Site Assessments and PCI Compliance for Retail Networks
A business that store, process, transmit, or transmit credit card information should adhere to PCI Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).
- Tips for PCI Compliance
Establish a successful compliance program.
PCI DSS compliance is a continuous process, not a deadline. You are not guaranteed to remain relevant just because you passed the rating. Knowing your industry, its terminology, and how payment card data flows through your systems and network are essential pieces of information that will enable you to effectively manage your compliance program.
Understanding the PCI compliance process
Many organizations’ PCI practices are not integrated into a manageable methodology after their initial site assessment. Therefore, PCI compliance isn’t completely integrated into the enterprise’s “the same old thing.” dynamic.
Site assessments are done by the Quality Assurance team for the first time as a result of a point on a schedule where assessed companies should demonstrate compliance as of the date responsibilities are confirmed by the AOC.
Things began to change from then on. For the site assessment of the second year, and every year thereafter, all operating controls enforced by the PCI DSS should be maintained (and the company should maintain and provide performance records to support the QA assessment).
Establish a dedicated team to ensure PCI (peripheral component interconnect) compliance
PCI compliance is certifiably not an event that happens once. When data flows and client contact points are improved, it is a continuous process to guarantee that your business stays in compliance.
To ensure continued compliance, some credit card companies may require you to submit quarterly or yearly reports or to complete a yearly site assessment, particularly if you conduct more than 6 million transactions a year.
PCI compliance often requires node support and collaboration to manage consistently (and from one year to another). Perhaps a dedicated compliance team would be useful if this hasn’t already been established.
- Implementing PCI Compliance Security Controls
Document security controls continuously.
Many small businesses consider change control and hardening guidelines to be unimportant tasks. Therefore, many small businesses only document security controls in general from time to time.
Documentation can be reviewed for compatibility by creating a PCI email user or active folder account for PCI, and adding reminders to the schedule to ensure that important security steps are not overlooked.
This account can be used to store proof obtained during PCI compliance assignments. Using this solution will keep your workers PCI compliant and provide documentation for site assessments at no cost.
All points of sales and contacts should be tracked and secured.
Throughout the credit card transaction, workers need to understand how it moves from the point of sale gadget or virtual terminal to the payment gateway, banks, and back again. The payment ecosystem ensures that all users are compatible and the data of credit cardholders are protected in all stages of the transaction.
Pay attention to the sensitive code.
Ineffectively written code gives attackers access to sensitive data. Several common coding errors can result in vulnerabilities that are susceptible to hacking techniques, such as cross-site scripting.
Security policy for records.
It is important to record your security policies and systems so that workers know what is being done and what needs to be done. It is helpful for workers and decision-makers to know how to handle issues that may arise as a result of a risk assessment. Documentation is essential for maintaining coordination and legality in security efforts.
In addition to streamlining PCIs and providing training materials for security, documentation enables the PCI process. You reinforce your expectations by writing your policies, which help you implement security and train your employees.
Protect cardholder data by implementing long-term processes.
Most companies follow the process without building up a reliable process for maintaining the security of the cardholder’s information. The real-time security of card data is to put PCI DSS behind all compliance exercises and to acquire a positive Report on Compliance (ROC). A safety-driven approach to compliance results in compliance.
Keep SSL/TLS certificates up-to-date.
The SSL certificate is a major factor in being IP compatible and secure. SSL certificates are sometimes offered by affiliate service providers as part of online payment processing services. Alternatively, organizations can create a certificate signing request to acquire an SSL certificate on their servers.
An SSL certificate is one of the most important components of securing an online business. It is by no means the only requirement for PCI compliance.
The PCI requirements for each vendor vary based on their annual credit card processing, their prepaid cards, and their debit card transactions. Security risks increase with the size of the business and the number of cards entered, which means PCI Compliance and higher levels of protection are required.
Documentation is the first step.
The PCI DSS compliance program includes documentation. Anyone who works with payment card data should provide practical rules and acknowledge all PCI requirements. Here is the documentation you need to include:
- Report of Compliance (ROC):Level 1 vendors performing a PCI DSS site assessment are required to fill out this form. Over 6 million transactions are processed by a Level 1 broker annually. Check ROCs to ensure the dealer being complied with follows PCI DSS standards.
- Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Retailers and service providers who have been approved to self-assess PCI DSS compliance can use the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). Annual site surveys should be completed by merchants and sent to the payment bank.
- 12 PCI DSS Requirements: As merchants, you should meet PCI DSS requirements like maintaining a firewall, storing cardholders’ information securely, and minimizing cardholder data. The documentation for each of the 12 necessities must prove that the prerequisites have been met.
- An Audit Trail: Traders need to record all of their processes and methods, networks, configuration, and maintenance and keep a review trail in case of a data breach.
- Incident Response Plan: Dealers should make sure they have a plan of action for dealing with data breaches so they can report the procedures they will follow.
Secure cardholders’ data wherever they are.
Make sure you know where and how to send the cardholder’s data. When transferring or storing data, encrypt it (even for a limited period).
If cardholder data is sent over public networks, it must be encrypted to comply with PCI DSS 4.1. Make sure you are using the latest TLS standards.
Furthermore, if you need to store cardholder data for legitimate business purposes, Requirement 3 PCI DSS states that it should be encrypted or stored through tokenization.
Don’t just focus on compliance, but on achieving security.
PCI DSS compliance is often viewed as being protected from attackers since organizations with PCI DSS certification are unaware that merchants in the field may advertise on their behalf.
Just 29% of organizations meet PCI DSS compliance requirements after a year, according to a Verizon PCI DSS Compliance report. Many organizations simply implement compensating controls and then forget about PCI DSS compliance until the next review or don’t even examine the crate for PCI DSS compliance from their list.
Half a month before hacker malware was installed on Target’s network in 2013, Target was certified to comply with PCI DSS. Many companies, including Heartland Payment Systems, have experienced serious security breaches regardless of whether appraisers believed their organization met the requirements for a very long time.
Either PCI DSS is incapable of securing cardholder data, or implementing PCI DSS firms implement it based on poorly thought out methods. What does compliance with PCI DSS provide if it doesn’t ensure security? Additionally, compliance with PCI DSS does not exclude the ability to experience data breaches.
PCI DSS takes into account the most well-known risk scenarios and attack vectors detected by PCI SSC. Although PCI SSC has been updating PCI DSS for a long time, it is impossible to predict each possible attack scene. It is the responsibility of every organization to ensure credit card data is secure even though the PCI Security Standards Board is constantly monitoring risks and developing strategies to combat them.
With FieldEngineer.com, redefine your success
If your business is looking for secure networks, hiring a freelance Point of Sale (POS) technician may provide you with a variety of service opportunities. Our on-demand services are excellent and certified experts support, specifically for organizations who are looking for the finest services available in the industry.
There are 60,000+ Field Engineers at FieldEngineer.com, representing 195 countries across the globe.
