The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. PCI DSS is mandatory for all companies that accept credit cards, and failure to comply can result in hefty fines and penalties.
The good news is that there are many resources available to help companies achieve and maintain PCI compliance. This PCI compliance checklist is a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about PCI DSS, including the new requirements for 2023.
So, if you’re looking for a one-stop resource on PCI compliance, you’ve come to the right place!
What’s PCI Compliance?
PCI compliance is a set of security standards that businesses must follow if they accept, process, store or transmit credit card information. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of 12 requirements that businesses must meet in order to be PCI compliant.
Some of the PCI DSS requirements include installing and maintaining a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data, using strong access control measures to limit access to cardholder data and developing and maintaining secure systems and applications.
Being PCI compliant is important for businesses because it helps to protect them from data breaches and fraud. It also helps to build trust with customers and show that businesses take data security seriously.
Who Needs to be PCI Compliant?
So who needs to be PCI compliant? Any business that accepts credit cards, either online or in-person, must comply with PCI DSS. This includes retailers, e-commerce businesses, restaurants, hotels, and more. If your business falls into one of these categories, then you need to be PCI compliant. If you’re not PCI compliant, you risk losing customers, damaging your reputation and incurring fines/penalties ranging from $5,000 to $500,000.
The 12 PCI DSS Requirements
Follow the 12 PCI compliance requirements to help your business secure systems and applications.
Build and Maintain a Secure Network
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to protect cardholder data. To be compliant with PCI DSS, businesses must build and maintain a secure network. This includes installing and maintaining firewalls, using strong encryption, and protecting cardholder data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Protect Cardholder Data
One of the key requirements of PCI DSS is to protect cardholder data from unauthorized access. This can be accomplished through various security measures, such as data encryption, physical security, and access control. It’s important to note that this includes both technical and physical security controls.
Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
In order to be compliant with PCI DSS Requirement 11.2, you must maintain a vulnerability management program. This program should include regular scans of your systems to identify any vulnerabilities that may exist.
Identify security vulnerabilities. Once these vulnerabilities are identified, you should take steps to remediate them as soon as possible. There are a few different ways to go about this, but one option is to use a PCI-compliant vulnerability scanner. These scanners are specifically designed to help identify vulnerabilities in your systems so that you can fix them before they can be exploited. Another option is to use a cloud-based vulnerability management service.
These services can help you to identify and fix vulnerabilities in your systems without the need for a PCI DSS compliant scanner. Whichever option you choose, make sure that you are regularly scanning your systems and taking steps to remediate any issues that you find.
Implement Strong Access Control Measures
One of the key requirements of the PCI DSS is to implement strong access control measures. This includes ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to cardholder data, and that access is granted only to those individuals who need it to perform their job duties. There are a number of ways to implement strong access control measures, but one of the most effective is to use role-based access control (RBAC). RBAC allows you to restrict access to cardholder data based on an individual’s role within your organization. For example, you could allow access to certain data only to individuals who are responsible for processing transactions. By using RBAC, you can ensure that only those that need access are provided that access.
Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
This requirement is important because it helps ensure that networks are secure and that any potential vulnerabilities are identified and addressed in a timely manner. There are many different ways to monitor and test networks, and organizations should choose the method that best suits their needs. Some common methods include penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and network analysis.
Organizations should also consider their overall security posture when deciding how often to monitor and test their networks. For example, if an organization has recently made changes to its network that could affect its security, it may need to monitor and test more frequently.
Maintain an Information Security Policy
As a requirement of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), all organizations must maintain an information security policy. This policy must outline the organization’s commitment to protecting cardholder data and must be reviewed and approved by management on a regular basis.
The information security policy should address all aspects of security, including physical, technical, and administrative controls. It should also be tailored to the specific needs of the organization, taking into account the size and complexity of the organization, the nature of its business, and the sensitivity of the cardholder data it holds.
Restrict Access to Cardholder Data
One of the key requirements of PCI DSS is to restrict physical and electronic access to cardholder data. This means that only authorized individuals should have access to sensitive credit card information. There are a few ways to restrict access to cardholder data. One is to use data encryption. This ensures that even if someone does gain physical access to cardholder data, they will not be able to read it without the encryption key. Another way to restrict access is through the use of access control measures such as user IDs and passwords. With these measures in place, only authorized individuals will be able to view or modify cardholder data.
Identify and Authenticate Access
The PCI DSS Requirement 8.2.2 states that organizations must “clearly identify and authenticate all users who access cardholder data.” This means that organizations must have a system in place to identify and authenticate users who has cardholder data access. There are a few different ways to do this, and the best method will vary depending on the organization’s specific needs.
