The PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a global security standard designed to protect payment card data. It was established by the PCI Security Standards Council, composed of major payment card issuers (e.g., Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB). The objective of PCI DSS is to ensure the secure processing, storage, and transmission of payment card data and prevent its misuse or theft.
Every organization, which:
Accepts card payments (physically, online, or via phone)
Stores, processes, or transmits payment card data
PCI DSS include 12 main requirements divided into 6 key objectives:
Securing networks and systems:
Installing and maintaining a firewall to protect data
Using secure passwords and secure system configurations
Protecting cardholder data:
Encrypting data during transmission over public networks
Minimizing the storage of sensitive cardholder data
Managing vulnerabilities:
Regularly updating software and systems
Protecting against malware
Access control:
Restricting access to data to authorized personnel only
Unique identifiers for each user
Monitoring and testing networks:
Regular monitoring of access and audit logs
Conducting vulnerability tests
Security policy:
Developing and implementing a security policy
Increased customer trust
Reduced risk of sensitive data breaches
Avoidance of fines and penalties from card issuers
Improved organizational security processes
