The PCI DSS is responsible for setting the required standards for PCI compliance. Its major goal is to ensure sanity and a well-secure payment card ecosystem. There are requirements provided to help organizations meet PCI data security compliance.
The PCI DSS compliance checklist can benefit any organization that stores or processes customers’ private information – this also covers everyone active in the digital commerce space. They need the PCI security requirement to guide data protection policies and procedures.
So, here are the 12 Requirements of PCI DSS compliance
1. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (1) — Install and maintain configurations to secure cardholder data
PCI DSS’s first requirement entails installing, deploying, and maintaining firewall and routers configurations to improve cardholder data security. Firewalls ensure that the rules are applied correctly in the inflow and outflow of traffic within a company network.
In implementing this requirement, install, maintain, and tweak controls for your system by activating security controls such as hardware and software firewalls with strict rules. These rules should guide how a network should be accessed. They should be received at least twice a year.
2. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (2) — Avoid default programs from vendors for system passwords
Implement programs to manage vulnerabilities and secure configurations on all your system components. Avoid using vendor-supplied default programs as your passwords. Most cybercrimes are carried out by exploiting standard passwords accompanied by routers, firewalls, and other software and hardware. A router can come with easy-to-deduce usernames and passwords like “admin,” so it can be easy to remember.
The user is expected to change the credentials once purchased, using passwords that cannot be easy to guess. This adds a reliable security layer to your system.
3. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (3) — Adequately preserve cardholders’ data
Companies having access to cardholders’ information must be able to secure this information adequately without unauthorized usage. A company is not expected to store cardholder data except if a regulatory, business or legal consideration demands it.
Data must be encrypted in its storage utilizing algorithms that are industry-accepted (e.g., AES-256). And beyond encrypting data, even the encryption keys must be securely preserved. For instance, you can deploy a robust encryption key management method of PCI DSS to prevent a situation where the key is stored in the “lock” itself.
This requirement pays close attention to data storage. Business owners should never store data beyond what’s needed to implement a transaction in the shortest possible time. They must also be able to perform a purge at least quarterly.
4. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (4) — Employ strong cryptography to secure cardholder data during open network transmission
Merchants are to ensure that data transmitted over open and public networks is encrypted. More importantly, know how data is transmitted and where it flows to. Encrypting data at the point of transmission and decrypted at the delivery point lowers the possibility of it being accessed by unauthorized users.
5. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (5) — Keep antivirus and other security software regularly updated
PCI DSS makes it compulsory that security software updates are often made as a proactive measure of blocking out weak points in the payment card system.
You should consider deploying antivirus software on your company systems, including laptops, smart devices, and workstations. Also, keep AV mechanisms functioning constantly using recent dictionaries and producing suitable logs.
6. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (6) — Develop secure applications and systems, maintain them, and enforce effective access control measures, while monitoring and testing networks often
Constantly updating systems and patching critical software are essential requirements to be PCI DSS compliant. Organizations must reduce the possibility of a vulnerable situation being exploited to the barest minimum by ensuring that applications and software are properly secure. They should also have a process that helps them uncover new potential vulnerabilities.
7. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (7) — Place access restrictions to cardholder data and system components by business need to know
The 7th PCI DSS requirement necessitates a role-based access control (RBAC) system to offer system access and access to data based on need-to-know. You should consider configuring administrator and user accounts to stave off the possibility of sensitive data becoming vulnerable to people with ulterior motives. Update employee lists with their roles and access to card data environments often.
8. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (8) — Assign means of identity to every user gaining access to system components and authenticate the process
Every employee must have a unique ID which will be required for accessing data. This requirement necessitates complex passwords and no group or shared password provision to every user ID. However, securing your systems with passwords isn’t enough.
9. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (9) — Physical access to cardholder data should be restricted
Monitor and control how employees gain physical access to cardholder data. Many workers believe theft occurs during off-hours. But it has been discovered that during mid-day when employees are primarily too engaged to notice someone walking out of the office with a company device. Do not store cardholder data on open, public devices.
10. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (10) — Monitor all logs and system access
To implement this requirement, review logs at least once a day to uncover anomalies, errors, and strange unusual activities. You should also have a procedure to tackle these exceptions and anomalies when discovered: Monitor Security Information and Event Monitoring tools (SIEM) and other systems.
11. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (11) — Test networks and system security and conduct penetration and vulnerability scans regularly
Understand your network environment and run penetration and vulnerability scans often. For example, there could be issues resulting from defects in POS software, web servers, email clients, server interfaces, web browsers, and operating systems. To be sure you have patched these loopholes, you’ll need to constantly test and run vulnerability scans on the system.
12. Requirements of PCI DSS compliance (12) — Documentation and risk assessment
Document everything and develop an incident response plan. Document policies, procedures, employee manuals, third-party vendor agreements, and evidence of your network security practices should be there. This requirement aims to help you identify, prioritize, and manage your information security risks.