One common way to authenticate users is to use a username and password. This is typically paired with another form of authentication, such as a security question or a one-time code that is sent to a user’s email or phone. This ensures that even if a username and password are compromised, the attacker would still need another form of authentication to access the data.
Regularly Monitor and Test Security Systems and Processes
One of the key requirements of the PCI DSS is for businesses to regularly monitor and test their security systems and processes. This is important because it helps to ensure that your security systems are working properly and that any threats are your network are detected, blocked and removed in a timely manner. There are a number of different ways to monitor and test your systems, and you should work with your security team to determine the best approach for your business.
Protect Stored Cardholder Data
One of the key requirements of PCI DSS is the protection of stored cardholder data. This data must be encrypted to ensure that it cannot be accessed by unauthorized individuals. Additionally, any organization that stores cardholder data must have strict physical and logical security controls in place to protect this data.
Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters
PCI DSS Requirement #1 dictates that organizations must not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters. This is important because using the defaults can leave systems vulnerable to attack.
To comply with this requirement, organizations should create their own passwords and security parameters. They should also make sure to change these passwords and parameters on a regular basis. Additionally, they should keep all passwords and security information in a secure location.
Use and regularly update anti-virus software or programs
Anti-virus software is a necessary part of any information security program, as it is the first line of defense against malware attacks. Many different types of anti-virus software are available, and it is important to choose one that is effective against the types of threats your organization faces.
PCI DSS Requirement 11.1 requires that organizations use and regularly update anti-virus software or programs. This requirement is important, as malware attacks can have a devastating impact on an organization. By using and regularly updating anti-virus software, organizations can help protect themselves against these attacks.
How to Achieve PCI Compliance
Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)
The Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is a tool used by businesses to measure their compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The questionnaire is made up of questions about a company’s policies, procedures, and technical and physical security measures. Businesses must answer the questions in the SAQ to be PCI compliant.
The SAQ is divided into multiple sections, each covering a different aspect of PCI compliance. The sections are as follows:
- Section 1: Network Security
- Section 2: Policies and Procedures
- Section 3: Physical and Environmental Security
- Section 4: Personnel Security
Completing the SAQ is a necessary step in the PCI compliance process. However, it is important to note that the questionnaire is not a guarantee of compliance.
Approved Scanning Vendors (ASV)
An Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) is a company that has been specifically approved by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to scan and assess an organization’s compliance with PCI DSS. ASVs provide an important service to the PCI community by offering validated security scanning solutions that can help organizations protect their payment card data from criminals.
The PCI SSC lists a number of approved ASVs on its website, and these companies are required to maintain certain standards in order to remain on the list. Organizations can choose any ASV from the list to help them with their PCI compliance efforts.
Qualified Security Assessors (QSA)
A Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) is an individual who has been trained and certified to assess an organization’s compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). QSAs are responsible for conducting on-site assessments of a company’s PCI DSS compliance and providing a detailed report of their findings.
Internal Security Assessments
As part of your PCI DSS compliance program, you are required to perform regular internal security assessments to identify weaknesses in your organization’s security posture. This assessment can be conducted by a qualified staff member or by an external consultant.
The Assessment should cover all aspects of your organization’s security, from physical security to network security to application security. It is a comprehensive assessment that should be conducted at least once a year.
During the assessment, the assessor will review your organization’s security policies and procedures, interview staff members, and perform web, network, and application scans. They will then compile a report of their findings and recommend steps to remediate any weaknesses they identify.
Be PCI-Compliant Today!
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements for companies that handle credit card information. In order to be PCI compliant, companies must follow a specific set of rules and procedures. This PCI compliance checklist provides an overview of the steps that companies need to take in order to achieve PCI compliance in 2023.
Contact Oppos today for expert guidance on PCI assessments and achieving PCI compliance. Our team of professionals is dedicated to helping you navigate the complex requirements, ensuring the protection of cardholder data, and maintaining customer trust. Take action now to safeguard your organization’s future.
Reach out to Oppos and let us be your trusted partner in achieving and maintaining PCI compliance.
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PCI Compliance FAQS
- Level 1: > 6 million credit card payments per year
- Level 2: 1-6 million credit card payments per year
- Level 3: 20,000-1 million credit card payments per year
- Level 4: >20,000 credit card transactions per year
A company’s Attestation of Compliance (AOC) is their formal proof of PCI compliance.
Qualified Security Assessors (QSA) are the only ones that can conduct a PCI Audit.
For an individual organization this would be a QSA while the PCI Security standards council oversees the entire standard.
