Buoyed by the festival season euphoria, credit card transactions for the first time crossed INR 1 Lakh Crore in October 2021 and debit card transactions were upwards of INR 7.5 Lakh Crore during the same period. With such exponential growth in cashless payments, information security and privacy of cardholder data is of utmost importance. Ever wondered how it is managed? What are the guidelines regarding data security for card based transactions? How does an entity comply with these guidelines? That’s where PCI DSS requirements come into play.
So what is PCI DSS? Who formed these standards? What requirements does it prescribe? And who is responsible for adherence to these requirements? We will respond to these questions below:
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store or transmit card information maintain a secure environment for processing transactions. PCI DSS was developed to encourage and enhance cardholder data security, as well as to facilitate the global adoption of consistent data security measures. Payment Card Industry Security Standard Council (PCI SSC), an independent body created by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and JCB to standardise and improve account security throughout the transaction process, launched PCI DSS in September 2006; the latest version was debuted in May 2018.
PCI DSS applies to all payment card processing entities, including merchants, processors, acquirers, issuers and service providers. It also applies to any other entity that stores, processes or transmits cardholder data or sensitive authentication data.
12 Standards of PCI DSS
PCI DSS specifies 12 standards to which all entities must adhere. The following is an overview of these standards:
| Objective | Standard |
| Build and Maintain a Secure Network and Systems | 1. Configure and maintain a firewall to protect cardholder data
2. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters |
| Protect Cardholder Data | 3. Protect Stored Cardholder Data
4. Encrypt Transmission of Cardholder Data across open, public networks |
| Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program | 5. Protect all systems against malware and update anti-virus software or programs on a regular basis
6. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications |
| Implement Strong Access Control Measures | 7. Restrict access to cardholder data by business need to know
8. Identify and authenticate system component access 9. Restrict physical access to cardholder data |
| Regularly Monitor and Test Networks | 10. Track and monitor all network resource and cardholder data access
11. Test security systems and processes on a regular basis |
| Maintain an Information Security Policy | 12. Maintain an information security policy for all personnel |
Let’s delve deeper into each standard to better understand the goal:
Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data
A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls network traffic, both incoming and outgoing. Firewalls prevent foreign or unknown entities from accessing private data. These anti-hacking systems are frequently the first line of defence against hackers. Because of their effectiveness in preventing unauthorised access, firewalls are required for PCI DSS compliance.
PCI SSC provides a detailed step-by-step process for configuring and maintaining a firewall.
Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters
Routers, modems, POS systems and other third-party products frequently include generic passwords and security measures that are easily accessible to the general public. Businesses frequently fail to secure these vulnerabilities. Before installing a system on a network, businesses must change the vendor-supplied default passwords and remove or disable any unnecessary default accounts.
Keeping a list of all devices and software that require a password is one way to ensure compliance in this area (or other security to access). In addition to a device/password inventory, basic precautions and configurations should be carried out on a regular basis. (For example, changing the password).
Protect Stored Cardholder Data
The third PCI DSS compliance requirement is two-way data protection for cardholders. Cardholder data protection methods such as encryption, truncation, masking and hashing are critical components. If an intruder gets around other security measures and gains access to encrypted data, the data is unreadable and unusable to that person without the proper cryptographic keys.
The PCI SSC recommends that entities implement data retention and disposal policies to keep cardholder data storage to a minimum. It also requires entities not to store the card verification code or value (a three- or four-digit number printed on the front or back of a payment card that is used to verify card-not-present transactions) after authorization. That is why CVC/CVV is required to be entered by the customer every time an online transaction is made.
Furthermore, when PAN (Permanent Account Number or Card Number) is displayed, entities must mask it (the first six and last four digits are the maximum number of digits to be displayed), so that only personnel with a legitimate business need can see more than the first six/last four digits of the PAN.
To further prevent entities from storing cardholder data, the RBI has mandated tokenization for all card-based transactions. No entity in the card transaction / payment chain, other than card issuers and / or card networks, shall store the actual card data beginning January 1, 2022.
Encrypt Transmission of Cardholder data across open, public networks
Cardholder data is transmitted via multiple channels (i.e., payment processors, home office from local stores, etc). Malicious individuals continue to target misconfigured wireless networks and vulnerabilities in legacy encryption and authentication protocols in order to gain privileged access to cardholder data environments. When this data is transmitted over networks, it must be encrypted. PCI SSC defines cryptographic algorithms, keys and certificates for use in encryption.
