Archive

Credit Card Security Compliance for Sage MAS 90 and 200

Published
by
Brian Rice
on May 14, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 0 Comments

We recently wrote about the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standars (PCI-DSS) and the new requirements being enforced as of July 1, 2010.

Only the features in MAS 90 and 200 version 4.30.0.18 and 4.40.0.1 or greater are designed to address these requirements. Installations of  less current releases will not be compliant with the new standards if credit card data is stored inside the system.

There are twelve requirements organized into six objectives.

  1. Build and Maintain a Secure Network: Install and maintain a firewall and use unique, high-security, passwords with special care to replace default passwords.
  2. Protect Cardholder Data: Whenever possible, cardholder data must not be stored. You must also encrypt any data passed across public networks, including your shopping cart and web-hosting providers.
  3. Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program: Use anti-virus and keep it up date. Develop and maintain secure operating systems and payment applications. Ensure the applications you use are compliant (see www.visa.com/pabp).
  4. Implement Strong Access Control Measures: Access to cardholder data – both electronic and physical – should be on a “need-to-know” basis. Ensure those people with access have a unique ID and password. Do not share logon information.
  5. Regularly Monitor and Test Networks: Track and monitor all access to networks and cardholder data. Ensure you have a regular testing schedule for security systems and processes including firewalls, patches and anti-virus.
  6. Maintain an Information Security Policy: It’s critical that your organization has a resource for governing your company’s data security. Ensure you have a policy and that it’s disseminated and updated regularly.

More information is available at Sage’s PCI-DSS Compliance page.

Sage MAS 90 and 200 Business Intelligence Comparison

Published
by
Brian Rice
on May 13, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 1 Comment

With the information that the official FRx replacement for MAS 90 and MAS 200 will be announced soon, Sage has issued a Business Intelligence Comparison listing reporting and intelligence tools that are available (or planned) with MAS 90 and 200 as well as integrated third-party intelligence tools FRx, BizInsights from BizNet, Crystal Reports and F9.

The document shows how wide and well-developed Sage’s intelligence tools have become, all included with a current subscription/maintenance plan. It also shows how comparable the BizInsights and Sage MAS Intelligence features are.

SageMAS Intelligence Comparison Matrix

Sage’s Recommended FRx Replacement

Published
by
Brian Rice
on May 13, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 2 Comments

The search began several months ago when Microsoft announced the retirement of FRx and in June 2010, Sage MAS Intelligence will be introduced by Sage as their recommended FRx replacement. Sage MAS Intelligence is powered by Alchemex and is built on the framework of Sage Accpac Intelligence and Sage Simply Intelligence.
Sage MAS Intelligence allows users to build reports within the familiar Excel application with access to all available modules; FRx only allowed access to General Ledger data. While FRx allowed access to multiple company databases for consolidated reports, Sage MAS Intelligence will require an additional license in the form of a Connector. These details are not official until Sage publicly releases a statement but the plan is to supply all current, on-plan end-users with a license of Sage MAS Intelligence Report Manager allowing a user to:
  • Author new reports (organizing, creating, editing), as well as filter and aggregate data based on existing data containers.
  • Run, edit and clone the standard report templates for management (financial reports, dashboards, financial trend analysis), as well as general ledger, sales, purchases, and inventory transactional reports
  • Set permissions/security on all reports.
  • Connection to one ERP company database at a time (if running two or more companies, user can redirect to relevant company connection)
  • Optional Import/Export functionality requires the purchase of an additional Report Manager License, the Designer Module, or Connector Module
  • Optional Report Scheduling requires the purchase of an additional Report Manager Licence or, the Designer Module, or Connector Module
  • Connections to other types of databases or more than one Sage MAS company database at a time requires the purchase of a Connector Module

Specifically the Connector Module allows access to information from multiple sources and consolidation of data from multiple companies. The Connector Module allows for consolidations and connectivity to unlimited ODBC data sources and includes a graphical join tool to simplify database queries.

Although it isn’t particularly clear how, the Report Designer extends the flexibility of the the Report Manager.

System requirements for Sage MAS Intelligence users Excel 2003 or Excel 2007 but to run the Report Designer, Excel 2007 is required.

Acuity Training Campus

Published
by
Brian Rice
on May 13, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 0 Comments

The remainder of the 2010 Sage MAS 90 and 200 education course schedule has been released and is now available at the Sage University website.

