PCI DSS…what is it, and who needs to care?Solved

Participant
Discussion
1 year ago Jan 09, 2025

I keep seeing the term PCI DSS pop up in security conversations and compliance checklists, but I’ll be honest I don’t fully get what it is.

Is it only for banks? Does it apply to regular companies too? And what exactly are we supposed to be “compliant” with?

Replies (2)

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Participant
1 year ago Jan 09, 2025
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You’re not alone; PCI DSS sounds intimidating until you break it down.

It stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. In simple terms, it’s a set of security rules designed to protect credit and debit card data.

If your organization stores, processes, or transmits cardholder information even indirectly, PCI DSS applies to you. That includes retail, healthcare, SaaS companies, hospitality, and pretty much anyone who accepts card payments.

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Participant
1 year ago Jan 09, 2025
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To add to that, PCI DSS isn’t a law; it’s a security standard enforced by payment card companies (like Visa, Mastercard, etc.).

The goal isn’t to make life difficult; it’s to reduce fraud by ensuring basics like:

  • limited access to sensitive systems
  • strong passwords and authentication
  • regular patching and vulnerability checks
  • knowing which devices and users touch payment data

So, it’s less about paperwork and more about good security hygiene around payment data.

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