PCI DSS, or 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. This includes merchants and service providers of all sizes who handle cardholder data. Compliance with PCI DSS is not a legal requirement, but it is contractually enforced by major card brands and acquiring banks.
Who needs to comply?
Any business that accepts, processes, stores, or transmits credit or debit card information is required to comply with PCI DSS. This includes:
Merchants: Businesses that sell goods or services and accept payment cards.
Service providers: Companies that handle cardholder data on behalf of merchants or banks, such as payment processors or call centers.
Organizations that store cardholder data: Even if they don't process or transmit the data, organizations that store it must also be compliant.
[CYBER ACTION: GERALD - can we give any advice of what to do if get a fail?]