We try to schedule courses at a variety of times to work with varying schedules but if you are interested in a course during a time it isn’t on our schedule, let us know. We may be able to work something out.

Sage Desktop Deposit

Published
by
Brian Rice
on May 13, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 0 Comments

What is Sage Desktop Deposit? Maybe exactly what you expect.

Many of your financial transactions are now being handled electronically, maybe more than you would expect:

  • Direct Deposit for your employee payroll
  • ACH payments for vendors
  • Credit card payments from your customers
  • Credit card payments to your vendors
  • Online payments to vendors

In many cases, however, payment by check is still the most popular form of payment and of course, if the payment isn’t made electronically, someone has to schlep to the bank. Sage Desktop Deposit resolves that problem by giving you the ability to scan checks from your customers transmitting the deposit to your bank right from your desk. You’ll need some hardware and of course there are fees (similar to credit card merchant fees).

Kissinger Releases EDI Advantage 2010

Published
by
Brian Rice
on April 22, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 0 Comments

Oftentimes businesses don’t decide to implement EDI (electronic data interchange), they are required by one of their suppliers or customers. The process (which usually means more or new business) can be complicated and expensive to implement but Kissinger has released EDI Advantage 2010 for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 which moves all of the EDI processing inside the MAS application eliminating the need for a external translator to read the EDI information.

Hightower, Inc. Issues Notice Regarding MAS 90 and 200 Service Update 18

Published
by
Brian Rice
on April 22, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 0 Comments

Hightower, Inc., publisher of MAS 90 and MAS 200 enhancements including Point of Sale Professional and Time & Billing Professional, have issued a notice regarding the recently issued MAS 90 and 200 service update from Sage. The notice (and case for maintaining a reliable back up) is included below:

Sage Software has temporarily removed Product Update 18 until a critical issue is resolved. Some issues we have found include:

  • Time and Billing Professional – Printing Issues
  • Point of Sale Professional – Credit card processing In Company Maintenance, Credit Card Processing gets changed to “None” and cannot be changed back.

Sage technicians have tried everything in their power to recover credit card data but were unable to. Their recommendation for now is to restore from back up.

The issues seem to be prevalent only on MAS 90/200 systems that have e-Business Manager and Credit Card Processing.

Spring Promotions for Sage MAS 90 and 200

Published
by
Brian Rice
on April 19, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 0 Comments

Sage MAS 90 and 200 Existing Customer Promotions

New! Reinstatement relief on the lapsed fees with an off-plan reinstatement in Q3

Qualifying reinstatements are for users who have been off plan for at least six-months. All eligibility is subject to approval.

New! ACT! Customers: Save 25% on migration to the Sage MAS 90 and 200 Extended Enterprise Suite

Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers who are using the ACT! solution can trade it in and save 25% on migration to Extended Enterprise Suite.

*Proof of purchase is required. This offer does not apply to Sage maintenance or support fees and cannot be combined with any other product offer. To take advantage of this offer, customers must have a current Sage Maintenance Plan. The customer must have owned their Sage ERP system and ACT! for at least six months. All eligibility is subject to approval.

New! Distribution Customers: Save 20% with the purchase of two or more distribution solutions

Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers can complete their distribution solution and save 20% when they purchase two or more eligible solutions.

*Eligible solutions include the following: Bar Code, Credit Card Processing, Inventory Management, Purchase Order, Return Merchandise Authorization, Sales Order, Sage SalesTax, and StarShip . This offer does not apply to Sage maintenance or support fees and cannot be combined with any other product offer. To take advantage of this offer, customers must have a current Sage Maintenance Plan. All eligibility is subject to approval.

New! Extended Solutions Customers: Save 50% off the product with the purchase of a version 4.3 extended solution scheduled to be included into version 4.4

Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers who may need a retained extended solution for version 4.3 can save 50% on those scheduled to be included in the 4.4 product updates.

*Refer to the Extended Solutions Partner FAQ for a comprehensive list of the 27-extended solutions that are scheduled to be included into version 4 .4 . Standard maintenance charges will apply for any retained extended solution scheduled to be incorporated from September 2010 forward. Call your customer account manager for more information. To take advantage of this offer, customers must have a current Sage Maintenance Plan. All eligibility is subject to approval.