Protect all systems against malware and regularly update anti-virus software or programs
Malicious software, also known as “malware,” including viruses, worms and Trojans, enters the network through a variety of business-approved activities such as employee e-mail and Internet use on mobile computers and storage devices, resulting in the exploitation of system vulnerabilities. To protect systems from current and evolving malicious software threats, antivirus software must be installed on all systems that are commonly infected by malware. Furthermore, all antivirus software must be updated on a regular basis, and an audit log must be kept.
Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
To protect against the exploitation and compromise of cardholder data by malicious individuals and software, all systems must have all necessary software patches. All software and applications must be updated on a regular basis with security patches to address system vulnerabilities.
Restrict access to cardholder data by business need to know
To ensure that only authorised personnel have access to critical data, systems and processes must be in place to limit access based on need to know and job responsibilities. All employees, executives and third parties who do not require access to this information should not have it. The roles that require sensitive data should be well-documented and updated on a regular basis.
Identify and authenticate access to system components
Individuals with access to cardholder data should have their own credentials and identification. For example, there should not be a single login to the encrypted data with multiple employees having access to the username and password. By assigning a unique identification (ID) to each person with access, you ensure that each individual is held individually accountable for their actions. When such accountability is in place, critical data and system actions can be traced back to known and authorised users and processes. In the event that data is compromised, unique IDs reduce vulnerability and speed up response time.
Restrict physical access to cardholder data
Any cardholder information must be physically stored in a secure location. Data that is physically written or typed, as well as data that is stored digitally (e.g., on a hard drive), should be kept in a secure room, drawer or cabinet. Not only should access be restricted, but any time sensitive data is accessed, a log should be kept to ensure compliance.
Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
Logging mechanisms and the ability to track user activities are critical in preventing, detecting and mitigating the effects of a data breach. When something goes wrong, the presence of logs in all environments allows for thorough tracking, alerting and analysis. Without system activity logs, determining the cause of a compromise is extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Regularly test security systems and processes
All ten of the preceding compliance standards involve a variety of software products, physical locations, and, most likely, a few employees. Many things can break down, become out of date or suffer from human error. These threats can be mitigated by complying with the PCI DSS requirement for regular system and process scans and vulnerability testing.
To ensure that security controls continue to reflect a changing environment, system components, processes and custom software should be tested on a regular basis.
Maintain a policy that addresses information security for all personnel
For compliance, an inventory of equipment, software and employees with access must be documented. Access to cardholder data logs will also necessitate documentation. The flow of information into a company, where it is stored and how it is used after the point of sale must all be documented.
A strong security policy establishes the security tone for the entire organisation and informs employees of what is expected of them.
Levels of PCI DSS
In addition to adhering to these standards, organisations must assess and submit a Report on Compliance (RoC) based on the number of transactions handled each year:
- Level 1: Merchants who process more than 60 Lakh card transactions per year
- Level 2: Merchants who process 10 Lakh to 60 Lakh transactions per year
- Level 3: Merchants who process between 20,000 and 10 Lakh transactions per year
- Level 4: Merchants with fewer than 20,000 transactions per year
The assessment for Level 1 merchants should include an external audit performed by a QSA (Qualified Security Assessor) or ISA (Internal Security Assessor). They will conduct an on-site evaluation of the organisation in order to:
- Validate the scope of the assessment
- Review your documentation and technical information
- Determine whether the PCI DSS requirements are being met
- Provide support and guidance during the compliance process
- Evaluate compensating controls
To demonstrate compliance, the auditor will then submit a RoC to the organization’s acquiring banks.
To confirm compliance with PCI DSS requirements, Level 2 merchants must only submit a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) and a self declared ROC rather than an external audit.
Level 3 and 4 merchants are only required to fill out a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ).
Benefits of PCI DSS Compliance
At the very least, complying with PCI Security Standards appears to be a daunting task. The tangle of standards and issues appears to be too much for even large organisations, let alone smaller businesses. However, compliance is becoming more important and may not be as difficult as one might think, especially with the right tools. The following are some of the advantages of being PCI DSS compliant:
- Your systems are secure, and your customers can put their sensitive payment card information in your hands; trust breeds customer confidence and repeat businesses.
- It prevents data breaches. Each PCI-compliant business represents a less valuable target for cybercriminals. They will not only have a much more difficult time hacking your network, but they will also not find the data they are looking for!
- Comply with global data security standards. The PCI DSS regulations were initiated by five of the world’s leading credit organisations in order to provide consumers with a mandatory level of protection by ensuring that merchants meet minimum levels of security when they store, process, and transmit cardholder data. Obtaining PCI compliance allows you to join the ranks of other international businesses dedicated to data security and consumer protection.
Non-compliance with these standards will result in fines imposed by the networks on acquiring banks, which will then be passed on to the organisation in question. Repeated violations may result in the merchant’s ability to accept payments using their cards being revoked entirely.
