Valid Date:
The date embossed by the card issuer on the credit card.

VAR Value Added Reseller:
Third party software vendors.

Voice Auth:
A transaction authorization that is provided by an operator, usually when an issuer sends a "Please Call" message to the merchant instead of an authorization number.

Voice Response Unit (VRU):
An automated authorization support system for touch-tone phones.

VPN (virtual private network):
A private network of computers that's at least partially connected by public phone lines. A good example would be a private office LAN that allows users to log in remotely over the Internet (an open, public system). VPNs use encryption and secure protocols like PPTP to ensure that data transmissions are not intercepted by unauthorized parties.