New certification tool for agents

Travelport’s new PCI DSS Certification Wizard Tool would change how agents deal with customer credit information and work through a simple streamlined process, says Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient.

Travelport has launched the new PCI DSS Certification Wizard Tool to streamline processes for agents. “The PCI DSS Certification has been launched to help all customers achieve PCI DSS certification before March 31, 2018 through a simple, low cost and streamlined process. This certification is necessary for IATA certified travel agencies to combat criminal activity that is critical when dealing with customer credit card information. From March 2018, any IATA agent who accepts card transactions against its own merchant agreement or issues Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) card transactions is required to provide proof of PCI DSS compliance to IATA,” says Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient.

The new certification is going to help the agencies in the long run. “The latest version of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) is a more secure encryption protocol, Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.2 or higher, designed to encounter fraud and hacking costing the global travel industry bears annually. Currently the frauds have reached an estimated value of one billion dollars y-o-y and growing,” reveals Dwivedi.

We have released new versions of Galileo SSL and Travelport Smartpoint to help facilitate travel businesses’ continued compliance with the new PCI DSS protocol.

Speaking on the aim behind launching this certification, he says, “Travelport and ITQ as key members of the travel fraternity have the responsibility to ensure compliance with the new PCI DSS standard and IATA resolution. We are serious about data security and therefore, to help facilitate travel businesses’ continued compliance with the new PCI DSS protocol, we released new versions of Galileo SSL and Travelport Smartpoint (for Travelport Apollo and Galileo users) this November.”

Travelport has also tied up with SecurityMetrics, on which Diwvedi says, “After a lengthy selection process, Travelport chose to partner with SecurityMetrics. With this partnership, we have made a very complex process of certification, a simple, low cost and streamlined process. The PCI DSS Certification program provides customers with an online Wizard Tool to guide agents through the self-assessment questionnaire process. The multi-language tool enables Travelport’s agency customers worldwide to achieve PCI DSS compliance, a requirement by the card industry for every business that touches card payments,” he stresses.

When asked about why this certification would be advantageous for Travelport, Dwivedi reveals, “Combining consumer protection with customer-driven solutions is essential as it creates frictionless payment processes. We’re delighted to offer this PCI DSS certification program in partnership with SecurityMetrics. It is our commitment to ensure our customers’ businesses operate within a compliant environment so they are able to adhere to industry regulations and become a trusted partner to their customers.”