What is PCI compliance? A PCI DSS compliance overview

What is PCI compliance? A PCI DSS compliance overview

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Every time a new data breach hits the news, business leaders feel a fresh sensation of stress in the pits of their stomachs: the fear that they could be next. Data breaches can destroy a company’s reputation and ultimately its future. How can you protect your customers’ payment data and protect your business from a breach?

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One way to know if you’re secure is by maintaining PCI compliance. Let’s break down the details of what PCI compliance is, an overview of PCI DSS compliance, and how you can use it as an asset for your business.‍

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What is PCI compliance?

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You’ve probably heard the term “PCI compliance,” but the full name is PCI DSS compliance. PCI DSS compliance stands for payment card industry data security standard compliance. That name makes it much clearer: PCI compliance involves adhering to a specific set of standards and practices that are meant to protect payment data.

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PCI DSS includes 12 specific requirements that a company needs to meet to be PCI compliant. These PCI DSS standards are developed and maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council. This independent council was formed by the major credit card companies such as:

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• Mastercard
• Visa
• American Express

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PCI DSS was created by these companies in an effort to better secure consumers’ payment data.

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It’s important to note that PCI compliance is not a legal requirement. It’s more of a requirement throughout the payments industry. If you process payments or accept credit card payments in any way, PCI compliance is a way to ensure that major credit card companies and banks will continue working with you. PCI compliance also proves that you are maintaining trust with partners throughout the payment industry.

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Who needs to be PCI compliant?

PCI compliance is considered to be a necessity within the business world for anyone who processes, stores, or transmits payment information. As we noted, PCI compliance isn't a legal requirement, so you won’t face direct legal or criminal consequences for skipping PCI compliance.

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However, without PCI compliance, you may end up with fewer payment options. Without PCI DSS compliance you may even end up with fines of thousands of dollars per month from payment brands like Visa and Mastercard.

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PCI compliance requirements

The PCI compliance requirements are designed to make your organization more secure, but before you dive in it’s helpful to get an understanding of the essentials.

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What are the PCI compliance requirements?

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The PCI DSS compliance requirements in their entirety are very detailed and complex, of course. At the core, there are 12 PCI DSS requirements, each with its own supporting details. Briefly, those requirements for PCI compliance include:

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• Protecting cardholder data with a firewall
• Changing default passwords
• Protecting any stored cardholder data
• Encrypting cardholder data while it’s transmitted
• Maintain anti-virus software
• Keep applications and systems secure
• Grant the minimum required access to cardholder data
• Set up unique IDs for each person with computer access
• Limit physical access to cardholder data
• Monitor access to cardholder data
• Test security systems routinely
• Establish security policies for personnel

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These 12 requirements give you a broad view of what PCI compliance covers.

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Benefits of PCI DSS compliance

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The idea of hefty fines from major banks could be enough of a reason to put PCI DSS compliance on your priority list. But you don’t just want to adhere to PCI DSS to avoid penalties. There are strong benefits of PCI compliance too.

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Selling to the enterprise

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One of the biggest motivations for PCI compliance is the ability to sell to large enterprise companies that require their vendors to be PCI DSS compliant. “Are you PCI compliant?” is one of the first questions that an enterprise asks before moving forward with a financial partnership. You’ll want to make sure you can confidently answer yes when asked if you’re PCI DSS compliant and make your partners confident.

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Some organizations will require PCI compliance to even sign a contract or consider a vendor during the RFP process. Companies use PCI compliance to prove trust during the sales process and as a way of establishing security assurance throughout the partnership.

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PCI compliance open options for payment processing

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In any type of business, the easier you make your payment process, the more likely consumers will follow through with a purchase. One way to make your payment process easier is to give customers plenty of payment options and PCI DSS compliance is one of the most effective ways to offer more payment options. Being PCI compliant allows you to work with more payment brands so you can offer your customers all of their favorite payment options.

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PCI compliance offers enhanced consumer trust

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Data breaches are all over the news, and many of your customers have probably dealt with the hassle of a data breach personally. They know the frustration of:

• Canceling credit cards
• Disputing purchases
• Potentially sending evidence for disputed purchases
• Waiting for new credit cards
• Changing their payment information on online platforms

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If you’re PCI compliant, you can ensure customers that you are adhering to the most respected standards to protect their data. PCI compliance builds more trust and may lead to more loyal customers.

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PCI DSS compliance lowers risk for data breaches

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PCI DSS exists for a reason: it’s protecting your customers’ payment data. If you fall victim to a data breach, it damages your company’s reputation and hurts your profits because you may be financially liable for any damages. If you adhere to the standards of PCI DSS, you’ll know that you have secured the safety of your consumers and your own business as much as you can.

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PCI DSS compliance levels

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PCI compliance isn’t just a “yes or no” situation. There are multiple levels of compliance you can accomplish. PCI DSS separates merchants into four levels based on the number of credit card transactions they process annually:

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• Level 1: over six million transactions per year
• Level 2: one million to six million transactions per year
• Level 3: 20,000 to one million transactions per year
• Level 4: under 20,000 transactions per year

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The most notable difference in PCI compliance is that level 1 merchants must have an audit performed by a third-party auditor, along with additional paperwork. Merchants in levels 2-4 fill out a self-assessment questionnaire instead of having an external audit.

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There are advantages to higher-level PCI compliance, like a stronger show of trust and security, but if you are a level 2-4 merchant, your “bare minimum” for PCI compliance is much lower.

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Learn more about PCI DSS

Guide to PCI compliance costs

PCI compliance in 3 steps

Automate your PCI DSS compliance