Before we begin, please excuse us for the number of acronyms that we are about to unleash upon you. In a recent announcement, the Payment Card Industry Security Standard Council (PCI SSC), an international organization that manages the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), introduced a new program that is designed to help companies comply with their continually evolving rules and regulations. It is called the Internal Security Assessor (ISA) Program (ISA) and it will offer training to merchants, banks and processors.

The very first ISA course will be held in Sydney, Australia on May 19-21. This 3-day training session was designed to test the quality and expertise of in-house IT professionals in an attempt to determine how much they know about PCI DSS. In addition to basic evaluations, guests will be provided with technical instruction from PCI DSS experts like Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs).

The introduction of this program is a direct response to the astonishing increase in fines levied by the PCI Security Standard Council. The hope is that better training and more knowledgeable in-house staff will reduce these fines in short order.

The program has been praised by many businesses that do not have the budget to hire outside professionals like Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs), but must still comply with PCI DSS. Individuals that complete the course are awarded an ISA certificate, which must be renewed annually. Due to the growing importance of PCI DSS, these certificates may help set applicants apart when applying for a job in information technology (IT).

After the inaugural weekend, the PCI SSC plans to offer ISA courses at multiple locations over the next two years. Another 3-day weekend course is scheduled for Orlando in the summer and then in Barcelona in the Autumn. To register for these upcoming courses, check the PSI SSC website.