Spotlight On: AusPayNet, A New Principal Participating Organization

Welcome AusPayNet, a new Principal Participating Organization (PPO) at the PCI Security Standards Council! In this special spotlight edition of our PCI Perspectives Blog, AusPayNet’s CEO Andy White introduces us to his company and how they are helping to shape the future of payment security. 

Tell us about your company.

AusPayNet is the industry association and self-regulatory body for the Australian payments industry. We manage and develop standards and guidelines governing payments in Australia. Our purpose is to create confidence in payments by setting enforceable industry standards for a safe, reliable and effective payments system; leading transformation in payments to drive efficiency, innovation and choice; and being the home for ecosystem collaboration and strategic insight. AusPayNet currently has more than 150 members including financial institutions, payment system operators, major retailers and financial technology companies.

Why did your company decide to become a Principal Participating Organization?

We saw the opportunity to participate in the Roadmap Roundtable Group (RRG) and in the Technology Guidance Group (TGG), as well as on the Board of Advisors (BoA). We have been a member of the Board of Advisors for some time and see this – plus now our involvement in the RRG and TGG – as providing us with the ability to shape the future of payments, and of their security. On behalf of the Australian payments ecosystem, we see this involvement as really important in creating confidence in payments.

Which benefits are you most looking forward to as a Principal Participating Organization?

We are looking forward to the ability to participate in the RRG and TGG, as well as on the Board of Advisors. On the RRG, we will help drive the evolution of PCI SSC’s standards and programs by shaping their direction, help influence PCI SSC’s overall strategic direction, and provide input on PCI SSC’s strategic initiatives. On the TGG we will be able to provide proactive technical input on PCI SSC’s standards and programs, and on PCI standards during the drafting process. We will thus be able to help shape the roadmap of future standards and the standards themselves, and vote on the approval of new standards and major standard revisions. This will underpin the future of payments, and of their security.

Why is it important for companies to get more involved with the PCI Security Standards Council, especially at the Principal Participating Organization level?

The PCI Security Standards Council’s mission is to enhance global payments security. That’s a lofty goal and, given PCI SSC’s global role, needs input from institutions that are global or can represent specific regions. It really is an opportunity to help drive the future of payment card security.

What are some payment security topics that you’re interested in collaborating on?

The main topic we are interested in collaborating on is the need to ensure the ongoing (cyber)security and resilience of the payments system through the migration of global card payments to the post-quantum computer ready Advanced Encryption Standard. That really will drive the future of payment card security.