EarthLink Launches Enhanced PCI Compliance Solutions™ at Gartner Symposium/ITxpo

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- EarthLink Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: ELNK), a leading managed network and cloud solutions provider for multi-location businesses, today announced the launch of its new, comprehensive PCI Compliance Solutions™ suite at the 2014 Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, Booth # 1120. Designed to help retailers achieve and maintain PCI DSS 3.0 compliance while providing financial breach protection, EarthLink's PCI Protect™, PCI Assist™, and PCI Certify™ solutions are managed security services that protect customer data, brand reputation and enhance network security.

EarthLink customer Dunn-Edwards Paints operates a regional chain of 117 retail paint stores in the Southwestern U.S., and recently implemented PCI Protect to protect its financial data and meet PCI requirements in its stores.

"Prior to using EarthLink's PCI Compliance Solutions, my staff was responsible for capturing all PCI documentation ourselves, so we've seen an enormous benefit in time savings that enables my IT team to focus on other projects," said Pete Garcia, Manager, Infrastructure Services, Dunn-Edwards. "The 24/7 compliance monitoring is also huge for us, as it's given me a comfort level that I know we are protected. One of the primary reasons we chose EarthLink is the support we receive not only from our account manager, but also from top executives. Mid-sized companies like ours can feel lost with other providers, but at EarthLink, the escalation process is excellent and we feel like we play a part in each other's success."

EarthLink partnered withANXeBusiness Corp. (ANX), a leading provider of compliance solutions, to offer this comprehensive set of services, which includes:

• PCI Protect to deliver financial data breach protection and a self-service PCI portal with a set of tools to help retailers meet PCI requirements, including web-based employee training, a self-assessment questionnaire, security policy templates, record-keeping, quarterly self-service ASV vulnerability scans and breach protection for each location.
• PCI Assist which includes guidance on portal usage, vulnerability remediation assistance, a PCI compliance management roadmap and expert assistance to ensure compliance tasks are met throughout the year.
• PCI Certify which provides customized, expert professional services to validate the self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) or deliver a full-service PCI audit needed as for evidence of PCI compliance.

"When we speak with retail CIOs, the increasing risk of data breaches and cost-effective PCI compliance remain top of mind, but many do not know where to start or lack the in-house expertise to tackle the issue," said Rick Froehlich, EarthLink Executive Vice President, Products and Consumer. "The consequences of a data breach are severe and that's why EarthLink, with more than 20 years of experience delivering security protection and managed security services, developed this comprehensive suite with financial breach protection and compliance support in partnership with ANX, the leader in PCI compliance."

With more than two thousand retail customers, including marquee names such as GNC, Advance Auto Parts, HoneyBaked Ham, Genesco and Anna's Linens, retail is a key vertical market focus for EarthLink. The company's robust portfolio of networking solutions tailored for the retail space showcases EarthLink's expertise with secure, managed networks, nationwide private MPLS networks, integrated voice and data and Direct Connect, offering a PCI compliant, secure connection to leading payment processors.

About EarthLink
EarthLink (EarthLink Holdings Corp., NASDAQ: ELNK) provides managed network, security and cloud solutions for multi-location businesses. We help thousands of specialty retailers, restaurants, financial institutions, healthcare providers, professional service firms and local governments deliver a reliable and engaging customer experience in their stores and branch offices. We do so by building and managing MPLS WAN networks, by providing virtualized infrastructure, security, hosted voice, secure WiFi and compliance solutions, and by offering exceptional customer care. We operate a nationwide network spanning more than 28,000 fiber route miles, with 90 metro fiber rings and secure data centers that provide ubiquitous data and voice IP service coverage. Our EarthLink Carrier™ division sells facilities-based wholesale telecommunications to other providers and our award-winning Internet services connect hundreds of thousands of residential customers across the U.S. For more, visit www.earthlink.com and follow @earthlink, LinkedIn and Google+.

About ANX
ANXeBusiness Corp., headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, is a global provider of managed security, compliance and connectivity solutions.  ANX is certified by the PCI Data Security Council as a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). The company is privately owned by One Equity Partners (www.oneequity.com), which manages investments and commitments for JP Morgan Chase & Co. For more information, visit www.anx.com.

About Dunn-Edwards Corporation
Dunn-Edwards has produced and sold premium paint products for more than 85 years and is the #1 Choice of Painting Professionals based on an independent study where licensed painting contractors in Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix overwhelmingly selected Dunn-Edwards as the paint they would use on their own homes. With more than 115 company stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, and more than 60 authorized dealers throughout the Southwest, Dunn-Edwards is one of the nation's largest independent manufacturers and distributors of architectural paints and paint supplies. Dunn-Edwards international presence includes authorized dealers in China, Guam, Korea, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Philippines and Singapore. The company is dedicated to a greener by design® philosophy and produces its coatings in the world's first and only LEED® Gold-certified manufacturing plant. Based in Southern California, the company is composed of approximately 1,500 employees. For more information, please visit www.dunnedwards.com, www.pinterest.com/dunnedwards and www.facebook.com/dunnedwards.

About Gartner Symposium/ITxpo
Gartner Symposium/ITxpo is the world's most important gathering of CIOs and senior IT executives. This event delivers independent and objective content with the authority and weight of the world's leading IT research and advisory organization, and provides access to the latest solutions from key technology providers. Gartner's annual Symposium/ITxpo events are key components of attendees' annual planning efforts. IT executives rely on Gartner Symposium/ITxpo to gain insight into how their organizations can use IT to address business challenges and improve operational efficiency. For more information, please visit www.gartner.com/us/symposium.

SOURCE EarthLink Holdings Corp.