The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) is a global forum that brings together payments industry stakeholders to develop and drive adoption of data security standards and resources for safe payments worldwide.

This security standard is applicable to all Business entities that store, process or transmit cardholder data or sensitive authentication data.

Benefits of PCI DSS Certification

• Builds Trust with customers: Trust is fundamental to successful e-commerce. Meeting international standards for secure payments is one of the ways of building and protecting your reputation, which is one of your businesses' most valuable assets.
• Prevents data breaches: Data compliance and management are key considerations when building an IT infrastructure, especially if you process or store sensitive customer data. Because merchants are required to use stronger firewalls and encryption, and they aren't allowed to retain cardholder details, each PCI-compliant business becomes a less valuable target for cyber criminals. Hacking your network would not only be difficult for them, they won't find the data they are looking for.
• Helps you to meet global standards: The PCI DSS regulations were initiated by 5 of the world's leading credit organisations (VISA, MasterCard, JCB, American Express and Discover) in order to provide a mandatory level of protection for consumers by ensuring that merchants meet minimum levels of security when they store, process, and transmit cardholder data. Achieving PCI compliance allows you to take your place among other international retailers and businesses who are committed to data security and protecting consumers.
• Puts security first: PCI DSS compliance requires you to have multiple layers of security through firewalls that are properly configured. You also need an overall IT security strategy that evolves based on current threats and monitors your network for unpatched holes or lapsed updates. These PCI requirements can be met through IT security services like endpoint security, advanced firewalls, network segmentation or a vulnerability audit.
• Avoid fines and penalties: Under the PCI DSS, fines are imposed on the acquiring bank, which are usually passed on to the organisation in question. Unlike the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), penalties under the PCI DSS accrue monthly until the organisation reaches compliance. As such, they can quickly stack up or else force the organisation to rush headlong into implementing its requirements. Either way, it will be an expensive process – and it’s not the only thing you’ll have to worry about. Because there are similarities between the requirements of the PCI DSS and the GDPR, you may find that non-compliance with the former is also a non-compliance with the latter.

Our Approach to PCI DSS Compliance:

• Scope Definition We undertake a thorough assessment of the scope of PCI DSS applicability. We determine the assets and services required to be PCI DSS compliant and the business portion which has to be excluded.
• Gap Analysis: This step determines the current status of your security posture vis-à-vis the requirements of PCI DSS. We map out existing and required security infrastructure of all business processes which are in scope. We then determine the deviation from the necessary requirements and make action plans to fill the gaps.
• Risk Assessment: We conduct a comprehensive Risk Assessment to identify weak areas and loopholes that covers assets, network services, policies and procedures which could impact the business critical assets by developing a risk assessment methodology that suits the organisation's needs. After identifying the risks, we build a risk treatment plan. This helps us to identify the unacceptable risks and mitigate them.
• Implementation: Risk treatment is the process for implementing the appropriate information security controls. Using formalized risk management processes, we help you determine the appropriate level of risk treatment in a manner that is consistent with the PCI DSS security risk assessment.
• Internal Audit: Our internal audit methodology includes people, process, technology and measurements to assure and provide management with the degree of PCI DSS Compliance. We can provide this audit ‘as a service’, with scheduled audits to an agreed timeframe with your organization.
• Awareness Training: We conduct a brief Awareness Training program on PCI DSS for your organisation that outlines the importance of protecting your customer’s card data and their importance to the organisation.