Your PCI DSS compliance checklist: The 12 essential requirements

Oro provides content designed to educate and help audiences on their compliance journey.

Are you a business owner processing credit card transactions or storing or transmitting credit card information? If so, you’re likely aware of the importance of protecting cardholder data and the role PCI DSS compliance plays in it. In a world where data breaches and cyber threats are becoming increasingly common, it’s crucial to ensure the security of sensitive customer information. But what is PCI DSS, and how can you achieve compliance using a PCI DSS compliance checklist?

In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about PCI DSS compliance, its requirements, levels, and the tools and resources available to help you achieve it, including the essential PCI DSS compliance checklist. 

Let’s dive in and uncover the secrets to keeping your customers’ data safe and secure!

Key takeaways

• PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a comprehensive set of security standards designed to protect cardholder data and help prevent fraud
• Implement 12 essential requirements, such as secure networks, encryption & access control
• PCI DSS compliance not only safeguards your customers’ sensitive data but also helps to avoid substantial fines and a potential reputation hit in the event of a data breach

Understanding PCI DSS compliance

Developed and maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council, PCI DSS addresses information security and is required for businesses that process, store, or transmit credit card information. The major credit card companies have established these compliance requirements to ensure that businesses take the necessary steps to protect stored cardholder data, transmit cardholder data securely, and restrict cardholder data access.

The four levels of PCI DSS compliance

Depending on the number of transactions your business processes annually, there are four levels of PCI DSS compliance, each with varying requirements and controls. The levels are as follows:

1. Level 1: Service Providers or Merchants processing over 6 million transactions annually or any merchant that had a data breach.
2. Level 2: Service Providers or Merchants processing between 1 million and 6 million transactions annually.
3. Level 3: Service Providers or Merchants processing between 20,000 and 1 million e-commerce transactions annually.
4. Level 4: Service Providers or Merchants processing fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions annually or any merchant that processes up to 1 million transactions annually.

Each level presents unique compliance maintenance requirements, including on-site assessments, network scans, and strong access control measures. Grasping your business’s level aids in better aligning your efforts towards PCI DSS compliance achievement and upkeep.

The 12 essential PCI DSS requirements

The 12 PCI DSS requirements are organized into six goals, which cover various aspects of information security. Each goal targets a pivotal facet of data security, aiding organizations in maintaining secure systems and protecting sensitive information.

Comprehending and executing these requirements empowers businesses to effectively secure their customers’ data and conform to the PCI DSS compliance standards. Let’s look more deeply at each of these 12 requirements.

---

---

Goal 1: Building and maintaining a secure network

The foundation of a secure network begins with the installation and maintenance of firewalls, which help protect cardholder data from unauthorized access. Firewalls act as a barrier between your internal network and external threats, such as hackers and malware.

In addition to firewalls, businesses must also change vendor-supplied default passwords and security parameters on all system components. Default passwords and settings are often well-known by attackers, making it easier for them to gain unauthorized access to your network. Changing these defaults and implementing strong, unique passwords for each device and system helps to ensure the security of your network.

Requirements:

1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data: Firewalls act as a barrier between your internal network and external threats, such as hackers and malware.

2: Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters: Default passwords and settings are often well-known by attackers, making it easier for them to gain unauthorized access to your network.

Goal 2: Protecting cardholder data

The protection of cardholder data forms an integral part of PCI DSS compliance. To achieve this, businesses must encrypt stored cardholder data and securely transmit cardholder data across open networks. Encryption helps to ensure that even if a security breach occurs, the sensitive data will be unreadable to unauthorized users.

Implementing strong encryption methods, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) or RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), for both stored and transmitted data, is essential for keeping cardholder data safe from potential threats. 

Requirements:

3. Protect stored cardholder data: Businesses must encrypt stored cardholder data. Encryption helps to ensure that even if a security breach occurs, the sensitive data will be unreadable to unauthorized users.

4. Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks: Securely transmitting cardholder data across open networks is essential for keeping cardholder data safe from potential threats, like Man in the Middle attacks.

