What is the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard?

The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard is a set of rules and regulations designed to protect credit card data from being stolen, unlawfully accessed, or misused. The standard was developed by the PCI Security Standards Council, a global security standards body composed of payment brands such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. The PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements designed to protect credit card holders from credit card fraud and data theft. The standard requires organizations that process, store, and transmit credit card data to maintain certain security measures. These include ensuring the physical security of payment systems, developing and implementing secure data-handling processes, implementing encryption and other data-protection technologies, and regularly testing and monitoring systems to ensure that they remain secure. The purpose of the PCI Data Security Standard is to create a consistent framework for organizations to follow in order to protect consumer data and reduce the risk of data breaches. The standard is applicable to all businesses that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card data, regardless of their size or industry. Additionally, businesses that are found to be in violation of the PCI DSS may face significant financial penalties, including fines, loss of merchant account privileges, and costly remediation processes.

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What is the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard?

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