Extended! All Customers: Get a free Credit Card Processing module ($1,100 value) with enrollment in Sage Payment Solutions

In today’s economy, it is crucial for businesses to take measures to improve and promote healthy cash flow. Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers who enroll in Sage Payment Solutions will be eligible to have the cost of the Credit Card Processing module waived – a savings of $1,100!

* Valid proof of enrollment in Sage Payment Solutions is required. Regular maintenance applies. This offer does not apply to Sage maintenance or support fees and cannot be combined with any other product offer. To take advantage of this offer, customers must have a current Sage Maintenance Plan. All eligibility is subject to approval.

Extended! All Customers: Take advantage of 0% financing on migrations to Sage MAS 90 or 200 Extended Enterprise Suite

Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers can migrate to Sage MAS 90 or 200 Extended Enterprise Suite and receive 0% financing on the migration fees. Promotion applies to the product portion of the sale only and not to maintenance. Promotion cannot be combined with other promotions and applies only to non-discounted transactions of $7,500 or greater. To take advantage of this offer, customers must have a current Sage Maintenance Plan or their Plan can be renewed at the time of purchase.

Extended! EES Customers: Add additional CRM users to the Extended Enterprise Suite for $795 each. This provides a maximum savings of $1,455 each

Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers who migrate to Sage MAS 90 or 200 Extended Enterprise Suite can save on their purchase of new EES CRM users at just $795 each.

*Purchase of EES CRM users also requires the purchase of first year maintenance and support at $151 per user for BasicPlus or $199 for Gold. EES CRM user promo offer requires a minimum of five full-use Extended Enterprise Suite users, and cannot be combined with any other offers unless expressly stated. Call your customer account manager for user requirements on Sage MAS 90 and 200.

What are PCI-DSS requirements?

Published
by
Brian Rice
on April 19, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 1 Comment

Within 90 days, requirements established by the five major credit card networks will affect many businesses’ ability to accept credit cards. Referred to as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) they impose new requirements for merchants to follow, and may apply to your customers.

Sage has created a PCI-DSS Resource Center to help.

There is good news: Sage MAS 90 and 200 v4.30.0.18 and 4.40.0.1 are in the process of being certified as compliant with PA-DSS and Sage Payments Solutions is a Level 1 service credit card processing service provider that is in compliance with PCI-DSS.

Visit the PCI-DSS Resource Center now.

Sage is also hosting two webinars concerning credit card security:

Critical Compliance: Ensure Your Ability to Accept Credit Card Payments after July 1, 2010

The Power and Security of Sage MAS 90 and 200 ERP Credit Card Processing

Sales Tax Challenges and Audit Protection with Sage Sales Tax for MAS 90 and 200

Published
by
Brian Rice
on April 19, 2010
in MAS 90 and MAS 200
. 0 Comments

Automate every aspect of Sales Tax, from Nexus to Audit Protection!
Attend this informational webinar to discover how!

Sales Tax Challenges and Audit Protection
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT

This webinar will discuss:

  • Understanding sales and use tax
  • Tax Changes in 2009 and 2010
  • Nexus
  • Taxability of Transactions
  • Managing Exemptions
  • Audits Preparedness and Protection
  • Automating all aspects of Sales Tax


Why Sage Sales Tax?
- Seamless integration into MAS 90, MAS 200 and MAS 500 for over 5 years
- Reduce audit penalty risk – Over 2,000 Sales Tax Changes in 2009 and more on the way in 2010
- Automate sales tax calculation, product taxability, sales tax returns and liability remittance
- Real-time address validation for sales tax, shipping and invoicing
- Completely accurate sales tax rates and rules – GUARANTEED!!
-.Eliminate the use of tax codes and maintenance of tax schedules
- Set best practices in sales tax compliance, including exemptions
- Remove all sales tax related burdens with Sage Sales Tax

Benefits of using Sage Sales Tax:

>>

Accuracy: rates & rules that are always up-to-date

>>

Affordability: scalable for businesses of all sizes

>>

Speed: runs in the background of your ERP

>>

Setup: start calculating tax in just a few steps

>>

Filing: never fill out or remit a return again

Sage Sales Tax, powered by Avalara, is the Sage Software preferred sales tax solution and currently integrates into MAS 90 ERP, MAS 200 ERP, MAS 500 ERP, Accpac ERP, Pro ERP and Platinum for Windows. Learn more atwww.avalara.com.

Register today for an exclusive webinar highlighting the benefits of Sage Sales Tax!
Wednesday, April 21 at 11:00 AM Pacific