The PCI Council aims at minimizing the risk of cardholder data by securing sensitive cardholder data including Sensitive Authentication Data (SAD). For these reasons, PCI DSS Standards are strictly enforced in the payment card industry. According to the PCI DSS Security Standard Requirement, organizations dealing with sensitive card data are required to maintain maximum security and implement measures that ensure the confidentiality, privacy, and security of the cardholder data.

The new PCI DSS Standard, version 4.0, contains all the steps, best practices, and explanations required for full compliance. In fact, even an organization that does not process cardholder data could follow the PCI Standard to implement a robust cybersecurity program for any of its important data.

As we continue our review of the 12 Requirements of PCI DSS version 4.0, one has to stop and consider, is it possible to have a favorite section of a standard? After all, most guidance documents, as well as regulations are seen as tedious distractions from the importance of getting the job done. However, depending on a person’s position and function in an organization, it is possible to “geek out” on some of the information in these official papers.

In Part 1 of this series, we reviewed the first four sections of the new PCI standards. As we continue our examination of PCI DSS version 4.0, we will consider what organizations will need to do in order to successfully transition and satisfy this update.

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council has released its first update to their Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) since 2018. The new standard, version 4.0, is set to generally go into effect by 2024, but there are suggested updates that are not going to be required until a year after that. This, of course, creates a couple of problems for those who want to phase in the new standard.

PCI DSS 4.0 couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, particularly as the global pandemic forces more individuals into online purchasing—from shopping and entertainment to healthcare and hospitality. With PCI 4.0 compliance mandated by 2025, it is critical to understand now what it will mean for client-side security, so businesses can begin the implementation process.

Whether you’re a startup, an e-commerce company, or a large corporation, as long as you handle credit card transactions, you need to be aware of and comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). As online commerce and online payment technology continue to grow, they need to be accompanied by new rules and regulations to make sure that both the business and the customers are safe and secure.