MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES MASTERCARD SITE DATA PROTECTION SERVICE™
Contacts:
Christina Costa, MasterCard International
(914) 249-4606, christina_costa@mastercard.com
Al Modugno, Marsh
(212) 345-2448, Alfred.J.Modugno@marsh.com
Carrie Dillon, Predictive Systems
(212) 659-3476, carrie.dillon@predictive.com
Gena Fiegel, Ubizen
(703) 391-0375, x157, gena.fiegel@us.ubizen.com
Alliances with Marsh, Predictive Systems and Ubizen
Create Comprehensive Set of Global E-Commerce/Financial Security Services
To Proactively Help Defend e-Merchants Against Hacker Attacks
Purchase, N.Y., May 16, 2001 -- MasterCard International today announced a solution to assist online merchants in defending against Internet hackers. MasterCard is aligning with Marsh, Predictive Systems, and Ubizen to deliver MasterCard Site Data Protection Service™ (SDP) – a multitiered, comprehensive set of global e-commerce/financial security services designed to help protect the websites of its member financial institutions and online merchants. SDP is expected to be available globally to MasterCard members by the fourth quarter of this year and is one of the latest additions to MasterCard’s suite of Internet security solutions that address the protection of all parties involved in an online transaction.
SDP takes a proactive approach against hackers by identifying possible vulnerabilities in an acquirer’s or merchant’s online system and making recommendations for short- and long-term security improvements. The solution addresses the security issues that online merchants and their acquiring banks face in the virtual world, and concerns arising from these issues, such as Internet fraud/chargebacks, damage to brand image, consumer concerns about safety and privacy, cost of replacing stolen account numbers and more.
Unlike other solutions that are referral-based services, MasterCard will deliver MasterCard Site Data Protection Service directly to its acquiring members, who in turn will offer the services to merchants. MasterCard members and merchants can choose from several levels of protection, ranging from site vulnerability assessments and alerts to insurance coverage for third party liability, crime losses and more. In addition, members and merchants who enroll in the SDP program may receive additional security services – offered independently from MasterCard’s alliance partners – at a discounted rate. These services include ethical hacking, where a team of experts deliberately – in coordination with the client – attempt to attack the network to uncover potential weaknesses; intrusion detection; website monitoring; and firewall monitoring.
“E-commerce, the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. retail market, can provide a profitable, even dominant position for our acquiring members and also represents an expanding source of business for merchants,” said Art Kranzley, senior vice president, Global e-Business, MasterCard International. “In alliance with Marsh, Predictive Systems and Ubizen, we were able to combine our unique areas of expertise to develop customized security solutions to help protect against hacker intrusions for the benefit of our members, merchants and cardholders.”
In North America, Latin America/Caribbean region, and Asia/Pacific, MasterCard’s preferred vendor for SDP services will be Predictive Systems, a leading network infrastructure consulting firm focused on building fast, reliable, secure networks for global enterprises and security providers. In Europe and Middle East/Africa, MasterCard’s preferred vendor will be Ubizen, a leading provider of e-security solutions that allow companies worldwide to confidently conduct their business operations online.
The core SDP program includes these essential security components:
• Best Practices: The Guide to MasterCard Rules and Best Practices for Web Merchants and Acquirers defines the measures that members and merchants must take to conduct business effectively and securely on the Internet, as well as suggested practices, and it addresses such important issues as the coding of
e-commerce transactions, risk monitoring, cardholder disclosure, consumer privacy, and the protection of transaction data.
• Online Self-Assessment Survey: Based on MasterCard’s Best Practices and the industry-recognized British Standard 7799, this automated survey is designed to evaluate a merchant’s security measures and provide an electronic report that compares results to industry peers.
• Security Scan of the Merchant Website: Fully automated and non-intrusive, this procedure provides an accurate snapshot of existing security measures. Using well-known assessment tools that are updated on a continuing basis, the scan generates an electronic report that categorizes the merchant’s level of risk and, as needed, offers short- and long-term recommendations, along with links to immediate fixes.
• Security Alert Service: Ongoing e-mail alerts that update participants on the latest security news, compiled from hacker publications and bulletin boards, media publications, and vendor security advisories.
