PCI Assessments & Compliance

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. Any organization that handles payment card data must comply with PCI DSS, including merchants, service providers, payment processors, and financial institutions.

PCI DSS defines four merchant levels based on transaction volume: Level 1 (over 6 million transactions annually) requires annual on-site assessment and quarterly network scans. Level 2 (1-6 million transactions) requires annual self-assessment questionnaire and quarterly scans. Level 3 (20,000-1 million e-commerce transactions) requires annual SAQ and quarterly scans. Level 4 (fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions) requires annual SAQ and quarterly scans. Requirements may vary by card brand.

PCI P2PE (Point-to-Point Encryption) is a solution that encrypts cardholder data from the point of interaction (POI) device until it reaches the secure decryption environment. When implemented correctly, P2PE significantly reduces PCI DSS scope for merchants by removing encrypted cardholder data from the merchant's cardholder data environment. This simplifies compliance and reduces the number of PCI DSS requirements that apply to the merchant.

PCI DSS compliance must be validated annually. Level 1 merchants require an annual on-site assessment by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA). Level 2-4 merchants typically complete an annual Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). Additionally, all merchants must conduct quarterly network vulnerability scans by an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). Compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.

Penalties for PCI non-compliance can be severe. Card brands may impose fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per month until compliance is achieved. In the event of a data breach, fines can be much higher, and organizations may face additional costs including forensic investigations, credit monitoring for affected customers, legal fees, and reputational damage. Payment processors may also terminate merchant accounts for non-compliance.

PCI DSS is the comprehensive security standard that applies to all organizations handling cardholder data. PCI P2PE is a specific solution standard that validates point-to-point encryption solutions. When merchants use a validated P2PE solution, they can reduce their PCI DSS scope because encrypted cardholder data is removed from their environment. P2PE is a way to simplify PCI DSS compliance, not a replacement for it.

Yes, network segmentation can be used to reduce PCI DSS scope by isolating systems that store, process, or transmit cardholder data from systems that don't. Proper segmentation must be validated through network testing and documentation. Other scope reduction methods include using validated P2PE solutions, tokenization, and outsourcing cardholder data functions to validated service providers. We help you identify legitimate scope reduction opportunities.

Required documentation includes network diagrams, data flow diagrams, security policies and procedures, incident response plans, change management procedures, access control documentation, vulnerability management procedures, penetration test reports, quarterly ASV scan reports, and evidence of control implementation. We help you identify required documentation and develop missing policies and procedures as part of the assessment process.

Assessment timelines vary based on merchant level, organization size, and current compliance maturity. Level 1 on-site assessments typically take 2-4 weeks on-site plus report writing. Level 2-4 SAQ completion can take 1-2 weeks with proper preparation. Organizations pursuing compliance for the first time may need 3-6 months for readiness assessment, remediation, and formal validation. We help you plan realistic timelines based on your specific situation.

PCI compliance is an ongoing process. After initial validation, organizations must maintain security controls, conduct quarterly vulnerability scans, complete annual assessments, monitor for security incidents, and update documentation as the environment changes. We provide ongoing support to help you maintain compliance, address changes in your environment, and prepare for annual reassessment.