Compliance Glossary

PCI Environment is a global security standard that applies to organizations that process cardholder data or sensitive authentication data. 

This standard sets a minimum level of security to protect consumers and reduce fraud and data breaches in the payment industry. It’s relevant for any organization that accepts or processes payment cards.

Is PCI compliance legally required? 

No, PCI compliance isn’t a government-enforced law. The PCI Security Standards Council manages security standards but doesn’t enforce compliance. Agreements with merchant service providers and card networks determine compliance. 

Each provider may have its own implementation details. However, not complying with these standards can result in significant fines, so following the procedures outlined in your agreements is crucial.

The significance of a safe PCI compliance environment:

Payment card data is a prime target for cyberattacks. The 2019 Trustwave Global Security Report highlighted that threat actors often focus on payment card data. Nearly 25% of incidents involve card-not-present (CNP) data, and 11% involve card-track (magnetic stripe) data.

Attackers who obtain sensitive authentication data can impersonate cardholders, use their cards, and even steal their identities.

When implemented correctly, the PCI DSS helps organizations reduce the risk of security breaches.