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Before the PCI DSS was founded, the different card brands set up their own security programs to safeguard card holder data and identity theft due to data compromises at numerous levels. With the aim to reduce the number of security breaches and protect the card brands, in 2006, five major card brands, (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card and JCB, came together to create the “Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). All their policies and procedures were unified under one universal standard.

The PCI security standards council governs the payment industry and ensures that all entities accepting, storing or transmitting credit card data adhere to the PCI DSS. Any entity that stores, processes or transmits payment card data, needs to be in compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), or risk fines and losing its ability to process credit card transactions. PCI compliance isn’t limited to those businesses conducting sales through an e-commerce Web site. If your business collects credit/debit card data written on paper or holds credit/debit cards for a patron’s tab in your bar or restaurant, then PCI compliance applies to your business as well.

Ensuring PCI compliance
In addition to executing robust access control measures, there are other tips that can help in ensuring PCI compliance:

• Maintain a secure network

Well maintained firewalls are required to protect cardholder data and any default settings like user names and passwords must be changed. After any business transaction, any data from the magnetic strip must be deleted.

• Safeguard Cardholders data

Any information that is available on the payment card is referred as the cardholder’s data. Any data that is sent over an open or a public network always needs to be encrypted.

• A vulnerability program is necessary

All computers need to have vulnerability management solution and antivirus software and a traceable update procedure. It is also necessary to have a software application that will provide necessary alerts when security vulnerabilities are detected.

• Test the networks with systematic monitoring

This requires the logging of all events that pertains to a cardholder data. All the entries must ideally have a user Id, event type, date, time and computer and identity of the accessed data.

• Maintain an information security policy

Create a response plan and when the cardholder’s data is shared with other businesses, it is imperative for the third parties agree to the information IT compliance and security policy.

Businesses also can help themselves in being PCI compliant by purchasing sophisticated security equipment, configuring it to minimize risks. PCI compliance requirements continue to evolve, turning out t0 be complex to people who are not in the industry. To make sure your business is compliant, start by hiring a qualified security assessor to consult with you and assess your situation.