Who does PCI Compliance apply to?
PCI Compliance correlates to every enterprise (no matter how big or small) dealing with cardholder data in any of the following ways: accepting, processing, storing, or transmitting. Therefore, this list contains a broad spectrum of businesses: small local shops, strony e-commerce, corporations, banks, and service providers. However, specific compliance requirements depend on the business volume of transactions, which is divided into different merchant levels.
How do you become PCI Compliant?
Getting PCI-compliant is not a one-time effort but a continuous process along with the following main steps:
• Identify your merchant level: This revolves around the number of transactions handled annually and determines the specific validation requirements.
• Fill in a self-assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): The merchants of smaller sizes are usually required to do this once a year.
• Be subject to an on-site assessment: In most cases, a large merchant requires a security audit by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA).
• Carry out vulnerability scans regularly: Every business has to lead these to check for potential vulnerabilities in the security system.
• Adopt the 12 PCI DSS requirements: Technically and operationally, this is the most essential part of the security program, which broadly incorporates various security measures.
What are the 12 requirements of PCI Compliance?
The 12 PCI DSS requirements are central to the standard and relate to the security of cardholder data. They are structured around six security goals:
• Build and maintain a secure network: Employ firewalls and secure passwords.
• Protect cardholder data: Encode data and use tough encryption.
• Maintain a vulnerability management program: Install antivirus software and keep systems secure.
• Implement strong access control measures: Limit data access to those who absolutely need it.
• Regularly monitor and test networks: Record every access and test security measures.
• Maintain an information security policy: Establish a policy that addresses security for all personnel.
What happens if you’re not PCI Compliant?
Variations in adherence to Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards may correlate with differing outcomes:
• Credit card companies have the option to set limits on potential monetary sanctions, with example values from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.
• The level of compliance measures in organizations may correlate with the frequency of hacking attacks.
• The continued acceptance of credit card payments is subject to specific terms and conditions.
What’s the relationship between PCI Compliance and data breaches?
PCI compliance is a measure intended to mitigate data theft, a current concern, and aims to reduce the likelihood of data breaches. Meeting PCI DSS requirements is often linked to enhanced security, potentially complicating efforts by cyber attackers to access the system and extract information. While PCI compliance is crucial, it does not guarantee complete protection from data breaches. The process of compliance may impact resource allocation within organizations. Consequently, compliance constitutes a vital phase in the defense system against the risks of security breaches, thus preventing businesses and customers from falling victim to fraud.
How often is PCI Compliance required?
PCI compliance is a yearly obligation. Businesses, therefore, must check and prove their compliance status at the very least once a year. This annual verification (which may be through an SAQ or a QSA-led audit) is intended to confirm that security precautions are current and functional. In addition to yearly inspections, many merchants need to perform network scans quarterly to keep the network free of vulnerabilities at all times. PCI DSS is a standard that evolves; monitoring and updating security protocols must be part of a daily routine to achieve compliance.
Podsumowanie
Being PCI-compliant is a must, and it is an essential ongoing obligation for every company managing cardholder data. Adherence to the 12 PCI DSS requirements can potentially correlate with a reduction in data breach incidents and subsequent financial and reputational impacts. Compliance with standards should not be merely an obligation from the authorities’ perspective, but also a fundamental step in safeguarding your company and customers.
