The Green Sheet Online Edition
July 7, 2021 • 21:07:01
Letter from the editor
Hungry fraudsters are on the hunt, devising new ways and perfecting old ways to hold data hostage, steal identities, expose confidential information and otherwise steal fortunes from victims in breathtaking chomps and relentless nibbles. And while innovations adopted to facilitate commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic eased consumers' concerns and enabled merchants to do business in new ways, they also provided fertile ground for bad actors. It can seem, at times, that despite our best efforts, we just can't keep up.
This issue's lead article, in which cybersecurity leaders talk shop, shows that while cybertheft is a formidable problem, there are equally formidable solutions available today that businesses can employ to make cyberattacks less lucrative and sometimes even painful for fraudsters, while significantly safeguarding data and reducing the success of these criminal enterprises. The security provided by CPoC-based solutions in today's mobile-reliant world is among the topics addressed by our contributing writers. Other topics explored include significant advancements in real-time payments; dramatic transformations payment terminals have undergone, particularly post-COVID; money-saving services such as point-of-banking that can help cannabis businesses increase safety and reduce overhead; and how agents who have adapted through the industry's many changes can adapt again and thrive in the new normal that is likely to continue long after pandemic restrictions have been lifted.
A report on how the pandemic served as a "black swan" that transformed the economy is among the stories covered in News Briefs. Other news highlighted includes Westside State Bank's bringing real-time payments to customers through a connection to RTP; ThetaRay and Google Cloud's collaboration to provide an AML solution for cross-border payments; a joint effort among cyber experts and the Fed to combat ransomware; and PayPal's revamped pricing, which will hike ecommerce fees.
In addition to words of inspiration for those who have recently relocated to new communities, this issues contains a recap of the Merchant Sales Podcast's latest episodes, including advice on making the Canada-to-U.S. transition, creating new residual streams with payroll processing, and selling cash discounting to monster merchants, among other topics. Also herein you'll find company and product profiles along with updates on recent awards, certifications, product launches, research, partnerships, appointments and acquisitions. We have dynamite coverage planned for the rest of this year, but we have room for your ideas, too. Please send your feedback to greensheet@greensheet.com, and keep your press releases coming to press@greenshet.com. 
Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.
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