Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security Certification

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a security standard required for any organization that handles credit card data from major card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover). It defines 12 requirements across 6 control objectives to protect cardholder data. Non-compliance can result in fines up to $100,000 per month and loss of payment processing privileges.

Required for processing payments. PCI DSS compliance protects cardholder data and keeps your payment processing privileges intact.

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What is PCI DSS: Payment Card Security?

PCI DSS is a security standard for organizations that handle credit card data from major card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB). It defines 12 requirements across 6 control objectives. Compliance level depends on transaction volume, ranging from self-assessment questionnaires to on-site audits by Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs).

PCI DSS 4.0, released in March 2022, introduces significant changes including a 'customized approach' allowing flexibility in meeting objectives, stronger authentication requirements, and new e-commerce protections. The 12 requirements are organized under 6 goals: Build and maintain secure networks, protect cardholder data, maintain vulnerability management, implement strong access controls, regularly monitor/test networks, and maintain information security policies. Scope reduction through tokenization and P2PE is often the most cost-effective compliance strategy.

Accept credit card payments compliantly
Avoid payment processing bans
Reduce fraud and data breach risk
Lower interchange fees with some processors

Typical Timeline

4-8 weeks

Pass Rate

100%

Controls

12+

Clients Certified

50+

Deep Dive

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security Control Requirements

Click each control to see implementation guidance and required evidence

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security for Your Industry

How PCI DSS: Payment Card Security applies to different business sectors

E-Commerce

Every online merchant accepting card payments needs PCI DSS compliance. Transaction volume determines compliance level and assessment requirements.

Key Requirements

✓Secure checkout implementation
✓Third-party payment gateway integration
✓E-commerce specific controls (Req. 6.4.3)
✓Client-side script security (PCI DSS 4.0)

Example Use Case

An online retailer reduces PCI scope to SAQ A by using Stripe Elements, eliminating direct card handling while maintaining seamless checkout.

SaaS & Technology

SaaS platforms handling subscription payments or providing payment infrastructure need robust PCI controls to satisfy enterprise customers.

Key Requirements

✓Multi-tenant security isolation
✓API security for payment integrations
✓Secure development lifecycle
✓Service provider compliance documentation

Example Use Case

A B2B SaaS platform achieves PCI DSS Level 1 compliance to process payments for enterprise clients, using report-on-compliance to prove security to prospects.

Financial Services

Banks, payment processors, and fintechs have the highest PCI requirements as they directly handle and store cardholder data at scale.

Key Requirements

✓Level 1 Service Provider compliance
✓Point-to-point encryption (P2PE)
✓Hardware security modules (HSMs)
✓24/7 security monitoring

Example Use Case

A payment processor implements P2PE and tokenization to reduce scope while maintaining Level 1 compliance for their merchant clients.

Hospitality & Retail

Hotels, restaurants, and physical retailers with point-of-sale systems must protect card-present transactions and stored guest payment methods.

Key Requirements

✓POS terminal security
✓Physical access controls
✓Network segmentation for stores
✓Employee training for card handling

Example Use Case

A hotel chain implements network segmentation between POS systems and guest WiFi, deploys P2PE terminals, and achieves SAQ P2PE compliance.

Healthcare

Healthcare organizations processing patient payments must balance PCI DSS with HIPAA, often creating shared control frameworks.

Key Requirements

✓Dual compliance with HIPAA
✓Patient payment portal security
✓Medical billing system protection
✓Shared security control framework

Example Use Case

A health system implements a unified security program addressing both PCI DSS and HIPAA, using overlapping controls to reduce compliance burden.

Transparent Pricing

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security Certification Costs

What to budget for your PCI DSS: Payment Card Security certification journey

📊 Typical Investment Ranges — These are industry-standard ranges based on company size (50-500 employees). Your actual investment depends on scope, existing controls, and compliance maturity.

Cost Component	Starting From	Up To	Notes
Gap Assessment & Scoping	$5,000	$20,000	Scope definition and readiness assessment
Remediation & Implementation	$15,000	$100,000+	Depends heavily on current state and scope
QSA Assessment (Level 1)	$30,000	$100,000	Required for Level 1 merchants/service providers
ASV Scanning (Quarterly)	$1,000/year	$5,000/year	External vulnerability scanning
Penetration Testing (Annual)	$10,000	$30,000	Required internal and external testing
Security Tools & Monitoring	$10,000/year	$50,000/year	SIEM, FIM, IDS/IPS, anti-malware

💡 Get your personalized quote: Costs vary significantly based on organization size, infrastructure complexity, and existing security controls. Our PCI DSS: Payment Card Security readiness assessment provides a tailored cost estimate within 48 hours.

Get a Personalized Quote

Framework Comparison

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security vs Other Frameworks

How PCI DSS: Payment Card Security compares to related compliance standards

Aspect	PCI DSS: Payment Card Security	SOC 2	ISO 27001
Scope	Payment card data only	All customer data	All information assets
Assessment	SAQ or QSA audit annually	CPA audit Type I or II	Certification body audit
Requirements	12 requirements, prescriptive	5 criteria, principles-based	93 controls, risk-based
Penalties	$5K-$100K/month + processing ban	No direct penalties	No direct penalties
Current Version	PCI DSS 4.0 (March 2025 deadline)	2017 Trust Services Criteria	ISO 27001:2022

Avoid These Pitfalls

Common PCI DSS: Payment Card Security Mistakes

Learn from others' mistakes so you don't repeat them

Not properly defining CDE scope

Consequence

Assessment covers entire network instead of segmented payment systems. Dramatically increases cost and complexity.

