In the matter of electronic commerce, every company essentially needs to comply with the Payment Card Industry. Today, we are going to look in detail at PCI compliance and at the stages which exist for businesses to get certified. Here we go!
What is PCI compliance?
First of all, let’s define the meaning of this type of compliance. To put it simply, it is a state of conformity with the PCI DSS or Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which is a global standard for safeguarding a cardholder’s most important data. If an organisation wants to use debit or credit cards from the major vendors in this field, it’s important to be compliant.
PCI compliance requirements
The standard includes twelve requirements that are classified into six sections based on different goals. The list of goals and requirements, both of which apply for 2021, can be viewed here.
Checklist for PCI compliance
The checklist for PCI compliance outlines the stages that need to be passed to receive the compliance certificate. The three sections of this particular checklist are as follows:
- Security Checklist – This includes standards that guarantee the security, preservation and safekeeping of data.
- Standards Checklist – General aspects of data security.
- Compliance Checklist – This item allows one to discover if an organisation has the necessary controls in place to secure cardholder data.
Advantages of PCI compliance
E-commerce companies are clearly the winners once considering this type of compliance. Below, we have listed some of the benefits of becoming compliant with PCI:
- Decreasing the risk of data leakage.
- Improvement of the cardholder data reliability.
- Reducing penalties related to data violations.
- Help to enhance the business’s brand reputation.
- The ability to keep clients (or customers) happy and confident that they are doing business with a reputable company, which leads to brand loyalty.
PCI compliance FAQs
In this section, we’ll be answering some of the most commonly asked questions about PCI compliance in the UK and beyond.
Who should obtain a PCI DSS?
Any organisation whose work involves the use of cardholders’ personal information and which communicates with financial institutions can implement it.
How do I find out if I’m being charged PCI DSS fees?
The quickest way to find out is to contact your current service provider. Another way is to check your monthly bill to see if it includes any PCI DSS fees.
How do I go about getting PCI DSS compliance certification?
To begin, it’s needed to find out which questionnaire for the self-assessment you will use. Once you are completed with that stage and have answered all the questions, it’s necessary to run a proof of breakability scan with a licensed scanning vendor and keep the results. Then, you should fill out a conformity certificate. Submitting all of the above data is the final step in the process of PCI compliance certification.
Who is in charge of PCI compliance?
PCI DSS compliance and its specifications are governed by the PCI Security Standard Council, which is comprised of five credit card companies.
Is PCI compliance required by law?
There is no regulatory mandate requiring PCI compliance. However, being compliant with this standard is legally binding and can be beneficial for any business.
Final thoughts
PCI is a useful standard that can take your online store or any e-commerce company to a new level. However, it also requires careful preparation and testing. If there are any questions arised, you can find the answers you need in the Online Payment Security FAQ, or don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.
