Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. PCI compliance is required for any company that handles credit card transactions, regardless of the size of the business or the number of transactions processed.
There are four levels of PCI compliance, based on the number of transactions a company processes per year:
- Level 4: Less than 20,000 e-commerce transactions per year and all other merchants processing up to 1 million transactions per year.
- Level 3: 20,000 to 1 million e-commerce transactions per year.
- Level 2: 1 million to 6 million transactions per year.
- Level 1: More than 6 million transactions per year.
To become PCI compliant, a company must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and implement the appropriate security controls. The specific security controls required depend on the level of PCI compliance and the type of business.
All companies that accept credit card payments are required to be PCI compliant, regardless
PCI Compliance Level 4:
PCI Compliance Level 4 is the lowest level of PCI compliance. It is intended for merchants that process fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions per year and all other merchants that process up to 1 million transactions per year.
To become PCI compliant at Level 4, a company must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and implement the appropriate security controls. The specific security controls required depend on the type of business and the way in which credit card information is processed.
In general, Level 4 merchants are required to implement basic security measures such as firewalls, secure passwords, and regular security updates. They must also maintain a secure network and protect cardholder data by using encryption or tokenization when transmitting or storing it.
It is important for all merchants to become PCI compliant, regardless of their level of compliance. Non-compliant merchants risk fines and penalties from credit card companies
PCI Compliance Level 3:
PCI Compliance Level 3 is a mid-level of PCI compliance. It is intended for merchants that process between 20,000 and 1 million e-commerce transactions per year.
To become PCI compliant at Level 3, a company must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and implement the appropriate security controls. The specific security controls required depend on the type of business and the way in which credit card information is processed.
In general, Level 3 merchants are required to implement more advanced security measures than Level 4 merchants. This may include additional firewall and network security measures, as well as more robust encryption and tokenization of cardholder data. Level 3 merchants may also be required to conduct regular security assessments and maintain an incident response plan.
It is important for all merchants to become PCI compliant, regardless of their level of compliance. Non-compliant merchants risk fines and penalties from credit card companies and may also be at a higher risk for data breaches.
PCI Compliance Level 2:
PCI Compliance Level 2 is a high level of PCI compliance. It is intended for merchants that process between 1 million and 6 million transactions per year.
To become PCI compliant at Level 2, a company must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and implement the appropriate security controls. The specific security controls required depend on the type of business and the way in which credit card information is processed.
In general, Level 2 merchants are required to implement even more advanced security measures than Level 3 merchants. This may include additional firewall and network security measures, as well as more robust encryption and tokenization of cardholder data. Level 2 merchants may also be required to conduct regular security assessments, maintain an incident response plan, and provide additional security training for employees.
PCI Compliance Level 1:
It is important for all merchants to become PCI compliant, regardless of their level of compliance. Non-compliant merchants risk fines and penalties from credit card companies and may also be at a higher risk for data breaches.
PCI Compliance Level 1 is the highest level of PCI compliance. It is intended for merchants that process more than 6 million transactions per year.
To become PCI compliant at Level 1, a company must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and implement the appropriate security controls. The specific security controls required depend on the type of business and the way in which credit card information is processed.
In general, Level 1 merchants are required to implement the most advanced security measures of all the PCI compliance levels. This may include additional firewall and network security measures, as well as more robust encryption and tokenization of cardholder data. Level 1 merchants may also be required to conduct regular security assessments, maintain an incident response plan, provide additional security training for employees, and undergo an annual on-site security assessment by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA).
It is important for all merchants to become PCI compliant, regardless of their level of compliance. Non-compliant merchants risk fines and penalties from credit card companies and may also be at a higher risk for data breaches.
