VENZA, a leading provider of data protection and regulatory compliance solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced that it has promoted Charles Smart to the position of Security Team Manager. In this role, he will be responsible for leading our expert group of security analysts to provide guidance, tools and services for our customers and partners in cybersecurity best practices and compliance with PCI DSS payment card standards and other security frameworks.

Smart brings with him considerable expertise and experience in the field of technology security and compliance. An expert on PCI DSS standards, he is certified as a Qualified Security Assessor by the PCI Security Standards Council, which allows him to conduct expert compliance assessments. Led by Smart, VENZA is one of fewer than 200 organizations worldwide who are accredited to perform PCI DSS Assessments under the newest version 4.0 standard.

Smart holds multiple additional globally recognized IT industry certifications, including as an ISACA Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). He possesses over twenty years of information technology experience. Previously, he served as a Senior Security Analyst at VENZA. Smart operates out of the company’s San Juan, PR office.

VENZA’s Security Team provides key services in support of the company’s best-in-class Everest™ and Denali™ programs. Among them are PCI DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) preparation, Report on Compliance (ROC) preparation, external and internal vulnerability scanning, Pen Testing, GAP Assessment, and the provision of Policy Templates.

Smart’s core responsibilities will include providing direction on technological and policy guidelines to VENZA staff members and clients to offer subject-matter expertise for the development of cybersecurity best practices, creating baseline standards and auditing practices for client cyber defense postures, and overseeing a team of Security Analysts in the execution of their daily responsibilities.

“Charles has long been a leader on our Security Team,” said Macarena Carballo, Executive Vice President of Global Operations at VENZA. “His knowledge of the inner workings of PCI DSS and IT security are unparalleled and have earned him the deep respect of his peers. There is no other person better positioned than him to lead the future of the Security Team and I am excited to see him thrive in his new role.”

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as the VENZA Security Manager,” said Charles Smart. “One of the most important elements of any team is their variety of experiences, knowledge, and backgrounds. My goal is to continue to enhance and integrate our diverse experiences to maximize our effectiveness and impact. This, combined with VENZA’s continued use of best-in-breed tools, will ensure that we deliver an outstanding product.”

“I am incredibly excited about new developments that will grow and improve our Security Team in the months ahead,” he added. “I look forward to leading this effort and fulfilling our mission to guide good people to do great things!”