To run an online business and accept digital card payments, you, as a merchant, need to be PCI compliant. Utilizing a PCI-compliant payment gateway service is one method to alleviate some of the stress.

PCI-Compliant Payment Gateway

A PCI-compliant payment gateway is a type of payment software that allows online businesses to gather card details from customers who purchase online while maintaining a high level of security and safety.

When it comes to the process of collecting cardholder data, a payment gateway provider that is certified to comply with PCI DSS compliant payment gateway provider can alleviate the burden of PCI Compliance for payment gateway that is placed on merchants. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, sometimes known as PCI DSS, is a collection of recommendations intended for businesses that accept credit cards as a form of payment. By adhering to the PCI DSS, businesses will improve the safety of card transactions and secure the information of cardholders. When it comes to a company’s credibility as well as its ability to function, the implications of failing to protect the payment information of its customers can be severe.

What Does PCI-Compliance Mean?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is a set of rules that were developed with the intention of ensuring that all businesses that handle, store, or transfer credit card information do so in an environment that is protected from unauthorized access. It began operations on September 7, 2006, with the goal of managing PCI security standards and enhancing account security across the board, beginning with the transaction process. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is managed and administered by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), which is an independent group established by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. It is interesting to note that the payment brands and acquirers, rather than the PCI SSC, are responsible for enforcing compliance with the standards.

How Does PCI-Compliance Work?

PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) offers detailed standards and supporting materials in an effort to enhance the security of payment card data. These materials include requirement frameworks, tools, measurements, and support resources to assist organizations in ensuring the security of cardholder information at all times. 

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is the foundation of the council because it provides the necessary framework for developing a comprehensive payment card data security process. This process should include measures for the prevention of security incidents, the detection of security incidents, and the appropriate reaction to security incidents.

Tools Used by PCI-DSS

• Self-Assessment Questionnaires are designed to assist businesses in assessing their adherence to the PCI Data Security Standard.

• PIN Transaction Security (PTS) standards for device vendors and makers, as well as a list of PIN transaction devices that have been given the approval to use.

• Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS) and a list of Validated Payment Apps are two resources that can assist in the development of safe PCI DSS compliant payment gateway by software providers and other parties.

What Does It Take to Be PCI-Compliant?

There are PCI DSS requirements that must be met to be certified. They are currently 12 in number. We will discuss them below;

1. Use and Keep Firewalls in Good Shape

Firewalls basically stop foreign or unknown people from getting private information. Firewalls are needed for PCI DSS compliance because they keep unauthorized people from getting in.

2. Proper Password Protections

Routers, modems, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and other third-party products often come with generic passwords and security measures that anyone can use. Too often, businesses don’t do enough to fix these problems. Keeping a list of all devices and software that need a password is one way to make sure compliance in this area

3. Keep Data On Cardholders Safe

The third PCI DSS rule is that cardholder data must be protected in two ways. There are certain algorithms that must be used to encrypt card data. Encryption keys are used to set up these encryptions. For compliance, encryption keys also need to be encrypted. To make sure there is no unencrypted data, primary account numbers (PAN) need to be checked and maintained regularly.

4. Encrypt Transmitted Data

Cardholder information is sent through a number of normal channels (i.e., payment processors, home office from local stores, etc.). When this information is sent to these known places, it must be encrypted. Account numbers should also never be sent to unknown places.

5. Use and Maintain Anti-Virus

Even if you don’t have to follow PCI DSS, installing anti-virus software is a good idea. But all devices that interact with PAN or store it must have anti-virus software. This software needs to be patched and updated often. Your POS provider should also use anti-virus measures in places where the software can’t be installed directly.

6. Properly Updated Software

Updates will need to be made often to firewalls and anti-virus software. It’s also a good idea for a business to keep all of its software up to date. Most software updates include security features, such as patches that fix recently found bugs. These measures add another layer of protection. All software on devices that interact with or store cardholder data needs to have these updates.

7. Restrict Data Access

Cardholder information must only be shared with people who “need to know.”  The PCI DSS says that the roles that do need sensitive data should be well-documented and updated often.

8. A Unique Id to Get In

Those who can see cardholder data should have their own credentials and ways to prove who they are. For example, multiple hands shouldn’t be able to use the same username and password to log in to the encrypted data. With unique IDs, data is less likely to be stolen and can be fixed more quickly if it is.

9. Safe Data

Any information about cardholders must be kept in a safe place. Both data that is written or typed on paper must be kept digitally (for example, on a hard drive) it should be locked in a safe room, drawer, or cabinet. Access should be limited, and every time sensitive data is accessed, it should be written down in a log so that the business can stay in compliance.

10. Set Up and Keep Track of Access Logs

Log entries are needed for everything that has to do with cardholder data and primary account numbers (PAN).  For compliance, you need to write down how data enters and how often access is needed.

11. Scan and Test for Vulnerabilities

There are many things that can break down, become out of date, or be messed up by mistake. Limiting these threats can be done by doing regular scans and vulnerability tests as required by PCI DSS.

12. Document Policies

Logs of accessing cardholder information will also need to be shown. How information comes into your company, where it is stored, and how it is used after the point of sale will also need to be written down.

How Do We Become PCI Compliant?

Limit Data Retention

This first step is meant to make a breach less serious. If you remove sensitive information from your internal systems, a breach of your environment won’t reveal anything sensitive. Here, a good rule of thumb is to never store anything you don’t need right away. The less information you have to protect, the better.

Protect Network Systems 

The second step is to limit access to and strengthen the security of access points that are often used to break into systems. Also, if a breach does happen, you should have a detailed plan for how to respond.

Secure Payment Card Applications

Controls parts of payment applications and secure them. The goal here is to protect against a possible breach by making areas that are often attacked harder to break into.

Watch Who Gets into Your Systems 

In this step, you’ll control who has access to your network and keep track of what they do while they’re connected to your environment.

Protect cardholder data that is stored

If your organization needs to store primary account numbers (PANs), an easy way is to store PANs in one part of your network and cut it off from the rest.

Complete Efforts to Be Compliant and Make Sure All Controls Are in Place.

The last step is mostly about cleaning up and filling out paperwork to show that your organization met its regulatory compliance obligations. Maintain internal IT security policies and give regular training to employees

Bottom Line

As cybercriminals get smarter, it’s harder to stay ahead of threats. A hacker wants a lot more than just the card number. The more information a hacker gets about a person, the more complete a profile they can make. This makes the information they steal even more valuable. To be in compliance, merchants need to adopt a PCI-DSS compliant payment gateway. It is important to remember that not being PCI compliant can be dangerous and attract severe penalties