PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard) overview

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PCI-DSS : Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard The full form of PCI-DSS is ‘Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard‘. PCI which is widely accepted set of policies and procedures intended to optimize the security of Card ( i.e. credit card, debit card, cash card etc) transactions and protect cardholders data against misuse of their personal information. PCI-DSS is governed by PCI council and PCI DSS was created in 2004 jointly by five major credit-card companies: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, JCB and American Express.

PCI DSS is the global data security standard adopted by the payment card brands for all entities that process, store or transmit cardholder data. It consists of common sense steps that mirror security best practices.

1. Overview of PCI-DSS

PCI-DSS is governed by PCI-SSC (Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council). Its founded in 2004 by VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover and JCB.

2. What is PCI SSC ?

PCI SSC ( Payment Card Industry Security Standard Council) is a independent industry standard body providing oversight of the development and management of payment card industry data security standard on global basis.

Following are the card brand which founded the PCI SSC to ease the security for all card brand:

  1. American Express
  2. Discovery financial
  3. JCB international
  4. MasterCard
  5. Visa

3. History of PCI-DSS

Prior to PCI-DSS, every card companies (visa, master, amex, jcb etc) have their own set of policies regarding payment card security for achieving same set of objectives. Maintaining of these processes are very hectic for different perspective like audit by different online payment companies or payment service provider. Why this process is hectic? Just because, more or less same set of policies maintained by all card holders and same set of policies maintained by payment service providers too in order to fulfillment requirement of card security.

Five different programs had been started by payment card companies to achieve same set of protection of Card data and its security. The five different program as follows:

  1. Visa’s Cardholder Information Security Program
  2. MasterCard’s Site Data Protection
  3. American Express’s Data Security Operating Policy
  4. Discover’s Information Security and Compliance
  5. JCB’s Data Security Program

4. Why PCI-DSS required?

The PCI DSS applies to any entity that stores, process , or transmit payment card account data. In another word, I can say that, PCI DSS applies to any organisation, regardless of size or number of transactions, that accepts, transmits or stores any cardholder data.

5. 6 Goals of PCI-DSS

PCI DSS is the global data security standard adopted by the payment card brands for all entities that process, store or transmit cardholder data. It consists of common sense steps that mirror security best practices.
The following are the six Goals of PCI-DSS.

  1. Build and Maintain a Secure Network
  2. Protect Cardholder Data
  3. Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
  4. Implement Strong Access Control Measures
  5. Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
  6. Maintain an Information Security Policy

6. Mapping of 6 Goals with 12 Requirements of PCI-DSS

Goal #1: Build and Maintain a Secure Network
Requirement #1: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data
Requirement #2: Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters

Goal #2: Protect Cardholder Data
Requirement #3: Protect stored cardholder data
Requirement #4: Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks

Goal #3: Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
Requirement #5: Use and regularly update anti-virus software or programs
Requirement #6: Develop and maintain secure systems and applications

Goal #4: Implement Strong Access Control Measures
Requirement #7: Restrict access to cardholder data by business need to know
Requirement #8: Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access
Requirement #9: Restrict physical access to cardholder data

Goal #5: Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
Requirement #10: Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
Requirement #11: Regularly test security systems and processes

Goal #6: Maintain an Information Security Policy
Requirement #12: Maintain a policy that addresses information security for all personnel

7. Different Components of PCI DSS

PA-DSS: The standard for validating off-the-shelf payment applications used in authorization and settlement.
Mechanisms using PA-DSS validated payment applications are NOT automatically PCI DSS compliant.

P2PE standard covers: Encryption, decryption, and key management requirement for point-to-point encryption solutions.

Service Provider: A company that controls or could impact the security of another entity’s cardholder data.

Use of a Qualified Integrator/Re-seller (QIR): Is a good step towards PCI DSS compliance

8. Quiz

Which of following entities will ultimately approve a purchase?
a. Issuer
b. Acquirer
c. Merchant
d. Payment Transaction Gateway

Ans: Issuer

Which step does the payment brand network provide to complete reconciliation to the merchant’s bank
a. Settlement
b. Approval
c. Authorization
d. Clearing

Ans: Clearing

9. References

Happy learning, keep growing and keep sharing valuable information 🙂


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