University of Georgia Implements Merchant Link Encryption for Campus Hotel

The Georgia Center, a conference center and hotel on the campus of the University of Georgia (UGA), is working with Merchant Link, a cloud-based payment gateway and data security solutions provider, to install the company's TransactionShield point-to-point encryption solution ensuring customer data is secure from the moment their credit card is swiped.

"We have always sought to be aggressive when it comes to our approach to data security," said Corey Doster, the IT Director at the Georgia Center.  "Merchant Link solutions help us meet and exceed our PCI compliance requirements while removing the customer data completely from our premises.  The addition of TransactionShield provides another layer of security to protect our faculty, staff, students and campus visitors against theft and misuse."

The Georgia Center, which serves over 42,000 guests every year, has been a longtime customer of the Merchant Link Payment Gateway since August 2006. The conference center and hotel also deployed Merchant Link's TransactionVault tokenization solution last year with significant success. By combining the two solutions, the Georgia Center completely removed sensitive data from their systems.

The recent addition of the TransactionShield point-to-point encryption solution will extend the protection of customer data from the moment the credit card is swiped and as data travels through UGA's IT environment to the Merchant Link network. New credit card readers immediately encrypt credit card data and decryption does not occur until it reaches Merchant Link's cloud-based payment gateway. Once authorization is received, data is sent back to UGA's Micros OPERA Property Management System in the form of a token.

The implementation of TransactionShield at the Georgia Center is Merchant Link's first point-to-point encryption installation. Following the successful implementation at the Georgia Center, Merchant Link expects to rapidly deploy the solution to other hotel, restaurant and retail merchants around the country.


Featured

  • Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

    Perimeter Security Standards for Multi-Site Businesses

    When you run or own a business that has multiple locations, it is important to set clear perimeter security standards. By doing this, it allows you to assess and mitigate any potential threats or risks at each site or location efficiently and effectively. Read Now

  • New Research Shows a Continuing Increase in Ransomware Victims

    GuidePoint Security recently announced the release of GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team’s (GRIT) Q1 2024 Ransomware Report. In addition to revealing a nearly 20% year-over-year increase in the number of ransomware victims, the GRIT Q1 2024 Ransomware Report observes major shifts in the behavioral patterns of ransomware groups following law enforcement activity – including the continued targeting of previously “off-limits” organizations and industries, such as emergency hospitals. Read Now

  • OpenAI's GPT-4 Is Capable of Autonomously Exploiting Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

    According to a new study from four computer scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, OpenAI’s paid chatbot, GPT-4, is capable of autonomously exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities without any human assistance. Read Now

  • Getting in Someone’s Face

    There was a time, not so long ago, when the tradeshow industry must have thought COVID-19 might wipe out face-to-face meetings. It sure seemed that way about three years ago. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols. 3