Retailers' On-Going Brand Value Is Dependent On Securing Customer Information, New Study Finds

Retailers' On-Going Brand Value Is Dependent On Securing Customer Information, New Study Finds

While retailers overall struggle with payment industry data security standards, winning retailers recognize that customer data security is far more than just credit card information. A new study from RSR Research presents real-world case studies from three successful tier-1 US retailers, revealing winning retailers' approach to securing sensitive customer data.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) February 19, 2009 -- According to a new RSR Research report, winning retailers recognize the need to protect sensitive customer information that stretches far beyond customer payment data. The report, "Customer Data Security, Beyond Compliance: The Merging of Privacy and Security", released today, highlights how three successful tier-1 US-based retailers approach customer data security.

"While many retailers have focused on how to make their legacy systems compliant with narrowly defined payment standards so that they can successfully pass an audit, they often think of the effort involved as an IT project rather than as a strategic imperative," says Brian Kilcourse, Managing Partner at RSR and co-author of the report. "Retailers can have unprecedented insight into what consumers like, what they don't like, their lifestyle, where their money is, and possibly even their health state. But for those retailers who are behind the curve, the implicit brand promise that 'consumer data is private and secured' is more aspirational than real."

RSR's new report, "Customer Data Security, Beyond Compliance: The Merging of Privacy and Security", sponsored by Apani Networks, Cisco Systems and Intel, provides in-depth case studies of real-world challenges and opportunities, based on conversations with executives at three successful tier-1 US-based retailers.

"We wanted to highlight the efforts of Retail Winners, to uncover how they approach the merging challenges of customer data security and privacy," says Steve Rowen, Managing Partner of RSR and co-author of the report. "We specifically wanted to understand whether these challenges are viewed as strategic or tactical in nature, if and how retailers have successfully turned these challenges into opportunities, and the extent to which technology is helping or hurting those efforts."

The report not only highlights the steps Retail Winners have taken within their own organizations, but also provides valuable lessons they have learned along the way to pass on to their fellow retailers.

To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, click here (http://www.retailsystemsresearch.com/_document/summary/866) or follow this link:

http://www.retailsystemsresearch.com/_document/summary/866 (http://www.retailsystemsresearch.com/_document/summary/866)

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Contact Information Steve Rowen

RSR Research

http://www.retailsystemsresearch.com

617-337-5228

Brian Kilcourse

RSR Research

http://www.retailsystemsresearch.com

925-939-4643