An image from the PCI SSC website, illustrating the types of organizations affected by the standard
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Security-focused web hosting company FireHost (www.firehost.com) announced on Wednesday that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council as a “participating organization,” putting it in a position to contribute to the discussion on the development of the PCI Data Security Standard and other security standards.
FireHost says it intends to use the role to further its own pursuit of “providing affordable, compliance ready web hosting solutions to companies who may not otherwise achieve PCI DSS requirements.”
Security has been FireHost’s major selling point since its inception. In a notable expression of that focus, the company reported last year that it would be providing hosting to notorious-hacker-turned-security-professional Kevin Mitnick, a customer with an obvious sort of hacker bull’s-eye painted on him, and the repeated victim of attacks.
“FireHost was created with the sole purpose of securing online data and takes a vested interest in ensuring that credit card numbers are protected from online threats that grow more complex each and every day,” says Chris Drake, CEO and founder of FireHost, quoted in the company’s press release. “We feel that working closely with the council and various special interest groups within it will help proliferate the goal of getting more business web applications up to code. We are eager to apply our experience and help shape the guidelines for safe storage, transmission and handling of credit card data.”
As a participating organization, says FireHost, the company will have access to the latest PCI standards from the council, will be able to provide feedback on those standards and will become part of a community that includes more than 500 organizations, and is growing.
The PCI Security Standards Council was created as an open forum to manage the set of data protection standards first created through the collaboration of the major credit card organizations, and enforces a strict set of standards for the secure handling of data relating to the processing of credit cards. Its regulations extend out to the physical storefront, but many of its standards have to specifically with the digital handling of data by online retailers and the service providers that support them.
Security, and particularly compliance (PCI and otherwise) has become a more notable trait in the hosting business in recent years – especially so since the PCI compliance deadline passed this summer – and was a notable motivating factor in last month’s acquisition of security-focused GSI Hosting by managed hosting provider Layered Tech.
Compliance is now a major concern for a whole range of hosting clientele, and its focus on security and compliance will likely prove to be a significant differentiator for FireHost, whether that manifests in a similar sort of strategic acquisition, or just the general success of the company.
About Liam Eagle
Liam Eagle has worked as a contributor to the Web Host Industry Review since its inception in 2000, and as editor since 2003. He has been editor of the WHIR's print magazine since its launch. His daily involvement in the gathering and reporting of Web hosting news and his regular interaction with Web hosting leaders gives him an uncommonly broad appreciation of the issues and tends facing the business. Through his WHIR blog, Liam spots Web hosting trends and offers opinions on the industry-wide impacts of major developments and the motivation behind big announcements. Follow him on Twitter @liameagle
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