WASHINGTON -- As part of its card security effort, Visa is targeting an unfamiliar concept: "common sense."
The card brand is launching a new effort to help small businesses around the country upgrade and improve their card security practices, according to an announcement at the card brand's conference, and a major part of that effort will include trying to convince more small business owners not to rely on common sense when dealing with card security issues.
According to a new survey conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research, more than 52% of small businesses either store customer credit card numbers, store customer Social Security numbers, store customer bank account or checking account numbers.
The new security education effort will have Visa partner with the National Federation of Independent Business to run the education campaign. The NFIB is the biggest association of small business in the country, with a presence nationwide. The education effort will include the Internet, in-market events and turnkey materials, which will focus on accessibility of information and ease of taking it in.
"The entrepreneurial, go-it-alone spirit that drives many small businesses may actually work against them on important issues like security," said Rosetta Jones, a vice president of Visa USA. "In today's environment, data security takes thoughtful planning and practices," and it will take education to introduce those practices to small business owners. --dmorrison@cutimes.com
