What is PCI DSS Compliance? Is it Required for My Small Business?

Even the smallest of businesses are required to be Payment Card Industry's Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant. However a recent survey from the Ponemon Institute finds that companies are not making data security a top priority, especially the smaller ones. Why? Experts say that, on average, companies with more than 500 employees spend about 35 percent of their IT security budgets on PCI compliance. Renee Chronister, founder and owner of Parameter Security helps small and mid-sized businesses with security and compliance issues. She says that the compliance is just a base line and that small business owners should look beyond that to stay ahead of a threat. 

The survey commissioned by Imperva also reveals that around 55 percent of the 500 companies acknowledge that they secure credit card information but not Social Security numbers, bank account details, and other personal data. 

Small Business Owners are the Happiest Workers in America

The Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index finds that business owners are the happiest workers in America. The results revolve around an overall measure of well-being which is determined by asking respondents about how they feel about what is happening in various areas of their life including: work environment; self-evaluation; physical health and emotional satisfaction. There is a correlation between the happiest workers and their household income however it illustrates that even though business owners do make a bit less than managers or executives, they scored the highest on a measure of job satisfaction and work environment.