Top 12 PCI DSS Requirements: A Complete Checklist

The safety of the customer information, especially in the era of E-Commerce and online payments, is not only recommendation but  an absolute necessity.  So, where does that leave businesses? This is where the PCI DSS Requirements come into play! These globally recognised standards remain as the last line of defence for businesses dealing with payment information, helping to eliminate costly risks and protect customer data. 

However, anyone has to struggle within these rules without a map. So, you didn’t copy anything? Don’t worry – we are here to help you! Our Top 12 PCI DSS Requirements Checklist provides a clear breakdown of each critical stage.  Dive in with confidence and safeguard your business today!

Table of Contents 

1) Understanding PCI DSS 

2) Who Must Comply with the PCI DSS?

3) Top 12 PCI DSS Requirements Checklist

4) Leveraging Technology to Meet PCI DSS Compliance Requirements

5) Conclusion

Understanding PCI DSS 

 The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a class of security requirements designed to protect sensitive cardholder data. The need for a standardised security framework became evident with the increasing prevalence of data breaches and the potential misuse of credit card information.    

The major card brands collaborated to establish PCI DSS as a unified standard to address the security risks of handling cardholder data, marking a significant point in PCI DSS History. Compliance with PCI DSS is mandatory for all organisations that handle credit card information.

Who Must Comply with the PCI DSS?

This PCI DSS must be complied with by the following groups of people:  

a) Merchants: They offer debit and credit card services to pay for goods and services. Note that, besides merchants, the PCI DSS applies to merchants that have subcontracted their payment card processing to a third party.  

b) Service Providers: They ensure the handling, storage, or transmission of cardholders' data on behalf of another entity they are associated with.

Download the PCI DSS PDF today and stay up to date with the latest security standards for payment card data protection.

Top 12 PCI DSS Requirements Checklist

PCI DSS consists of 12 core requirements divided into various sub-requirements. These requirements cover a broad array of security measures, including installing firewalls, encrypting cardholder data, implementing access controls, regular security testing, and developing comprehensive Information Security policies. Fulfilling these requirements helps achieve compliance with PCI DSS, which has many benefits. Professionals often encounter PCI DSS Interview Questions focusing on these specific security measures, as demonstrating expertise in these areas is essential for ensuring robust data protection.

Each requirement is designed to address specific vulnerabilities and ensure the overall security of cardholder data. Let’s explore the 12 PCI DSS Requirements:

Requirement 1: Install and Maintain a Firewall

 This requirement ensures that service providers and merchants have a secure network that prevents unauthorised access to cardholder data. A firewall and a router, if applicable, are essential components of a secure network. A firewall controls the flow of network traffic per your organisation's rules and criteria. A router directs network traffic to the appropriate destination. 

Firewalls provide the first line of defence for your network. Organisations should have standard procedures for setting up and maintaining firewalls and routers. These procedures should also include regular reviews of the configuration rules to ensure they are secure and up to date. No access rules should allow access to the cardholder data environment without a valid business reason.

Requirement 2: Avoid Using Vendor-supplied Default Passwords

 This requirement focuses on strengthening the security of your organisation’s systems and devices, such as servers, network devices, applications, firewalls, wireless access points, etc. Many systems and devices have factory default settings, such as usernames, passwords, and other security parameters. These default settings are easy to guess and often available on the Internet. 

These default settings are not acceptable per this requirement. You must change them to more secure and unique ones. This requirement also asks you to keep an inventory of all your systems and devices and follow the security configuration and hardening guidelines. These guidelines should be applied whenever a new system or device is added to your IT infrastructure.

Requirement 3: Protect Cardholder Data

  This requirement states that cardholder data should not be stored unless necessary for business PCI DSS purposes.  If you have to store cardholder data, you must consider the following steps: 

1) Limit the storage duration. You should only store cardholder data for as long as needed for your business operations. 

2) Delete the data quarterly. You should delete cardholder data that has exceeded its retention period every quarter.  

3) Encrypt and mask all authentication data to make it unreadable. For example, you can show only the first or last four digits of the Primary Account Number (PAN). 

4) Document, track, and protect all cryptographic keys and encryption tools.