Goal 3: Managing vulnerabilities

Vulnerability management forms a key element of PCI DSS compliance. This involves using updated antivirus software to protect against malware and other threats, as well as developing and maintaining secure systems and applications.

Regularly updating antivirus software and applying patches helps to maintain secure systems, protecting your network from new and emerging threats. Moreover, businesses should invest in secure system development by providing employees with training on secure coding techniques and implementing a vulnerability management program to identify and address potential risks.

Requirements:

5. Use and regularly update anti-virus software or programs: Regularly update antivirus software and apply patches to help maintain secure systems, protecting your network from new and emerging threats.

6. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications: Implement and train employees on secure coding practices and regularly update and patch systems and applications. to identify and address potential risks.

Goal 4: Implementing strong access controls

The implementation of robust access controls is vital for the security of cardholder data. This involves:

• Using measures to restrict access to cardholder data to only those employees who require it for their job duties
• Assigning unique user IDs to each individual with access to the data
• Controlling physical access to facilities where the data is stored

By limiting access to cardholder data, businesses can minimize the risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication and regularly reviewing access privileges can further enhance the security of protecting cardholder data.

Requirements:

7. Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know: Use measures to restrict access to cardholder data to only those employees who require it for their job duties.

8. Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access: Use strong authentication methods to verify the identity of users and systems accessing cardholder data.

9. Restrict physical access to cardholder data: By limiting access to cardholder data, businesses can minimize the risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches.

Goal 5: Monitoring and testing networks

Monitoring and testing networks require tracking access to network resources and cardholder data, as well as regularly testing security systems and processes.

Organizations should implement network monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access and potential security breaches. By choosing to regularly test security systems, they can perform regular vulnerability scans, penetration tests, and security audits to help identify and address security vulnerabilities, ensuring the continued protection of cardholder data.

Requirements:

10. Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data: Implement network monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access and potential security breaches.

11. Regularly test security systems and processes: Conduct regular security testing and assessments to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses, ensuring the continued protection of cardholder data.

Goal 6: Establishing information security policies

The establishment of information security policies forms a critical part of PCI DSS compliance. These policies should outline the responsibilities of all personnel in maintaining the security of cardholder data and provide regular security training to ensure employees are aware of their roles in maintaining compliance.

Information security policies should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the organization’s environment and emerging threats. By establishing clear policies and providing ongoing training, businesses can foster a culture of security awareness and ensure the protection of sensitive customer data.

Requirement:

12. Maintain a policy that addresses information security for all personnel: Establish and maintain security policies and procedures, and ensure all personnel receive regular security training and are aware of their roles in maintaining compliance

The future of PCI compliance: PCI DSS v4.0

PCI DSS v4.0, released in March 2022, brings forth imperative updates designed to address the evolving security landscape and enhance the effectiveness of the compliance process. These updates promote continuous security, increase flexibility in implementing security controls, and enhance validation methods, making the compliance process more robust and adaptable to changing threats.

Organizations already compliant with earlier versions, such as PCI DSS v3.2, have until March 2024 to transition to v4.0. This transition involves:

• Keeping abreast of the changes introduced in v4.0, understanding how they affect your organization, and aligning your security practices with the updated standards.
• Maintaining and enhancing your compliance efforts to uphold the safeguarding of your customers’ data.
• Preparing your organization for the future of PCI compliance, which will inevitably involve further enhancements and updates as the world of data security continues to evolve.

The future of PCI compliance is not just about adhering to a set of rules but embracing a culture of continuous security improvement. By staying ahead of the curve and preparing for PCI DSS v4.0, organizations can ensure they are ready for the future of PCI compliance, keeping their customers’ data secure in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Foster trust through PCI DSS compliance with Thoropass

PCI Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) is required for any businesses that process, store, or transmit credit cards and is enforced by the Card Brands and Acquiring Banks. Thoropass streamlines and accelerates your certification by combining automation with self-assessment support and expert insights. Get certified faster with less work and headaches.

Other FAQs about PCI DSS compliance

---