The certification has taken months of work and has involved the creation of a ring-fenced environment within Paragon CC’s already secure production sites. All the equipment and computer systems are isolated from other networks, and personnel access is further restricted.

Paragon described it as “the ultimate level of security for data processing and communication production in the UK”, meeting the requirements for highly sensitive communications such as credit card statements and PIN number mailings. It has helped the business secure two substantial financial services contracts, although client details are currently under wraps.

Chief executive Jeremy Walters said that, with so much focus in general on data security and upcoming legislative changes, the business wanted to maintain a leading position. 

“We know how important our clients’ data is, so we are always looking to reduce the risk of potential cyber-attacks while ensuring the highest standards of data integrity,” Walters said. “We are not waiting for the impact of GDPR or the Government’s launch of the Data Protection Bill.”

The PCI DSS achievement formed part of a £2m investment in technology and production infrastructure at the business, which was acquired by the Paragon Group in May.

“This increases the range of services we can offer,” added head of creative development Fraser Church. “It’s an additional layer on top of the already high levels of security we already hold – like a vault within a bank.”

Paragon CC currently processes more than 4m communication items a day for its customers.