Merchant Link SecurityCents

These days, merchants are being told they can save money by using a client-to-processor connection or “direct driver” vs. a hosted payment gateway in the cloud. Are these claims really true? What do merchants stand to lose by sending transaction data directly from their point-of-sale system to a processor?

A hosted payment gateway facilitates the secure transfer of information between a point of payment (your POS) and the payment processor or bank. The gateway acts as a translator, traffic cop and bodyguard – interpreting and directing data streams through a secure route to the appropriate destination, quickly and accurately.

Merchants considering both options should keep in mind:

1. Choice: A gateway connects merchants to a variety of processors and often offers the flexibility to switch payment providers quickly and efficiently, enabling a merchant to best manage its payment acceptance fees. Merchants with franchisees can offer them the choice of processors and maintain a secure and consistent payments acceptance process across their brand.  Merchants can also use the gateway to route different card types to specified hosts, saving them money by reducing processor’s switching fees.  A quality gateway assures that a merchant is not locked in to a particular processor’s technology that is hard to “unravel” if they decide to change.
2. Support: A quality gateway provider has the unique ability to track down and efficiently resolve problems no matter where an issue occurs within the life cycle of a transaction; saving merchant’s time and money by eliminating “finger pointing” between POS providers and payment processors.  The more complex the merchant environment, the more a gateway is needed.  A gateway can help a merchant quickly resolve payments hassles and get back to managing their business.
3. Cost: While most gateway providers charge a subscription or per-transaction fee, merchants should take into account the ongoing investment they will have to make in new software and/or a POS upgrades when considering a client-to-processor connection. The merchant is then locked in to technology that will soon be dated.  In contrast, a cloud-based payment gateway is easily implemented and maintained.  Configuration changes are usually performed at the gateway without interrupting business at the site when software and payment scheme updates are required.

Savvy business owners know that the only way to separate claims from reality and determine what’s best for their business is to educate themselves, talk to other merchants who are utilizing similar solutions, and ask a whole lot of questions. Check out this informative presentation and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

The Missing Link in SMP

Originally posted to Retail Reseller News

Reselling Panasonic’s System Manager Pro (SMP) and growing worried about PCI now that the vendor no longer supports the software? An interesting third-party solution has been developed by Bunt Software (Rockford, IL), which works in concert with the hosted payment gateway at Merchant Link (Silver Spring, MD). Entitled SMPLink, and launched in July, this new middleware exploits Merchant Link’s TransactionVault for tokenization of consumer data, meets PA-DSS requirements, and even supports gift cards. So far, Bunt Software has sold about 400 licenses, with 11 Panasonic dealers marketing to their customers.

In an interview with RRN.Com, Don Bunt said he spent 20 years developing POS software for Panasonic before launching his company. “Without SMPLink, customers would have had to replace their POS software, maybe even hardware,” Bunt suggested. “All of the familiar QSRs are using SMP in some form or another–Wendy’s, Arby’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Cold Stone Creamery. With SMPLink, merchants can continue operations without worry until such time as they want to replace the POS.”

“I’m working with Panasonic dealers who are already servicing these customers for the long haul,” Bunt continued. “I’ve built margin into the product, and there’s also installation charges for them.” Bunt Software helps dealers with the installation process and provides two-tier support for Merchant Link. Now negotiations are underway with other POS companies to provide middleware similar to SMPLink for their PCI compliance needs, RRN.Com was told.

By Don Bunt, President of Bunt Software

July 1st brought some significant changes impacting merchants using Panasonic SMP. New rules regarding card practices took effect and included PCI DSS changes as developed by the PCI Security Standards Council.

When Panasonic decided to concentrate on their workstation business last year, they discontinued support for their software products, including the System Manager Pro (SMP) point-of-sale software. That left nearly 3,500 merchants and quick service restaurants (QSR) at a loss. As the SMP software is no longer certified to the current PCI rules, merchants using SMP fell out of compliance with PCI.

Merchants failing to comply with the new standards can incur substantial fines, or worse, be prevented from accepting credit cards.

This is serious business. I am not trying to scare you. Yes, of course, I have something to sell, but the fact is that without utilizing PCI compliant POS software, merchants are facing exposure to a possible breach of cardholder data.

The good news is that Bunt Software and Merchant Link have partnered to create a PCI compliant solution for Panasonic SMP users. SMPLink™ is a payment interface that replaces the existing SMP credit interface. The software is immediately available for merchants and QSRs.

In addition, SMPLink has been PA-DSS validated. A key standard under PA-DSS is removing sensitive data after authorization. Using Merchant Link’s TransactionVault® technology, credit card data is tokenized and removed from the POS system, thus, lowering the risk of data breaches and dramatically reducing PCI compliance efforts for the merchant.

For users of Panasonic SMP that are looking to make the switch, this is an easy solution that will allow you to remain PCI compliant and will give you the peace of mind that sensitive data is secure.

P.S. I have also created a forum called Old Skool Pos Forum where owners and dealers of old school point-of-sales systems can chat and interact as well as ask for support.

By Troy Mechura

Panasonic recently decided to stop supporting the Panasonic System Manager Pro (SMP), leaving approximately 3,500 merchants and Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) scrambling for an alternative point-of-sale (POS) credit interface. But you can relax SMP merchants and dealers! Merchant Link and Bunt Software have announced the development of a next generation point-of-sale payment interface called SMPLink.

Installation of the SMPLink interface means you can extend and breathe new life into your SMP System and avoid investing thousands of dollars in a new POS system. You will also get the added benefits of TransactionVault®, Merchant Link’s tokenization technology that removes credit card data from the POS system, lowering the risk of data breaches and dramatically reducing PCI compliance efforts.

For more information on SMPLink, please visit Bunt Software. In addition, you can read the full press release here.

Are you concerned about your Panasonic SMP system becoming obsolete soon? Join the discussion and post your comments below.