The SDP program, along with an appropriate network design and reasonable security measures, reduces vulnerability against the majority of hackers. Additionally, MasterCard has partnered with Marsh, a global risk management and insurance brokerage firm, to offer optional insurance services that can maximize the core protection offerings:
• Web Liability Insurance: Qualified merchants can receive preferred pricing on coverage for liability, including payment card theft.
• Web Loss of Income Insurance: Optional coverage for web loss of net income due to an outage or disruption is available as well.
Additional Security Services
Participation in the SDP program may also provide eligibility for discounts on a number of additional security services, provided independently by MasterCard’s selected vendors:
• Ethical Hacking: intrusion testing performed by certified security professionals to expose hidden security weaknesses
• Intrusion Detection: an automated procedure designed to detect the presence of an unauthorized intruder on a network
• Network Monitoring: ongoing monitoring of network activity to identify suspicious activity
MasterCard International is a leader in global e-business. The association is focused on providing its member financial institutions with customized, meaningful global e-business solutions that connect them to customers in both the online and offline worlds. Through its investment in industry innovation, participation in standards development and business alliances, MasterCard is staying in the forefront of technology integration to enable anytime, anywhere payments across multiple channels and various devices. MasterCard’s global e-business solutions include Internet security, smart cards, mobile commerce/wireless, e-wallets, business to business electronic commerce, and numerous emerging technologies.
About Marsh
Marsh, the world`s leading risk and insurance services firm, has 35,000 employees and annual revenues of $4.8 billion. The firm provides advice and transactional capabilities to clients in over 100 countries. Marsh is a unit of Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), a global professional services firm with 57,000 employees and annual revenues of $10 billion. MMC also is the parent company of Putnam Investments and Mercer Consulting Group. MMC`s stock (ticker symbol: MMC) is listed on the New York, Chicago, Pacific and London stock exchanges. MMC`s Web site address is www.mmc.com. Marsh`s Web site address is www.marsh.com. Its e-business risk solutions site is www.netsecuresite.com.
About Predictive Systems
Predictive Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRDS) is a network infrastructure consulting firm and an industry leader in providing security solutions to support the business goals of multinational enterprises and service providers. Under its Global Integrity umbrella, Predictive Systems offers such high-end services as managed firewalls and IDS, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), incident response and digital forensics, security assessments, and security architecture consulting. Predictive Systems` clients include Allstate, American International General (AIG), Marsh, Bear Stearns, Cisco Systems, Citibank, Credit Suisse First Boston, First Union National Bank, and Pfizer. Headquartered in New York City, Predictive Systems has regional offices throughout the United States, as well as in Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the UK. For additional information, please contact Predictive Systems at 1-800-770-4958 or visit www.predictive.com.
About Ubizen
Ubizen, a leading provider of e-Security solutions, allows companies worldwide to confidently conduct their business operations online. Ubizen MultiSecure, a family of application security products, provides secure e-Business transactions and Web portal access. Ubizen OnlineGuardian, a family of managed security services, provides 24 X 7 proactive security surveillance of networks. Ubizen`s extensive Knowledge Management is made available through its portal site, www.securitywatch.com, an extensive online security resource, and through Ubizen’s Security Intelligence Lab, which collects, researches and disseminates information on vendor products, viruses and vulnerabilities. With operations in the U.S.A., Europe and Asia-Pacific, Ubizen (www.ubizen.com) is a public company with dual listings on Nasdaq Europe (UBIZ) and the Euronext (UBI) exchange.
About MasterCard International
MasterCard International has the most comprehensive portfolio of payment brands in the world. More than 1.7 billion MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro logos are present on credit, charge and debit cards in circulation today. An association comprised of more than 20,000 member financial institutions, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses, both large and small, in 210 countries and territories. MasterCard is the leader in quality and innovation, offering a wide range of payment solutions in the virtual and traditional worlds. MasterCard’s award-winning Priceless advertising campaign is now seen in 81 countries and in more than 36 languages, giving the MasterCard brand reach and scope unrivaled by any competitor in the industry. With more than 21 million acceptance locations, no card is accepted in more places and by more merchants than the MasterCard Card. In 2000, gross dollar volume exceeded US$857 billion. MasterCard can be reached through its World Wide Web site at http://www.mastercard.com.
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