The MasterCard Site Data Protection (SDP) Program is designed to help acquirers, merchants, and service providers achieve compliance with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard. The SDP Program is deployed globally by MasterCard Worldwide and consists of a combination of rules, guidelines, best practices, and approved compliance validation tools to foster broad compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard.

The SDP Program, with the PCI Data Security Standard as its foundation, details the data security requirements and compliance validation requirements to protect stored MasterCard account information. The SDP Program is a means to identify vulnerabilities in security processes, procedures, and website configurations. Adoption of SDP and subsequent compliance with the PCI Data Security standard will help merchants, service providers, and acquirers protect against security breaches, enhance consumer confidence, and protect the integrity of the overall payment channel.

Participation in the SDP Program and compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard is vital for preventing fraud, securing MasterCard account information, and protecting the reputation of businesses. The PCI Data Security Standard is a globally recognized set of requirements endorsed by all major card brands.

The MasterCard SDP Program provides a clearly defined global framework, using a variety of compliance validation tools and solution providers. This flexibility helps acquiring institutions support their merchants, and enables third-party processors to put in place the necessary platforms, procedures, and policies to comply with the PCI Data Security Standard and mitigate the risks associated with storage of MasterCard account information.

For further information on the MasterCard Site Data Protection Program, please visit www.mastercard.com/sdp.