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

The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard is a set of requirements designed to protect the security of credit card data and other sensitive information. It applies to all organizations that process, store, or transmit cardholder data, as mandated by the major credit card brands, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The standard provides a framework for organizations to develop comprehensive security programs, protect cardholder data, and maintain the integrity of financial transactions. It requires entities to implement physical and logical security controls based on principles such as data sensitivity, data integrity, accountability, security management, and regular testing and monitoring. The requirement to maintain PCI compliance is a state law in Massachusetts. All organizations that accept credit and debit cards must take steps to protect cardholder data in accordance with the PCI Data Security Standard. This includes complying with all applicable national and state laws, using data encryption, testing data security systems, and regularly monitoring their networks for any vulnerabilities. Failure to comply with PCI requirements can result in fines, loss of customers, and a decrease in profits.

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

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