Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard or PCI DSS Compliance refers to the standards any business that accepts payments by credit or debit card must adhere to. These requirements are meant to protect the data of consumers through a series of security protocols. In this article, we’ll go through what PCI DSS Compliance requirements are, what PCI DSS GAP Assessment is, and which companies offer services for compliance support.
The PCI DSS Compliance Requirements
- Firewalls: Firewalls protect against hackers who are attempting to get access to consumers’ data.
- Password Protection: All POS systems, routers, and modems must have proper protections in place for their passwords.
- Encrypted Data: PCI DSS compliance requires that card data be encrypted with encryption keys. All channels through which cardholder data is sent across must also be encrypted.
- AntiVirus Protection: All organizations must use antivirus software that is updated and patched routinely.
- Restricted Data Access: Companies must have procedures in place that restrict access of foreign entities and 3rd parties to sensitive data.
- Access Restrictions: Unique IDs must be used to access cardholder data. Restricted physical access procedures must be implemented for whatever physical location the information is kept.
- Detailed Logs: Organization must have log entries for the activity of cardholder data and account numbers. Record keeping is a compliance requirement and software products are necessary to ensure accuracy of when and how often access is needed.
PCI DSS GAP Assessment
An organization should begin by having a PCI DSS GAP Assessment, which will analyze your company’s current security posture and identify which aspects of security are weak and therefore non-compliant. Be sure to get your company a detailed PCI DSS GAP Assessment as well as a subsequent plan of action to help adhere to PCI DSS Compliance with as little cost as possible.
