Taking transactions from customers is a big responsibility, especially when it comes to issues like security, privacy, and customer protection. This is why The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, comprised of leading credit card companies, including Mastercard and Visa, created the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
All companies that take card payments, whether online or off, must be PCI compliant. Read on to find out what that means for you.
What is PCI compliance?
PCI compliance means ensuring your store adheres to the security standards set out by PCI DSS. Its main purpose is to protect card transactions and prevent misuse of cardholder information, such as fraud or theft. The first version of PCI DSS was created in 2004, and there have been several iterations since then. The most recent is PCI DSS v4.0, which was finalized in April 2022.
While each iteration came with changes in particular details, the general standards have remained the same:
- Building and maintaining secure networks and systems
- Credit card data protection
- Maintain a vulnerability management program
- Implement strong access control measures
- Regularly monitor and test networks
- Maintain an information security policy
How to be PCI compliant?
The best way to be PCI compliant is to carefully follow the PCI standards and carry out an assessment to ensure everything is above board. The type of assessment you need depends on your merchant level. There are four merchant levels, with level 1 being large companies that process over 6 million transactions annually, while level 4 is smaller businesses that process fewer than 20,000 transactions per year. With the former, assessments should be performed by a Qualified Security Assessor, while the latter can perform a self-assessment.
Find out more about PCI assessments.
Upcoming changes to PCI compliance
While the broad standards have remained the same, PCI DSS 4.0 has been updated with particular specifications that companies must implement by March 2025. Some of these changes include:
- Updates to MFA and password requirements
- Giving organizations more flexibility in regards to how they meet PCI security standards
- New phishing and e-commerce standards
- Clarifications and broadening of firewall terminologies in related to network security controls
- The obligation to create specific roles for achieving each requirement
The takeaway
PCI compliance should not be treated as optional for businesses that deal in transactions. It’s a way to protect you and your customers from the worst. Find out more on the PCI Security Standards Council website.
Cora is a digital copywriter for SSLs.com. Having eight years of experience in online content creation, she is a versatile writer with an interest in a wide variety of topics, ranging from technology to marketing.