Prevention

Invest in proper network segmentation before assessment. Validate segmentation with penetration testing. Document all data flows.

Storing CVV/CVC after authorization

Consequence

Automatic compliance failure. No exceptions—sensitive authentication data cannot be stored after authorization even if encrypted.

Prevention

Audit all systems for prohibited data. Implement controls preventing SAd storage. Use tokenization to eliminate card data.

Treating PCI DSS as a one-time project

Consequence

Compliance lapses between assessments. Control drift. Fail subsequent assessments requiring costly remediation.

Prevention

Implement continuous compliance monitoring. Conduct quarterly internal reviews. Use GRC platforms to track control status.

Ignoring third-party compliance

Consequence

Responsible for breaches at non-compliant vendors. Your payment processor won't protect you from their subcontractor failures.

Prevention

Maintain service provider inventory. Verify compliance annually (AOC/ROC). Include PCI requirements in contracts.

Using outdated TLS/SSL

Consequence

Compliance failure for encryption requirements. Vulnerability to MITM attacks on cardholder data transmission.

Prevention

Disable SSL and TLS 1.0/1.1. Enforce TLS 1.2 minimum. Regularly scan for cipher weaknesses.

Not preparing for PCI DSS 4.0

Consequence

March 2025 deadline for full compliance with new requirements. Many new controls require planning and implementation time.

Prevention

Conduct 4.0 gap assessment now. Prioritize new requirements like script integrity and MFA expansion. Plan implementation timeline.

Multi-Framework Efficiency

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security Control Overlap

Leverage shared controls when pursuing multiple certifications

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security ↔ SOC 2

65%

Shared control areas:

Access controlsEncryptionMonitoringVulnerability managementVendor management

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security ↔ ISO 27001

70%

Shared control areas:

Risk assessmentAccess controlsNetwork securityIncident responseSecurity policy

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security ↔ HIPAA

50%

Shared control areas:

Access controlsEncryptionAudit loggingRisk assessmentWorkforce training

PCI DSS: Payment Card Security ↔ SOC 1 (SSAE 18)

45%

Shared control areas:

Access controlsChange managementMonitoringDocumentation

Your Path to Certification

Our proven process gets you certified faster

Scope Definition

1 week

Define the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) and identify all in-scope systems and processes.

Gap Assessment

2 weeks

Evaluate current controls against PCI DSS requirements and prioritize remediation.

Remediation

4-8 weeks

Implement required controls, segment networks, and configure secure systems.

Documentation

1-2 weeks

Develop policies, procedures, and evidence documentation for assessment.

Assessment

2-4 weeks

Complete SAQ or work with QSA for Report on Compliance (ROC) depending on level.

Expert Insights

What compliance experts say about PCI DSS: Payment Card Security

"The biggest PCI DSS cost isn't the assessment—it's unnecessary scope. We've seen companies spend 10x more than needed because they didn't segment their CDE properly. Invest in architecture first, then assess. With the March 2025 PCI DSS 4.0 deadline, now is the time to modernize your payment security architecture."
H
Heena Sharma
Privacy & Compliance Lead at isauditr

Frequently Asked Questions

Which PCI DSS level are we?

Level depends on annual transaction volume: Level 1 (6M+), Level 2 (1-6M), Level 3 (20K-1M e-commerce), Level 4 (<20K e-commerce or <1M other). Higher levels require QSA audits; lower levels can self-assess with SAQs.

Can we reduce scope using a payment provider?

Yes! Using PCI-compliant payment gateways like Stripe, Braintree, or Adyen significantly reduces your scope. With iframes or redirects (SAQ A), you may have only 22 requirements vs 300+ for full compliance. We'll help you architect for minimal PCI scope.

What happens if we're not PCI compliant?

Non-compliance can result in fines ($5,000-$100,000/month), increased transaction fees, and ultimately loss of payment processing privileges. After a breach, you face forensic investigation costs, card brand fines, and liability for fraudulent transactions.

How does PCI DSS 4.0 change things?

PCI DSS 4.0 introduces: customized approach for flexibility, expanded MFA requirements (all CDE access, not just admin), client-side script integrity controls, targeted risk analysis for each requirement. Full compliance required by March 31, 2025.

What's the difference between SAQ types?

SAQ A (e-commerce, fully outsourced) is simplest with ~20 questions. SAQ A-EP has more requirements for e-commerce affecting security of checkout. SAQ D is comprehensive (300+ questions) for those storing/processing card data directly.

Do we need quarterly ASV scans?

Yes, if you have internet-facing systems in scope. Approved Scanning Vendors (ASVs) conduct external vulnerability scans quarterly. You need four passing scans per year, plus scans after significant changes.

What is P2PE and why does it matter?

Point-to-Point Encryption encrypts card data at the terminal until it reaches the payment processor. Using validated P2PE solutions significantly reduces scope—systems between terminal and processor are out of scope. Retail and hospitality benefit most.

How do we handle tokenization?

Tokenization replaces card numbers with non-sensitive tokens. The tokenization system is in scope, but systems using only tokens are not. This dramatically reduces scope for recurring billing, customer portals, and mobile apps.