RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMEN:

TITLE OF CAPSTONE PROJECT: Strengthening Cloud Security: Achieving and Sustaining PCI DSS Compliance in the Payment Card Industry

I, Vivian Berry, am a Doctoral student at Capella University and invite you to participate in my capstone project. This study is part of my Doctoral degree program. The purpose of my study is to explore effective cloud security practices for achieving and maintaining PCI DSS compliance in the payment card industry. You are invited to be a participant with your knowledge, experience, expertise, and personal assessments of the difficulty payment card industries face in implementing and maintaining robust cloud security measures to comply with PCI DSS requirements, which are critical for protecting cardholder data and mitigating security breaches without regard to your current employer or workplace and the practices used at those sites.

Criteria to be a Participant:

You can be a participant if you meet one of the following criteria:

Professional Role:

• IT professionals, cybersecurity specialists, or compliance officers involved in cloud security or PCI DSS compliance efforts.

Industry Experience:

• Participants must work in or have experience with payment card industries or related sectors (e.g., banking, financial services, or e-commerce).

Knowledge of PCI DSS:

• Familiarity with PCI DSS requirements, particularly those related to cloud-based environments.

Involvement in Cloud Security:

• Direct experience implementing, managing, or auditing cloud security measures.

Organization Type:

• Employed at organizations that handle payment card data and utilize cloud-based infrastructure.

Willingness to Participate:

• Participants must consent to share insights, engage in interviews as required.

Interview Format and Time Commitment:

Should you choose to participate, you will be asked to participate in a [45-50]-minute interview. I will audio record the interview for transcription purposes. You may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. Your identity will remain confidential; your name or the name of your company will not appear in the final write-up of the results.

Benefits of the Study:

The expected benefits of the study include:

· Strengthened Data Security: Identifies effective cloud security practices that protect sensitive cardholder data, reducing the risk of breaches and fraud.

· Improved PCI DSS Compliance: Provides insights and strategies to help organizations achieve and sustain compliance with PCI DSS, ensuring they meet industry standards.

· Cost and Risk Reduction: Highlights measures to minimize non-compliance penalties, reduce financial losses from data breaches, and avoid reputational damage.

· Guidance for Cloud Adoption: Offers practical recommendations for secure cloud migration and management tailored to payment card industries, addressing unique compliance challenges.

· Enhanced Industry Knowledge: Contributes to the body of knowledge in cloud security and PCI DSS compliance, benefiting IT professionals, policymakers, and organizations.

· Competitive Advantage: Helps organizations gain a competitive edge by ensuring their security practices meet or exceed industry standards, foster trust among customers and stakeholders.

· Support for Regulatory Alignment: Assists businesses in navigating overlapping regulatory requirements, such as GDPR or CCPA, alongside PCI DSS in cloud environments.

· Encourages Innovation: Promotes innovative solutions for securing cloud infrastructure while maintaining operational efficiency and compliance.

A copy of the approved summary of the study will be provided to the participants upon completion.

How to Participate and Start Date:

Please review the eligibility criteria to participate in this study. If interested in participating in the study, please contact me at [email address: [email protected] and telephone: 6173831347]. I will schedule a brief pre-screening session to confirm eligibility. I will provide you with an informed consent form for review after the pre-screening session has been concluded and if you are deemed eligible for the study.

Thank you for taking the time to assist in this study. Please contact me at [email address: [email protected] and telephone: 6173831347] if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Vivian Berry