Merchant Risk Council expands focus to include security risk and e-payments

The Merchant Risk Council (MRC) has announced today an expansion of the organization’s activities to include education and advocacy programs that focus on electronic commerce security and electronic payment issues. With new industries, categories and vertical markets under the e-Commerce umbrella, the MRC is addressing new security risk and payment complexities associated with these expanding online business models.

 “One of the biggest challenges facing merchants in today’s economy is identifying and communicating these emerging payment and risk options that are so unique to e-Commerce. The MRC is here to help merchants tackle these issues,” said MRC Executive Director Tom Donlea. “The MRC is rapidly evolving to be the preeminent source for all e-Commerce constituents who deal with the growing complexities of online sales security and payments – all with the mission of making e-Commerce safer and more efficient for consumers.” 

Since its inception in 2001, the MRC has facilitated on-line merchants in collaborating and sharing information in order to prevent fraud. The MRC not only serves the rapidly changing needs of e-Commerce and multi-channel merchants, but is working with all participants of the electronic payments ecosystem, including: payment processors, law enforcement agencies, risk management solution providers, alternative payment providers and card issuers, as well as all the major payment card brands.

Throughout 2009 and 2010, the MRC will provide members and industry stakeholders with a wide range of new payment and security-related educational opportunities, trainings and papers. These include special conference sessions, hosted webinars, regulatory change updates and reports on alternative payment strategy trends. 

The MRC Annual Conference and Platinum Meeting, March 10-12 in Las Vegas, exemplifies this evolution by dedicating nearly half of all sessions and content to Security Risk and Payment topics. These sessions include:  
•    Data Breach: Cause, Impact, Next Steps – Moderated by Chase Paymentech
•    Managing Risk to Maximize Revenue: Risk & Payments Management Best Practices – Presented by Vindicia
•    Payments as Business Strategy – Moderated by Glenbrook Partners
•    Card Payment Risk Management Update – Presented by Visa
•    Transaction 360: A Holistic View of Transaction and Risk Processing – Moderated by Litle & Co.
•    Web Hacking 101: Hands-on Electronic Crime – Presented by SpiderLabs/Trustwave
•    Internet Bank Payments Coming of Age – Presented by Netgiro
•    Plus an update from the PCI Security Standards Council 

The primary themes of the 2009 conference are: Fighting New Patterns of Fraud and Cybercrime; Emerging Risk Management Trends; and Global Online Payment Strategies.

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The MRC Annual Conference includes more than 40 speakers and panelists, 30 unique sessions and 40 payment and risk industry exhibitors – all delivering valuable insight and information on the growth, diversity and risks associated with e-Commerce.

Conference keynote speakers include: 
•    Tom Ridge, the first US Secretary of Homeland Security, addressing the growing cyber security issues that affect both US security and the US and global economies.
•    Terry Jones, Travelocity.com founder, focusing on the business of innovation.
•    Chris Hansen, Dateline NBC correspondent, sharing his findings on the growing cybercrime community.

For full conference schedule, registration and exhibition information, please visit the MRC website at www.merchantriskcouncil.org.