Common PCI DSS Questions

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about PCI DSS compliance.

General Questions

What is PCI DSS?

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.

Who needs to be PCI DSS compliant?

Any business that processes, stores, or transmits payment card data must comply with PCI DSS. This includes merchants, service providers, financial institutions, and other entities involved in payment card processing.

What are the PCI DSS compliance levels?

PCI DSS defines four compliance levels for merchants, based primarily on transaction volume:

Level 1: Merchants processing over 6 million card transactions annually
Level 2: Merchants processing 1-6 million transactions annually
Level 3: Merchants processing 20,000-1 million e-commerce transactions annually
Level 4: Merchants processing fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions annually or up to 1 million regular transactions

What happens if I'm not compliant?

Non-compliance can result in:

Financial penalties from payment brands or banks
Increased transaction fees
Loss of ability to process card payments
Damage to reputation if a breach occurs
Legal liability and costs associated with data breaches

Compliance Process

How do I become PCI DSS compliant?

The basic steps to achieve compliance include:

Determine your compliance level and requirements
Assess your payment card processing environment
Complete the appropriate Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) or undergo an audit
Address any identified compliance gaps
Submit compliance documentation to your acquiring bank
Maintain compliance through ongoing monitoring and updates

What is a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)?

A Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is a validation tool for eligible merchants not required to undergo an on-site assessment. There are different SAQ types (A, A-EP, B, B-IP, C, C-VT, D, and P2PE) based on how you accept payments.

How often do I need to validate compliance?

PCI DSS requires annual validation of compliance. However, compliance is not just an annual event—it should be maintained continuously through proper security practices.

Technical Questions

Do I need to hire a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)?

It depends on your compliance level. Level 1 merchants typically require a QSA to conduct an on-site assessment. Smaller merchants (Levels 2-4) can usually self-assess by completing the appropriate SAQ.

What's the difference between PA-DSS and PCI DSS?

PCI DSS applies to entities that store, process, or transmit cardholder data. PA-DSS (Payment Application Data Security Standard) applies specifically to software vendors and developers who create payment applications.

Does using a PCI-compliant service provider make me compliant?

No. While using compliant service providers can simplify your compliance efforts, you are still responsible for ensuring that your own operations comply with PCI DSS requirements that apply to your environment.

Scope Questions

What is "scope" in PCI DSS?

Scope refers to all system components that are included in or connected to the cardholder data environment (CDE). This includes people, processes, and technologies that store, process, or transmit cardholder data.

How can I reduce my PCI DSS scope?

You can reduce scope by:

Implementing network segmentation
Tokenization or encryption of cardholder data
Using hosted payment solutions (redirects)
Outsourcing card processing functions
Eliminating storage of cardholder data where possible

If I use a payment gateway, am I still in scope for PCI DSS?

Yes, but your scope may be reduced. Even if a payment gateway handles most of the payment process, your systems still interact with payment data in some way, keeping you in scope for applicable requirements.

Maintenance Questions

How do I stay compliant after my initial certification?

To maintain compliance:

Monitor and test networks regularly
Keep security systems and processes updated
Maintain secure systems and applications
Restrict and monitor access to system components
Track and monitor all access to network resources
Conduct regular security awareness training
Review and update policies and procedures annually

What documentation do I need to maintain?

Required documentation includes:

Security policies and procedures
Network diagrams
Inventory of system components
Risk assessment results
Evidence of security testing
Employee training records
Incident response plans
Change management records

How do I handle security incidents?

Develop an incident response plan that includes:

Roles and responsibilities during an incident
Communication procedures (internal and external)
Containment and recovery procedures
Documentation requirements
Follow-up analysis to prevent recurrence

For more detailed information on specific requirements, please refer to the requirements section of our website.