Security

Donor Management Application Adds Point-to-Point Encryption

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 12/19/16

A company with a constituent relationship management application has integrated point-to-point encryption technology into its products to ensure data security for all transactions. iModules Software, which produces Encompass, a software-as-a-service program built on Microsoft SQL Server, has added PCI-validated P2PE from Bluefin Payment Systems.

The integration will have the biggest impact on education users, which will be able to bolster security for their various financial transactions. iModules claims more than 800 clients for its engagement and fundraising software. Clients have included Milton Academy in Milton, MA and the Clayton Education Foundation, serving Clayton, MO schools.

Bluefin's P2PE software Decryptx can encrypt data within a PCI-approved swipe or keypad device, thereby stopping clear-text cardholder data from being maintained in the device or the merchant's system where it could be subject to exposure through a data breach. Data decryption takes place offsite in a Bluefin hardware security module.

The integration requires no change on the part of the merchant functionality.

"The security of our clients' payment transactions is our top priority," said Fred Weiss, iModules president and CEO, in a prepared statement. "PCI-validated P2PE is the gold standard in payment security and we're excited to bring Bluefin's solution to our clients directly through the iModules platform."

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, there have been 37 reported data breaches in K–12 schools, districts and related organizations so far in 2016. "Educational institutions are an attractive target because of the sheer volume of personal and payment data they process," added Greg Cornwell, senior vice president of security solutions at Bluefin. "iModules Software recognizes the need to protect their clients' payment data with PCI-validated P2PE, and we are very pleased to bring this solution to their customer base."