PARK CITY, UT--(Marketwire - March 12, 2009) - The Society of Payment Security Professionals(SPSP) is pleased to announce that they have now certified more than 200people as Certified Payment-Card Industry Security Managers (CPISMs). Inaddition, the SPSP has certified 50 Certified Payment-Card IndustrySecurity Auditors (CPISA). The enthusiasm with which the new certificationshas been adopted is further proof of the industry's need to identify thoseindividuals that have both security and payment card industry expertise.The rapid adoption of security regulation at the state and federal level,coupled with the dynamic nature of the payment card industry, make thecertifications appealing to a wide range of industry participants.

"We've seen individuals representing almost every business model in theindustry take the CPISM or CPISA courses," said Chris Mark, CPISM/A, CISSP,CIPP and Founder of the Society of Payment Security Professionals. "Thecertifications were designed specifically to create a level playing fieldfor everyone from merchants, to acquiring and issuing banks to QualifiedSecurity Assessors. The materials covered in the course go far beyondsimple compliance with the PCI DSS, to include risk management, state andfederal regulations and other vitally important topics. In addition tooffering education, the courses offer an opportunity for Payment SecurityProfessionals™ to share ideas and experiences. Ultimately, suchdiscourse can only be a positive influence on the security practices of theindustry."

The CPISM and CPISA certifications have been developed with the goal ofenabling the certificate holder to demonstrate proficiency andunderstanding of the Payment-Card Industry, fraud and data theft trends,the relevant regulations that impact the industry, and application of theregulations to various business models that are unique to the industry.The certifications were carefully developed to adhere to educationalpedagogy and instructional design theory. In addition, the certificationexams and the training were vetted by veteran Payment SecurityProfessionals to ensure that the materials were accurate, relevant, andtimely.

According to co-founder Mike Dahn, "As former QSAs, and QSATrainers that currently provide PCI related training worldwide for a majorcard brand, we understand the needs of the industry and the challenges ofsecuring data within the payment card industry. These certifications havebeen designed to allow individuals to more effectively manage risk andcomply with the PCI DSS and other related standards."

The Society is offering a public CPISM and CPISA Training and exam seminarin the San Francisco area in June 2009. For more information, or toregister for the event, please visithttps://www.paymentsecuritypros.com/training-dates/.

About the Society of Payment Security Professionals

The Society of Payment Security Professionals' objective is to provideindividuals and organizations involved in payment security with an onlinecommunity to share information, and access education and certificationopportunities. Society members come from a variety of businesses includingcard brands, merchants, acquirers, ISOs, and more. Though theirorganizations may vary, they all share one purpose: to protect sensitivecustomer data using the most current, viable technologies and processes.The SPSP is managed by The Aegenis Group. For more information about theSociety of Payment Security Professionals, please visitwww.paymentsecuritypros.com.