PCI DSS

There are three critical steps to taking advantage of the PCI DSS 4.0 Customized Approach:

• Identifying which requirements and controls you’ll use alternative methods to achieve
• Implementing cyberdefense mechanisms to safeguard the cardholder data environment
• Working with a PCI DSS assessor to report on and validate your controls for compliance

Understanding the full scope of when PCI 4.0 is required means comprehending:

• When the PCI DSS 4.0 release date was and how the transition to 4.0 started
• When PCI DSS 3.2.1 will be fully retired and replaced by PCI DSS v4.0
• When PCI DSS 4.0’s future-dated requirements come into effect
• When and how you should start preparing for PCI compliance

The PCI DSS 4.0 compensating controls and Customized Approach are two methods to validate compliance. The former is for requirements that can’t be met, and the latter is for meeting different objectives. Organizations can use either (or both) to optimize their compliance.

If your organization is preparing for PCI compliance for the first time since v4.0 was published, there are many factors you need to consider. This comprehensive PCI DSS 4.0 checklist accounts for the timeline, assessment protocols, requirement scope, and options for flexibility.

PCI compliance penalties include both direct fines and other expenses, like opportunity and operational costs from PCI governance and your clientele. Non-compliance often means you’re at greater risk for cybercrime, which leads to even greater expenses.

PCI penetration testing is a key part of PCI compliance. PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 outlines specific controls to implement for external and internal penetration tests to keep cardholder data (CHD) secure.

PCI Level 1 compliance is the highest level of PCI compliance required for organizations that process the most credit card transactions per year. It involves implementing all of the PCI DSS controls, then working with a PCI-certified third-party assessor to verify your security.

Companies that process payments through cards and other electronic means open themselves up to cybercrime risks. Hackers target card information for direct theft and fraud and payment processors can also fall victim to cyberattacks. To mitigate these risks, the Security Standards Council (SSC) of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) has devised numerous controls across several security standards to keep companies and consumers safe. But this begs the question: how many PCI controls are there, and what are PCI controls in the first place?

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) requires all organizations that process card payments to protect cardholder data (CHD) and sensitive authentication data (SAD) from breach risks. PCI compliance testing is one of the best strategies to protect valuable CHD and SAD, requiring organizations to regularly test and scan systems to identify vulnerabilities. 

Organizations that handle cardholder data on the cloud must safeguard it against cybersecurity threats. With the help of the PCI cloud computing protections, your organization can mitigate the data security threats posed by operating in high-risk cloud environments. Read on to learn more about these protections and how they apply to your organization.