PCI SSC in Brazil: New Regional Engagement Board for 2022

PCI SSC has announced a newly expanded Brazil Regional Engagement Board (REB). Here we talk with PCI SSC Associate Director, LA Region for Brazil, Carlos Caetano, about the value of the board, its role and agenda for 2022.

This is the third election for the Brazil Regional Engagement Board (REB). Why is this an important effort for the Brazilian payments ecosystem?

The Brazilian payments ecosystem is on the rise. We’ve been seeing new players joining the payment card industry who are focused on bringing innovative solutions for a growing market. The newly elected REB now has 30 members, the most we have ever had. That demonstrates a growing awareness and interest in payment security. The 2022-2023 Brazil Regional Engagement Board members will be important advisors to the Council to report on these payment trends and innovation, focusing on the challenges on the optics of security and effective adoption of the PCI Standards by the Brazilian stakeholders.

What are the responsibilities of Brazil Regional Engagement Board members?

The Brazil Regional Engagement Board members are responsible for providing advice, feedback and guidance to the Council relating to payment data security issues, trends and market changes in the region; representing the views and interests of regional constituents; assisting in the recruitment of new Participating Organizations and stakeholders; recommending agenda topics for Regional Engagement Board meetings and other possible events; and participating as needed in PCI SSC initiatives and projects. 

The board will meet regularly throughout the year to discuss payment data security issues, trends and market changes. Its key priorities in 2022 will include:

• Awareness of PCI DSS v4.0: Helping increase understanding of updates in version 4.0 of the PCI Data Security Standard;
• Educational Resources for Brazil: Collaborating on the development of content and resources for the Brazilian payments industry;
• Awareness of Key Payment Security Initiatives: Driving regional awareness and understanding of the PCI Software Security Framework (SSF) and PCI SSC Mobile Standards;
• Training: Fostering greater payment security awareness and understanding through PCI Training.
  

Awareness and training look like the greatest focus on the list you presented above. Why those are important for Brazil in 2022?

Since August 2016 the Council has made a concerted effort to understand and support the needs of the Brazilian payment card industry. Our efforts have been focused on payment security awareness and training since the beginning. We’ve seen a growing number of companies make training their internal staff on payment security best practices a top priority by becoming Participating Organizations and ISA sponsors. But with an ever-changing payment landscape, there is still significant work to be done to educate the marketplace, especially with new stakeholders and merchants. Merchant awareness will continue to be a great focus in 2022, and we shall work together with our Regional Engagement Board members to continue offering ISA trainings in Portuguese as well as Informational Trainings.