Cardholder information is highly valuable to hackers, who can use it for theft, fraud, and extortion. Thus, businesses that handle credit card payments must protect themselves and their stakeholders from cyber threats. The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) helps businesses secure this sensitive data through their various frameworks, standards, and certification requirements. One requirement being that businesses must conduct regular PCI vulnerability scans to proactively identify and eliminate cyber threats.
What is a PCI Vulnerability Scan?
A PCI vulnerability scan identifies weaknesses in your cyber defenses that hackers could exploit. These scans provide detailed documentation of current and potential future vulnerabilities, helping you address them before they become a problem. Here’s a closer look at what these scans involve.
A comprehensive vulnerability scan effectively identifies entry points into your systems. These vulnerabilities can stem from internal missteps or external factors beyond your control. Identifying them is the first step to addressing these issues. A vulnerability test offers detailed documentation of these weaknesses. Moreover, a thorough vulnerability test not only highlights current vulnerabilities but also identifies potential future issues, allowing you to proactively manage risks.
Types of Vulnerability Scans
PCI vulnerability testing includes various methods to uncover different types of threats:
- External Vulnerability Scan: This scan detects weaknesses in your external cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls and IP access controls. It helps identify issues like firewall gaps, unmonitored IP access, outdated cryptographic protocols, and unsecured data transfer methods.
- Internal Vulnerability Scan: This scan focuses on internal threats, identifying vulnerabilities that could be exploited by insiders like disgruntled employees or customers with excessive access. It ensures that software updates and other internal defenses are up-to-date.
PCI vulnerability testing encompasses various methods, each with unique factors. The two main types of vulnerability testing mentioned above, external and internal scans, each identify threats from outside or within your company, respectively. You can conduct vulnerability scans internally or with the help of an impartial third party. While self-assessments and ASV tests can uncover similar issues, involving an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) during this step offers additional benefits and specifications.
Do You Need a PCI Vulnerability Scan?
Yes, if your business processes credit card transactions, a PCI vulnerability scan is essential for compliance and security. A PCI vulnerability scan evaluates your company’s risks within the specific context of credit card processing that it partakes in, as well as the common exploitations associated with it. Furthermore, the level of risk your company faces depends on the volume of transactions it processes. This in turn determines the necessity and verification requirements for testing. The levels of testing required are:
- Level 1: Over six million transactions annually.
- Level 2: One to six million transactions annually.
- Level 3: 20,000 to one million transactions annually.
- Level 4: Fewer than 20,000 transactions annually.
Levels 2, 3, and 4 require annual self-assessments and quarterly scans by an ASV. Level 1 requires on-site assessments by PCI instead of self-assessments.
What is an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV)?
As previously mentioned, businesses are required to have scans completed by an ASV. So who exactly is an ASV? An ASV is accredited by the PCI SSC to conduct scans and ensure compliance. They:
- Determine what to scan.
- Assess and document PCI compliance.
- Retain scan data for three years.
- Ensure scans don’t disrupt normal operations.
The biggest difference between an ASV and someone who might perform another type of testing, like penetration testing, is that a test from an ASV will not impact the normal operations of the scan customer’s environment.
Book a PCI Vulnerability Scan for Your Business
At RSI Security, we specialize in helping businesses like yours achieve comprehensive cybersecurity and PCI compliance. With over a decade of experience and accreditation as an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), we are your trusted partner in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities. Let us help you enhance your cyber defenses and ensure the safety of your sensitive data.
Contact RSI Security today to enhance your cyber defenses. Speak with a PCI compliance expert today!
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