Glossary definition: PCI DSS Standards

PCI DSS: Secure Your Online Payments

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of requirements designed to ensure that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. It is managed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), an independent body that was created by the major credit card companies to protect their customers from data theft and fraud. The PCI DSS is a multifaceted security standard that includes requirements for security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design, and other critical protective measures. The goal of the PCI DSS is to protect cardholder data by requiring organizations to build and maintain a secure network environment, implement strong access control measures, regularly monitor and test networks, and maintain an information security policy. The PCI DSS also requires organizations to regularly assess their compliance with the standard and to submit an annual report to the PCI SSC.