Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC)

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) is a global organization founded in 2006 to enhance payment card security and protect cardholder data. It was established by major credit card companies, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. The PCI SSC is responsible for developing and maintaining security standards and best practices for the payment card industry.

Key Functions of PCI SSC

1. Development of Security Standards:

   • The PCI SSC creates and updates a range of security standards aimed at improving the security of payment card transactions and data protection, including the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and related guidelines.

2. Education and Resources:

   • The council provides educational resources, tools, and guidance to help organizations understand and implement PCI standards effectively. This includes training programs, webinars, and documentation.

3. Collaboration with Stakeholders:

   • PCI SSC collaborates with various stakeholders in the payment ecosystem, including merchants, service providers, payment processors, and financial institutions, to address security challenges and promote best practices.

4. Certification Programs:

   • The council manages certification programs for security assessors, allowing organizations to hire qualified professionals to conduct compliance assessments. This includes the Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) programs.

5. Research and Insights:

   • PCI SSC conducts research on emerging threats and trends in payment security, providing insights to help organizations stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities.

6. Global Outreach:

   • The council works to promote PCI standards internationally, ensuring that organizations worldwide can benefit from enhanced security measures and best practices.

Importance of PCI SSC

• Enhancing Security: By developing robust security standards, the PCI SSC helps mitigate risks associated with payment card transactions and protects sensitive cardholder data.

• Standardization: The PCI SSC's standards create a uniform approach to security in the payment card industry, helping organizations establish consistent practices for safeguarding data.

• Building Trust: Compliance with PCI standards fosters consumer confidence in the security of their transactions, encouraging the use of payment cards.

• Guidance for Compliance: The PCI SSC provides valuable resources that assist organizations in achieving and maintaining compliance with industry regulations, reducing the likelihood of data breaches and associated penalties.