Attenda Limited: Attenda joins PCI Security Standards Council as newest Participating Organisation

Attenda Limited, the Always On Managed Services company, announced today that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council as a new participating organisation. As a Participating Organization, Attenda will work with the Council to evolve the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS) and other payment card data protection standards.

The PCI DSS, endorsed by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., requires merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data integrity. More information on the council and the standard can be found atwww.pcisecuritystandards.org

As a Participating Organisation, Attenda will now have access to the latest payment card security standards from the Council, be able to provide feedback on the standards and become part of a growing community that now includes more than 500 organisations. In an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks on systems, adhering to the PCI DSS represents an entity's best protection against data criminals. By joining as a Participating Organisation, Attenda is adding its voice to the process.

"The PCI Security Standards Council is committed to helping everyone involved in the payment chain protect consumer payment data," said Bob Russo, General Manager of the PCI Security Standards Council. "By participating in the standards setting process, Attenda demonstrates they are playing an active part in this important end goal."

Commenting on its membership to the PCI Security Standards Council, Simon Hansford, VP Service Strategy & Marketing, says "We are delighted to have been appointed to work with the Council to evolve the PCI DSS security and card data protection standards."

Hansford continues, "Implementing PCI DSS can help organisations to reduce long-term compliance costs, instill best practices across the enterprise, making it easier and less expensive to adhere to new requirements and to create a leaner, more efficient organisation."

About Attenda Limited

Attenda, the Always On Managed Services company, manages those vital applications that every business relies upon today to function effectively allowing our clients to selectively outsource their IT operations and re-focus on using IT to add strategic value to their business.

Through a commitment to operational excellence, we manage, secure and optimise the performance of their applications, irrespective of the physical location of the infrastructure.

With over 8 years' investment into Attenda M.O., Attenda's operations platform, we provide the people, process and technology to deliver exceptionally high service levels, but at a cost that is amortised across Attenda's entire client base - currently 134 of the UK's leading companies.

The company enjoys substantial financial backing, the industry's leading accreditations and an unrivalled portfolio of clients including bmi, Christian Aid, easyCar, Microsoft, NHS, Princes, St. James's Place and Travelodge.

Attenda is ISO9001, ISO27001 and ISO20000 accredited, an HP SP Signature Partner, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a SAP Adaptive IT Hosting Provider, a SunTone accredited managed service provider and an Accredited Catalist Supplier. Attenda is one of only seven companies to have been ranked in the UK's Sunday Times ARM Tech Track 100 for three consecutive years. It was voted Best Managed Services Provider by Data Centre Europe Awards for both 2007 and 2008 and VMware's EMEA Hosting Partner of the Year 2008 and 2009.

About PCI Security Standards Council

The mission of the PCI Security Standards Council is to enhance payment account security by driving education and awareness of PCI security standards.

CONTACT: Simon Hansford, Attenda Tel: +44 (0)1784 211 100 e-mail: simon.hansford@attenda.net WWW: http://www.attenda.net Ella Nevill, PCI Security Standards Council Tel: +1 781 876 6248 e-mail: enevill@pcisecuritystandards.org WWW: http://www.pcisecuritystandards.org

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