The First Data TransArmor solution is a combination of encryption and tokenization technology that protects and removes payment card data completely from the merchant environment, so your systems never hold the actual card numbers from the transactions you process.
The solution removes the need for merchants to store card data by replacing it with a randomly assigned number, called a ‘token’. In doing so, TransArmor minimizes risk by reducing the scope of PCI compliance, shifts the burden of protecting cardholder data from you to First Data, and allows the ‘token’ to be used for other business and sales functions such as returns, sales reports, and analysis. This advanced security technology addresses merchant concerns over customer card data protection, card data storage and the rising cost and complexity of PCI compliance.
First Data Advantages The TransArmor solution delivers superior levels of security and cost-effectiveness. By combining encryption and tokenization, it provides a “one-two punch” to protect payment card data at every processing stage—in transit, in use and at rest. You retain access to the token number for business and marketing purposes. And because the TransArmor solution maintains the primary account number (PAN) data in a First Data “vault,” it reduces the scope and cost of PCI compliance.
Key Components of the TransArmor Solution include:
- Asymmetric public/private key encryption—provides security at the point of sale (prior to transmission) and during data transmission to the processor
- Tokenization—completely removes sensitive card information from the merchant by replacing the PAN with a randomly assigned token value
- Access to data—First Data retains access to the secure data and translates card numbers to randomly assigned token values when needed for customer interactions such as adjustments, retrievals, recurring payments and chargebacks
- Preserves a unique customer ID for valuable business processes without the risk of storing cardholder data. Support business analytics and reports, marketing programs, anti-fraud activities, etc. using the token number, without the risk of storing cardholder data.
- Warranty – an extra layer of security for merchants. First Data offers a limited warranty that if the token number returned to the merchant is stolen, it cannot be used fraudulently by an unauthorized party.
- Hardware-agnostic—can be used with most existing POS systems and integrates with VARs and third-party solutions
- Simple implementation – deployed through terminal software update
- Simplified PCI compliance—significantly reduces the scope and cost of PCI compliance
- Can reduce the scope of annual PCI audits by as much as 80%
The TransArmor solution meets the PCI Security Standards Council guidelines for encryption and tokenization, and First Data agrees with their assessment of EMV adding an additional layer of security to those solutions.
First Data TransArmor Solution
