PCI‑DSS

What is PCI DSS?

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of global security standards designed to ensure that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. Established by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), PCI DSS helps protect cardholder data and reduce the risk of fraud, breaches, and identity theft.

It applies to all entities that handle credit card transactions, including merchants, service providers, and financial institutions.

Why PCI DSS Matters

Compliance with PCI DSS is essential because it:

  • Protects cardholder data from breaches and unauthorized access

  • Reduces financial and reputational risks associated with data theft

  • Ensures trust with customers, banks, and payment processors

  • Supports regulatory alignment with data privacy laws like GDPR and HIPAA

  • Avoids penalties and fines for non-compliance from card networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)

Key PCI DSS Requirements

The standard is built around 12 core requirements, grouped into six goals:

  1. Build and Maintain a Secure Network

    • Install and maintain firewalls

    • Avoid vendor-supplied default passwords

  2. Protect Cardholder Data

    • Encrypt transmission of data across open networks

    • Protect stored cardholder information

  3. Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program

    • Regularly update anti-virus software

    • Develop and maintain secure applications

  4. Implement Strong Access Control Measures

    • Restrict access to cardholder data

    • Assign unique IDs to each person with system access

  5. Monitor and Test Networks

    • Track and monitor all access to data

    • Regularly test security systems

  6. Maintain an Information Security Policy

    • Establish and enforce security policies across the organization

Example of PCI DSS in Action

An e-commerce company ensures PCI DSS compliance by encrypting all credit card transactions, regularly testing firewalls, and limiting employee access to payment systems. This prevents potential breaches and strengthens customer trust.

PCI DSS Compliance Levels

PCI DSS compliance is divided into levels based on the number of transactions processed annually:

  • Level 1: Over 6 million transactions

  • Level 2: 1–6 million transactions

  • Level 3: 20,000–1 million transactions

  • Level 4: Fewer than 20,000 transactions

Each level has different validation and reporting requirements.

How VComply Can Help

VComply simplifies PCI DSS compliance by:

  • Automating policy enforcement and compliance monitoring

  • Mapping PCI DSS requirements to internal controls

  • Tracking evidence for audits and certification readiness

  • Assigning accountability across IT, compliance, and security teams

  • Providing dashboards for real-time visibility into compliance status

With VComply, organizations can reduce the complexity of PCI DSS compliance, strengthen data security, and ensure continuous alignment with industry standards.