Capita achieves another landmark in security standards

(AllPayNews.com) - Capita Software Services has become one of the first UK-based vendors of payment applications to achieve the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS) and the first deployment of the validated software is scheduled for later this week. The new PA-DSS validation will give customers using Capita Software Services’ site-based solutions the same high level of assurance that is already in place for users of its PCI DSS certified managed service. The standard will apply to those of its Payment Management applications that are customer-hosted and used to take payments by credit or debit card.

Managed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), PA-DSS is designed to provide the definitive data security standard for software vendors developing payment applications and includes measures such as ensuring that secure data such as PIN, Card Security Code or magnetic stripe data is not stored.

Chris Cooper, Operations Director at Capita Software Services, commented: “We are delighted to have attained official PA-DSS validation. Capita remains committed to ensuring that its products and services continue to incorporate the most rigorous data security controls. With the continued focus on card fraud and citizen data in general we are constantly looking at ways to improve on existing security measures.”

Capita’s managed service products were certified to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Level 1 in late 2007 meaning that the 170 plus organisations that use this service to accept payments via channels such as internet or automated telephone were already benefitting from the highest levels of security. This same level of security can now be seen to be in place for payments taken face-to-face or in a call centre type environment, in both instances the application is site-based but calls upon Capita’s managed Secure Bureau Service for card authorisation.

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Notes to editors:

· Capita’s newly validated customer-hosted applications first offered the option to take card payments using the Secure Bureau Service in 2008 and customers are now moving from site-based card processing solutions to the new service. In April 2009, the service was used by over 40 organisations to take nearly 650,000 payments with a total value of more than £13m.

· Capita’s managed service has been established since 2001 and includes a range of products to process card payments via the internet, touch-tone telephone, SMS text, speech recognition and on-site Chip & PIN. Managed by a dedicated team, the solution is used by over 170 organisations, who between them take over 1.1 million payments each month with a total value of almost £82 million.

· Capita is one of the few European organisations to be an active participant within the PCI Security Standards Council, where they are listed as ‘Capita Group plc’ under the ‘Europe’ region.

For further information please contact: Capita Press Office, 0207 654 2399

Capita Software Services attributes its position as the leading supplier of software solutions to the public sector and housing marketplace, to its strong partnership approach. It works closely with customers to provide tailored systems in the disciplines of customer services, mobile technology, payment collection, income management, integrated housing management, revenues and benefits processing and services and policy training. Capita Software Services’ customers benefit from a bespoke service, helping them to streamline their processes and deliver a high performance citizen-centric service

As a division of the Capita Group Plc, the company has experienced strong and consistent growth since its inception in 1994 and works with over 70 per cent of local authorities in the UK. Further information on Capita Software Services can be found at: www.capita-software.co.uk

The Capita Group Plc is the UK’s leading provider of BPO and integrated professional support service solutions. With 36,000 people at more than 300 sites, including 62 business centres across the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and India, the Group uses its expertise, infrastructure and scale benefits to transform its client’s services, driving down costs and adding value. Capita is quoted on the London Stock Exchange (CPI.L), and is a constituent of the FTSE100 with revenues for 2008 of £2,441 million. Further information on The Capita Group Plc can be found at: http://www.capita.co.uk

Claire Thatcher

Marketing Manager for FHE & Payment Management

Manvers House

Manvers Street

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8YX

Telephone: 07919 298 724

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