The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards that are designed to protect cardholder data and ensure that merchants and service providers are compliant with the standard.
The standard is divided into four levels, each with its own set of requirements, and you should know about these classifications if you are planning to start your business. In that case, you should GO and get your certification right away.
Achieving PCI compliance, regardless of the level, requires businesses to meet a set of security standards designed to protect sensitive cardholder data. It is important for businesses to understand the specific requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) that apply to their level.
This will help them identify the areas where they need to focus their efforts. After that, all merchants, regardless of level, are required to complete an SAQ, which is a set of questions that assess the merchant’s compliance with the PCI DSS. The SAQ is used to identify vulnerabilities and potential risks to cardholder data. Along with this, the merchants must implement a set of security controls that are designed to protect cardholder data.
DuploCloud’s PCI DSS control implementation is auto-generated and integrates into DevOps workflows from the start. Learn more here: https://duplocloud.com/solutions/devops-as-a-service/. These controls include firewalls, antivirus software, and secure data storage.
Level 1
Level 1 merchants are those that process the highest volume of transactions annually. This includes large retailers, e-commerce businesses, and other businesses that process more than six million transactions per year. Level 1 merchants are subject to the most stringent requirements and must undergo an annual on-site assessment by a qualified security assessor (QSA).
Level 2
Level 2 merchants process between one million and six million transactions per year. They must also undergo an annual on-site assessment, but the requirements are less stringent than those for Level 1 merchants.
Level 3
Level 3 merchants process between 20,000 and one million transactions per year. These merchants must complete a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) and may be subject to an on-site assessment at the discretion of the acquiring bank.
Level 4
Level 4 merchants process fewer than 20,000 transactions per year. They must also complete an SAQ, but the requirements are less stringent than those for Level 3 merchants.
It is important to note that the above is just a general guideline, and the actual classification of merchants is based on the total number of transactions processed per year. Additionally, some merchants may be required to comply with additional security requirements based on their specific industry or the type of card they accept.
In summary, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is divided into four levels of compliance, level 1, level 2, level 3, and level 4, each with its own set of requirements. The classification of merchants is based on the total number of transactions processed per year, and the requirements for each level are different.
Merchants need to understand their level and comply with the requirements to protect sensitive cardholder data and reduce the risk of data breaches.
