NZ firm introduces secure credit card payment technology

MANILA, Philippines - Mako Networks, an Auckland-based network and payments security company, has brought in the Philippines a technology that would ensure secure credit card payments.

Company CEO Bill Farmer said the Philippines can save up to 75 percent in network costs using this new technology from New Zealand.

He said Mako recently reached agreements with Strateq of Malaysia, AMTI and 3D Networks of the Philippines and IT Consulting & Services of Singapore to distribute Mako’s network management and security solutions, including a range of network appliances and cloud-based central management system for connection, protection, control and reporting of Internet-related activity.

Farmer said after several sales visits and discussions with Asian IT resellers and companies, it became evident to them that the solutions previously provided in the region were falling short of the security and connection requirements of businesses operating there.

“Our initial market research showed us the Asian market was particularly underserved when it came to affordable network security and connectivity,” he said.

The Mako system is able to securely migrate critical business data, including payment transactions, into public broadband through Mako’s unique Level 1 Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification - the highest security clearance attainable for protecting credit card data.

“The Mako system provides us with an ideal solution for the Philippine market: a simple and cost-effective way to securely and reliably connect dispersed offices like remote branches, SOHOs, clinics, health centers, retail outlets, convenience stores, petrol stations, lottery outlets, and even government offices, using the public Internet,” said Bong M. Paloma, AMTI general manager/senior vice president.

“We expect that adding Mako to our solutions portfolio will be a significant business opportunity for our company,” he said.

Mako’s cloud-managed networking solutions are particularly well-suited to the demands of working across a vast geography, as all its network appliances are managed and configured using a central management system accessed through a simple Web browser.

For Mako customers, this provides complete visibility and control of their network connections and activity from anywhere through a secure website.

“We’re delighted to see a New Zealand company working in Asia in this space,” said Hernando Banal, New Zealand Trade Commissioner to the Philippines.

“New Zealand boasts a wealth of ICT companies in a number of specialist industries that are highly successful at an international level.”

To support a growing base of customers and channel partners, Mako Networks now also employs a regional support help desk based in Singapore.

Mako helps merchants that process, transmit or store cardholder data to comply with the stringent Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) as a certified Level 1 service provider. The company operates from offices in Aucklnd, New Zealand, London and San Francisco.