Requirement 4: Encrypt Transmission of Cardholder Data 

 Secure the transmission of cardholder data over open and public networks. While a firewall can help prevent cyber criminals from accessing your internal networks, it can be more difficult to ensure that cardholder data is not exposed while it is transmitted over open public networks. PCI DSS requires that merchants use encryption tools to make the data unreadable.  

Encryption occurs both when the user enters it and when a hacker intercepts it through security vulnerabilities. Encryption gives IT admins time to secure and recover the data before a skilled hacker can decode it.

Requirement 5: Use and Update Antivirus Software Regularly

Use antivirus software and keep it updated. Antivirus and antimalware software are essential parts of most layered security strategies. PCI compliance requires organisations to use robust, updated antivirus software to protect all systems that may interact with cardholder data.

Requirement 6: Develop and Maintain Secure Applications and Systems

Ensure the security of systems and applications. PCI DSS regulations require enterprises to keep their critical systems updated and patched with the latest security fixes. They also must have a process for discovering and assessing security vulnerabilities and prioritising them based on their severity. As for apps built internally, Software Programmers should be trained in safe coding techniques and make security part of the entire Software Development Life Cycle.

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Requirement 7: Restrict Access to Cardholder Data by Business Need to Know

This requirement means that only authorised people with a valid business reason to access cardholder data should be able to do so. This helps to prevent unauthorised or unnecessary access that could compromise the security and confidentiality of cardholder data. To achieve this requirement, organisations must define access rights for different roles, create user authentication and authorisation mechanisms, and follow other security practices.  

Requirement 8: Assign a Unique ID to Each Person with Computer Access

 This requirement means that every computer user must have a unique user ID that identifies them. Businesses should also have a way to verify users, store their policies in this area, and take other actions. This helps to track and monitor user activities and prevent unauthorised access to cardholder data. 

Requirement 9: Restrict Physical Access to Cardholder Data

According to PCI DSS, physical access to cardholder data should be as secure as network access. Only authorised members should have access to devices used for storing cardholder data or paper copies of that data. Moreover, access to equipment, files, and the premises should be restricted to critical cards, badges, and other types of ID systems, such as biometrics. 

Requirement 10: Monitor and Track Access to Network Resources and Cardholder Data

PCI-compliant organisations must be able to track and monitor network access. This is vital to understanding how a security breach happened and preventing cybersecurity attacks in the future. Keeping systems activity logs gives companies an audit trail that shows suspicious activity and how it occurred across linked system components.

Requirement 11: Test System Security and System Processes Regularly

Plan and conduct quarterly tests of your system’s vulnerabilities regularly. Make sure your penetration testing methods cover both the network and application levels. Use a change-detection mechanism to compare critical files weekly and identify any changes.

Requirement 12: Maintain Policies that Address Information Security

This means that you need to have a written document that defines the rules and procedures for protecting cardholder data in your organisation. You must involve the key people from all your business units responsible for or affected by the policy. Besides, you need to work with a PCI compliance partner who can help you write and document your policy. Moreover, you must train your staff every year to ensure they follow your policy. 

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Leveraging Technology to Meet PCI DSS Compliance Requirements

Organisations that process (or store) payment card data must ensure compliance with PCI DSS. Technology acts as a catalyst in this process through security, process optimisation, and risk management.

a) Encrypting cardholder data while in storage and transfer will ensure that confidential information is always safe. Strong encryption algorithms and complex critical management systems are the key elements for thwarting data breach risks.  

b) Tokenisation also adds one more dimension of security by using unique identifiers to replace sensitive data. In this case, the stolen data has no purpose without the original mapping keys. Organisations may minimise the risk by limiting access to the original data.  

c) Access control and monitoring limitation of data access to only authorised users. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and role-based access controls are good ways to prevent inside threats. Monitoring tools like intrusion detection systems and SIEM platforms can spot discrepancies and promptly make the security team aware.   

d) Network separation networks the payment systems from the less secure parts of the network. This causes compliance audits to be conducted on a smaller scale and targets their lateral movement.

e)  Automated scanning and patching solutions detect and resolve vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them. Systems are frequently  updated to ensure compliance with PCI DSS requirements.  

Conclusion 

Compliance with the 12 PCI DSS Requirements is essential for safeguarding payment card data and building customer trust. The Importance of PCI DSS becomes clear as businesses implement these standards to mitigate data breach risks, enhance security, and establish reliability in the digital marketplace. Take charge of your compliance journey today and secure a competitive edge!

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