Credit card trends are seeing that more and more online services are actually suggesting we store our card details online not only to make payments easier, but also for identity verification.

Think of services like iTunes, Amazon and PayPal to name a few – all encourage you to enter and save card details as part of the service.

Some services – including iTunes – even use cards as a primary source of identity verification, making signing up without a card a lot harder.

This system has even generated countless articles and forum topics on how to sign up for iTunes without a credit card.

The latest developments in the banking world also seem to be encouraging us to store card details online.

Take mobile wallets, which are growing more popular overseas and expected to be the “next big thing” in Australia. These virtual versions of the ones we carry around with us use contactless card technology to make smartphones an extension of our cards.

In order to work, though, you need to store your card details on cloud-based servers.

While cloud servers have been established for a while, the frequency and fear surrounding online credit card fraud could make people think twice before leaving card details online. Is it actually safe?

That question, and the concerns expressed by cardholders around the world has helped lead the development of cloud computing standards specific to card security.

The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council has collaborated with more than 100 global organisations representing banks, merchants, security assessors and technology vendors to release the PCI DSS Cloud Computing Guidelines Information Supplement.

This set of guidelines aims to help companies identify and address the security challenges for different cloud structures, and understand their responsibilities when implementing solutions.

“One of cloud computing’s biggest strengths is its shared-responsibility model. However, this shared model can magnify the difficulties of architecting a secure computing environment,” said Chris Brenton, a PCI Cloud SIG contributor and director of security for CloudPassage.

Benton also said that the document was useful for both cloud providers and cloud users, clearly outlining the security responsibilities that lie with both you and the cloud company.

“This guidance provides an excellent roadmap to crafting a secure posture in both private and public cloud.”

Protecting Your Credit Card Details On A Cloud Server

The purchasing possibilities seem to get bigger and bigger once you are linked up to a cloud service, with virtual wallets and other banking innovations allowing you to use your phone, tablet or computer for purchases online and in stores.

But while banks, credit card processors and cloud service providers all have their own sets of security standards to uphold and continue developing, it is also important for you to take steps to protect your card further.

It is also relatively simple; the security measures you would take for cloud storage could be applied to almost any online account, from your email addresses through to your Facebook or Twitter profiles.

There are guidelines all over the internet for cloud security, so it can be overwhelming and time consuming to sift through all the resources.

But American news service CNN sums up the most important things we should be doing in an aptly titled article “How to protect your cloud data from hacks”. It outlines and provides further information on the following tasks:

1. Regularly backing up your data,
2. Using many different passwords,
3. Making use of two-factor verification for services like Google and Facebook,
4. Avoiding linking too many accounts (whether on the cloud or just online in general); and
5. Avoid using “Find My Mac” if you use an Apple computer.

All of these steps are relatively simple, but they can make a huge difference to your security.

While not everyone currently uses a cloud service, there are still many sites out there that encourage us to store our credit card details.

In most cases it is safe and convenient to take this route, but it is also important to be aware of the security risks and what you can do to protect yourself.

Whether you are using iTunes, Dropbox or a digital wallet like MasterPass, you will be a lot safer once you know what the service is doing to protect you and how you can help keep your card details safe.

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