Townsend Security, a leading authority in data privacy solutions, today announced the release of its PCI DSS VMware Product Applicability Guide. The company worked with Coalfire, a PCI-qualified QSA assessor and independent IT audit firm, to show how Alliance Key Manager for VMware, Townsend Security's encryption and key management solution, fully meets or augments sections 1-12, as well as Requirement A.1 of PCI DSS in VMware environments. Additionally, the guide discusses how to easily encrypt data in Microsoft SQL Server without modifying user applications.

"Encryption and key management are fundamental to protecting Personal Account Numbers (PAN), as well as any other information that has been defined as Card Holder Data by PCI DSS," said Dan Fritsche, Managing Director, Applications Security, Coalfire Labs. "We are pleased to validate Alliance Key Manager for VMware for use in VMware environments to PCI DSS."

Whether in traditional IT data centers or cloud environments, Alliance Key Manager for VMware allows businesses to meet the requirements of PCI DSS, as well as other compliance regulations (HIPAA, FedRAMP, etc.). Additionally, the solution uses the same FIPS 140-2 compliant technology found in Townsend Security's hardware security modules (HSMs) and in use by over 3,000 customers worldwide.

"Enterprises across all industry verticals, regardless of where they deploy VMware, are subject to PCI DSS compliance if they process electronic payments. For VMware customers, FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption and key management are a key defense to data security," said Howard Hall, Senior Director, Global Technology Partnering Organization, VMware. "Alliance Key Manager for VMware is an important component for VMware users in both traditional IT data centers and cloud environments to meet PCI DSS to enable secure cardholder data."

"Customers want encryption and key management solutions that natively run in their virtualized environments. Coalfire's validation of Alliance Key Manager for VMware shows that enterprises can do this successfully and not break the bank. The barriers are now lowered for customers to meet this important security control," said Patrick Townsend, CEO of Townsend Security.

Download the complete Coalfire Product Applicability Guide with detailed PCI DSS guidance for Alliance Key Manager for VMware now.

About Alliance Key Manager for VMware

Alliance Key Manager for VMware is deployed as a VMware virtual machine in both physical and cloud environments. Using the same FIPS 140-2 compliant key management technology available in Townsend Security's HSM and in use by over 3,000 customers worldwide, Alliance Key Manager for VMware provides full life-cycle management of encryption keys for a wide variety of applications to help organizations meet PCI DSS, HIPAA, and PII compliance at an affordable price.