Blackbaud, Inc. announced that it has joined the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council as a new participating organization. To evolve the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS) and other payment card data protection standards, the company, as a participating organization, will work with the Council.

Endorsed by JCB International, Discover Financial Services, American Express, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., the PCI DSS, requires merchants (including nonprofits) and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data integrity.

Blackbaud, as a participating organization, 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 450 organizations. Adhering to the PCI DSS, in an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks on systems, represents an entity’s best protection against data criminals. Blackbaud, by joining as a participating organization, is adding its voice to the process.

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

Blackbaud, in addition to participating in the Council, is launching an awareness campaign in an effort to educate nonprofit organizations on the latest PCI requirements.

“Blackbaud is committed to making sure its products are PCI compliant, but remember, it is up to you to make sure the rest of your organization is PCI compliant,” said Jake Marcinko, Blackbaud’s Information Security Manager, addressing customers in a video message.