is never exposed in clear text—not in your POS, network, or memory. In the event of a data breach, this information is completely inaccessible. It takes your POS and supporting infrastructure completely out of PCI DSS compliance scope, drastically reducing risk and cost.
The Strategic Advantage of PCI Certified P2PE
A PCI certified P2PE solution simplifies operations, reduces compliance overhead, and, most importantly, safeguards your infrastructure and brand from data breaches. With robust encryption, you ensure that sensitive payment data is fully protected, maintaining customer trust and loyalty.
Take Control of Your Payment Security
Knowledge is power when choosing the right payment solution for your business. Confirm that your provider offers PCI certified P2PE or face the risk of non-compliance and potential data breaches.
Looking for a comprehensive, modern solution? The FreedomPay Next Level Commerce™ Platform delivers a PCI certified P2PE solution designed to protect your brand while providing seamless integration with emerging technologies, such as the latest EMV requirements.
Contact us today to discover how FreedomPay can transform your payment security strategy and provide the tools needed for success in a fast-changing digital payment landscape.
Stay innovative. Stay secure.
