Safe Cardholder Data Assured with Latest Security Compliance

Safe Cardholder Data Assured with Latest Security Compliance

We recently hosted a breakfast event at the campus with one of our on-site partners -ServerChoice. Kao Data would like to take this opportunity to convey a huge thank you to everyone that took time out of their busy schedules to support the event and helped create a thoroughly enjoyable and well attended morning. Lord Sebastian Coe shared his insights and experiences into developing the team and technologies that delivered the 2012 London Olympic Games. Oli Pinson-Roxburgh, MD of Bulletproof Cyber demonstrated, that with a few over-the-counter items and a Raspberry Pi, how incredibly easy it is to hack into and gain control of someone’s device. This was both fascinating and alarming in equal measure.

According to the UK Finance’s ‘Fraud The Facts 2019’ report, £1.2 billion was stolen through fraudulent activity and various scams in 2018, although the financial community managed to stop the theft of an additional £1.6 billion through increased diligence across the sector.

The rise in CNP (card-not-present) fraud shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Increasingly sophisticated strategies and tactics are being used for the illegal harvesting of personal financial information, which if misappropriated can cause catastrophic damage for the individual and organisations.

At any point in the transaction process your data can and probably is under attack if hackers and fraudsters believe there is the opportunity to harvest personal financial information. The continued increase in activity has made it essential that all organisations involved in the financial process invest in the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) certification and ensure that all processes are audited by a PCI QSA (Qualified Security Assessor) consultancy. At Kao Data, we recently undertook this investment in our people and practices to ensure our customers and theirs are secure when data is resident at the Kao Data London One (KDL1) facility. In order to deliver the best service, we brought in One Compliance, a leading global, PCI QSA consultancy to evaluate the extensive work we had already undertaken. Earlier in the year, we achieved ISO 27001 – Information Security Management – certification, working with Keysource, Teamwork IMS and the UKAS Accreditors Alcumus ISQAR.

Implementing and maintaining payment and cardholder data security is essential for all of us that store, process or transmit data. Guidance for data security is stipulated in PCI security standards, developed by the PCI Security Standards Council. These provide the technical and operational requirements for organisations accepting and processing payment transactions or maintaining data integral to that process. Data centres have become a fundamental component in most financial transactions, cementing the need to be compliant with both ISO Standards and PCI DSS.

The robust procedures set by PCI DSS require compliance across three key layers where PCI security measures must be implemented; physical security, environmental security and network security: otherwise known as people, policy and technology.

During the rigorous on-site visit, One Compliance interviewed all Kao Data staff, reviewed all our policies relevant to the investigation and undertook an inspection of the site and technology suites to assess whether our physical security procedures were up to the required standard. The thorough examination of our processes and physical spaces, demonstrated to us that the best way to maximise security of data is to continuously monitor and enforce the controls and processes we have in place – which are now endorsed with the PCI Data Security Standard certification.

As online fraud continues to evolve in its frequency and complexity, gaining PCI DSS certification is another important stage in Kao Data’s journey. Not only does this add another layer to the accreditations and certifications that we have already received but continues to demonstrate our commitment to our customers in delivering the service levels expected of a world class provider, as well as our capabilities to keep our customers data secure and operational.



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If your application is successful, Harlow Council will transfer the grant by BACS.  Bank details (account name, number and sort code) will need to be supplied with a summary of accounts. 

Funding conditions:  If your application is successful, your project must be delivered by 31 December 2026. You will have to return any grant funds if the project is not delivered or the organisation receiving the funding stops operating.

A contract agreement will need to be signed between your organisation and Harlow District Council before any funding is granted.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Grant recipients will be required to provide an end of project report to establish whether the project has met its aims and objectives, as well as to assess the overall impact on participants. Funding for the project is provided on the basis that the Project Evaluation form is returned within the agreed project timescale (no later than 31 January 2027).

Risks and Liabilities: In giving grants the ‘Harlow Council’ will require the supported project organisation or groups to accept all risks and liabilities associated with the activity being supported. This will be a condition of the grant.  Copies of relevant documents may need to be provided if the application has been approved.

Data protection statement – how we will use your information

The Council is committed to handling your personal information in line with the data processing principles.  The Data Protection Legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) sets the legal framework for how we collect, handle and process personal data and for your rights as a ‘data subject.’

General Data Protection Regulation:  Personal data provided by you will be processed in accordance with this protocol. For more details, please see https://www.harlow.gov.uk/privacy-notice

Thank you for taking the time to read these guidance notes. If you have any questions, please get in touch with [email protected].

FAQs

  1. Who can apply?
    The fund is open to not-for-profit community groups and grassroots initiatives based in Stockport.
     
  2. What types of projects are eligible?
    We encourage projects focused on environmental sustainability, community cohesion, and local economic development.
     
  3. How much funding is available?
    Grants range from £500 to £2,500 for pilot projects or to enhance existing initiatives.
     
  4. Is this the sole funding for this project?
    If not, please expand on the additional match funding that you currently have or are in the process of applying for.
     
  5. Are there any restrictions on grants under £500?
    Yes, please note that grants under £500 may be subject to different guidelines or restrictions, which will be communicated upon application.
     
  6. When will we know if our project was selected?
    Notifications will be sent by March 31, 2025.
     
  7. How can I apply for a grant?
    Applications can be submitted through our online portal, where you will find detailed guidelines and forms.
     
  8. What happens if my application is unsuccessful?
    If your application is not successful, we encourage you to seek feedback and consider reapplying in future funding rounds.
     
  9. When is the application deadline?
    Please check our website for the latest application deadlines and any upcoming funding rounds.