PCI DSS Compliance
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard or PCI DSS is a set of guidelines designed to
safeguard credit and debit card account data. Launched in 2006, these financial data security guidelines set the operational and technical requirements for organizations accepting and
processing financial transactions. It also provides guidelines for software developers and
manufacturers in the industry on application and device development.
According to PCI DSS, “payment security is paramount” for everyone, and “the PCI Data Security.
Standards apply to you” if you accept or process payment cards. Therefore, it has outlined six goals and twelve security requirements for ensuring financial service compliance.
Six Goals and Twelve Security Requirements
1. Build and maintain a secure network
I. Build and maintain a firewall that protects the cardholder’s data
II. Create unique system passwords rather than using generic vendor-supplied
passwords and regularly update them
2. Protect cardholder data
III. Protect cardholder data through encryption and conduct routine scans to ensure
the same
IV. Ensure cardholder data is encrypted when transmitted
3. Maintain a vulnerability management program
V. Deploy anti-virus software and keep it up to date
VI. Deploy information security systems and keep them up to date
4. Implement decisive access control steps
VII. Limit cardholder’s data on a need-to-know basis
VIII. Assign a unique ID to every employee dealing with cardholder data
IX. Restrict physical access to cardholder data
5. Routinely monitor and test networks
X. Use access logs to track who is accessing the data, when and how
XI. Conduct routine scans and tests for system vulnerabilities
6. Maintain an up-to-date information security policy
XII. Implement and maintain organization-wide policies for employees and
contractors
Along with these six goals and twelve requirements, PCI DSS states that an Intrusion Detection
System or IDS must be implemented. An IDS serves as a second line of defense by making it
easier to detect if the secure firewall has been hacked.
For a complete view of PCI DSS compliance requirements, refer to their website.
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