PCI DSS Compliance

 

The PCI Digital Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of internationally-recognized security standards that exist to protect the sensitive data associated with payment accounts. These standards apply to any organization or other entity that manages cardholder data.

As of March 2022, PCI DSS v4.0 is the most current version of these standards, though v3.2.1 will remain valid until the end of March 2024. PCI DSS defines 12 requirements, testing procedures for each requirement and guidance on best practices for implementation. 

To be PCI compliant, an organization must implement and maintain security practices that meet or exceed these standards. 

Why is PCI Compliance Important?

Whether you're a large or small business, if you are a merchant who accepts credit card payments, or are a service provider to merchants, your organization is responsible and must protect payment cardholder data through PCI security standards and PCI services.

With security breaches and cybercrimes considered commonplace, adhering to PCI Data Security Standards is critical to keeping your customers’ payment card data safe and secure.

Help protect your business against loss of customers, brand erosion, litigations, and huge monetary losses by becoming PCI compliant.

RSI Security will help you get through the compliance process in an efficient and thorough manner, leaving you with the peace of mind that your data is secure and, more importantly, that your customers' data is secure.

Understanding the Requirements

The first step to becoming PCI compliant is understanding the requirements. The 12 requirements are distributed across six goals:

1. Build and maintain secure networks and systems by implementing network security controls and secure system configurations.
2. Protect cardholder data by securing stored data and using cryptography during data transmission.
3. Implement a vulnerability management program designed to protect systems against malware and ensure secure internal development practices.
4. Implement robust access controls by restricting access to systems and data following the need-to-know principle, following user identification and authentication best practices, and restricting physical access to systems and cardholder data.
5. Regularly monitor and test system and network security and maintain and protect logs and test reports.
6. Implement and maintain a security policy that defines norms and expectations across the organization.

Understanding these standards allows each organization to design a custom approach to security that aligns with internal needs and resources while pursuing compliance.

Implementing the Requirements

The PCI Security Standards Council recommends a three-step process for achieving PCI compliance:

Assess – Start by taking inventory. Identify any sensitive cardholder data, processes, and assets associated with the payment processes. Check them for security vulnerabilities and keep clear records of any issues that are found.

Remediate – Follow the requirements to improve security. It's recommended to focus on eliminating security vulnerabilities and ceasing the storage of sensitive data to whatever extent is possible.

Report – Document the entire process to produce the required reports, then submit them to the applicable financial institutions or card brands to achieve PCI certification.

Specific requirements may vary, so it's best to confirm procedures with specific financial institutions and card brands to ensure a smooth validation process.