PCI- DSS compliance

In 2004, the payment card industry’s titans (VISA, Master Card, American Express, JCB International, and Discover Financial) banded together to establish a security standard to safeguard the data integrity of user card information. This paved the way for what we now know as the PCI-DSS compliance framework. Pentesting is ethical hacking that involves simulating a network and its target systems. PCI DSS Penetration testing is more than just running an automated vulnerability scanner; security specialists conduct tests and dig deep into the system. PCI DSS penetration testing for your security networks, public devices, apps, databases, and other structures that store, process, or distribute cardholder data entails attempting to uncover flaws before attackers do. In this blog, we’ll cover all about PCI DSS compliance, why it is required, PCI DSS pentesting, its requirements, and strategies. We’ll also look into how to choose a service provider, so keep reading. Understanding PCI DSS: A Brief Overview “The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is an international proprietary information security standard created by the PCI Security Standards Council for organizations that handle cardholder data for the world’s largest card schemes, including American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, and Visa.” Companies must be PCI DSS compliant to take credit card payments over the phone, in person, or online. PCI DSS secures all the information on a customer’s payment card, including the primary account number (PAN), cardholder name, credit card expiration date, and service code. While not legally compulsory, Companies must comply with PCI DSS as part of their contractual commitments to card issuers and financial institutions, including banks. Failure to comply has serious consequences: banks might permanently terminate their partnership with an organization and add offenders to the Merchant Alert to Control High-Risk (MATCH) list, preventing them from ever processing card payments again. Note: Noncompliance with PCI DSS can result in fines of up to $100,000 monthly and additional transaction costs. You won’t want that, do you?   If you’re a business that wants to comply with the PCI DSS framework and needs to know how to do so, Here’s a legitimate solution: PCI DSS penetration testing service. Schedule a call for FREE to learn more. Talk to our Cybersecurity Expert to discuss your specific needs and how we can help your business. Schedule a Call The Purpose of PCI DSS Compliance The fundamental purpose of PCI DSS is to protect and improve the security of sensitive cardholder data, such as credit card numbers, expiration dates, and security codes. The standard’s security measures assist organizations in reducing the risk of data breaches, fraud, and identity theft.F Compliance with PCI DSS also assures that firms use industry best practices when processing, storing, and transferring credit card information. As a result, PCI DSS compliance builds confidence among consumers and stakeholders. What is PCI DSS Penetration Testing? PCI DSS Penetration testing is the practice of identifying security flaws in an application that is in development. It is fundamentally about detecting and fixing security issues in apps. Data security is an ever-changing landscape. There are new hazards to consider, new laws to follow, new testing items, and new technology to understand. It’s hardly surprising that security staff might feel overwhelmed. While a penetration test cannot replace a full-scale audit, it may assist a company in assessing the security of its apps or websites and identifying possible risks and concerns. The Components of PCI DSS Framework PCI compliance standards, such as the DSS, assist in reducing risks to sensitive card payment data, such as cardholder data (CHD) and sensitive authentication data (SAD). Furthermore, PCI DSS compliance contains recommended practices that firms may use to safeguard card payments and their overall IT infrastructure, reducing the risk of cyberattacks. The PCI DSS compliance procedure involves: Implementing and maintaining PCI DSS requirements Report on PCI compliance Enforcement of PCI compliance Partnering with an experienced PCI DSS framework compliance specialist and managed security services provider (MSSP) will assist your firm in achieving and implementing these components.   We at Qualysec offer the best comprehensive pentest report that can guarantee you PCI DSS compliance. Click here to download our sample report! Latest Penetration Testing Report Download Is Penetration Testing Required for PCI DSS? Yes, PCI DSS requires penetration testing twice a year – or whenever a big change happens in your environment. Before we go any further, there is some complexity to this. Your application encompasses any aspect of your company that processes credit card information. Firstly, Networks, physical terminals, and any other location where PCI is gathered or passed through are considered part of your environment.  Second, PCI penetration testing should be done both internally and outside. Most vulnerability checks cover the exterior surface; you must also examine your internal network.  Third, a major shift in your surroundings is a gray region mostly determined by your internal calculations. “What is important to one firm may not be significant to another. However, in general, OS updates, the replacement of firewalls or important security devices, the implementation of a new payment acceptance method, and the migration of sections or the entire environment to a cloud-hosted environment would all be considered substantial changes.” Finally, the PCI DSS penetration testing requirement does not apply to everyone. What are the Principles of PCI DSS? The 12 PCI DSS standards correspond to 6 fundamental concepts of PCI DSS compliance, which are: Create and manage a secure network and systems Protect cardholder data Maintain a vulnerability-management program Implement tight access controls Regularly monitor and test networks Maintain an information security policy If these prerequisites are satisfied, the cardholder data environment and services within scope are PCI compliant. 12 PCI DSS Requirements for Business The PCI DSS criteria increase the cardholder data environment (CDE) and a company’s overall security posture. Here are the 12 PCI DSS requirements you should know about: 1. Implement secure setups for all system components: Often, network devices and equipment are pre-configured with default passwords and settings. Most network devices’ default passwords and settings are commonly known, making it easy for hackers to access them. The PCI DSS mandates enterprises to