PCI Compliance Solutions and Services for Businesses

As a business owner, you're likely aware of the importance of PCI compliance in protecting your customers' sensitive payment information. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requires merchants to adhere to strict security standards to prevent data breaches.

The good news is that achieving PCI compliance is achievable with the right solutions and services. By implementing a robust security framework, you can ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your customers' data.

Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments are crucial in maintaining PCI compliance. These assessments help identify potential weaknesses in your system and provide recommendations for remediation.

By outsourcing PCI compliance to a trusted provider, you can save time and resources while ensuring your business meets the necessary security standards.

PCI compliance is a set of security standards designed to ensure that companies handling credit card information protect it from unauthorized access.

These standards are set by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), a joint effort of major credit card companies like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

The primary goal of PCI compliance is to prevent data breaches and protect sensitive information like credit card numbers, expiration dates, and security codes.

To achieve PCI compliance, companies must implement various security measures, such as encrypting data both in transit and at rest, regularly updating software and systems, and monitoring for suspicious activity.

Companies must also have a formal incident response plan in place to quickly respond to security breaches, which can happen even with the best security measures in place.

In the event of a breach, companies must notify affected customers and provide them with information about the breach, including what happened and what they're doing to prevent it from happening again.

The PCI SSC provides a list of 12 requirements that companies must meet to be considered PCI compliant, including installing and maintaining a firewall, regularly updating antivirus software, and encrypting sensitive data.

PCI compliance is essential for businesses that handle cardholder data, and there are various offerings available to help organizations achieve compliance. The PCI DSS certification ensures the security of card data through a set of requirements, including the installation of firewalls, encryption of data transmissions, and use of anti-virus software.

Some businesses may need assistance with Self Assessment procedures and reporting (SAQ), while others may require a full report on PCI compliance (ROC). Onsite security assessments and attestation of Compliance (AOC) certificates are also available.

Here are some popular PCI compliance offerings:

If you're required to follow PCI DSS standards, you'll need to understand the different certification levels. There are multiple levels of certification, but the specific level you need depends on the size and type of your organization.

Organizations of all sizes must follow PCI DSS standards, so regardless of your business's size, you'll need to meet the requirements.

Each organization is assigned a certification level based on the number of transactions and the type of data they store.

Cloud Platform Services play a significant role in achieving PCI compliance. Azure offers a PCI DSS compliant solution for businesses.

Using cloud-based services like Azure can simplify the process of maintaining PCI compliance. For more information, see the Azure PCI DSS offering.

Dynamics 365 is another online service that can help businesses stay compliant with PCI regulations.

A web application firewall (WAF) is a powerful tool for securing against application layer attacks. It inspects all incoming traffic and filters out malicious attacks.

In 2008, Requirement 6.6 was introduced to secure data against common web application attack vectors, including SQL injections and RFIs. Satisfying this requirement can be achieved through application code reviews or by implementing a WAF.

Using a WAF can be configured and ready to use within minutes, making it a convenient option for businesses. The Imperva cloud WAF blocks web application attacks using security methodologies like signature recognition and IP reputation.

Businesses don't need to worry about hardware installation or management overhead with the Imperva cloud WAF. This makes it accessible to organizations of all sizes, from large companies to small and medium enterprises.

DuploCloud is an automation platform that ensures adherence to 90% of the PCI DSS controls set. It auto-generates PCI DSS control implementations into DevOps workflows from the start, making it a comprehensive solution for PCI compliance.

This level of coverage is significantly higher than other security products that provide controls post-provisioning of resources, which only cover 30% of the required security controls.

DuploCloud's auto-generated control implementation implicitly integrates into DevOps workflows and is not an afterthought, making it a seamless part of the development process.

We offer a range of services to help you achieve PCI compliance. Our PCI DSS Services include onsite security assessments and a full report on PCI compliance, as well as assistance with Self Assessment procedures and reporting.

We also provide Attestation of Compliance (AOC) certificates, which can be a crucial step in demonstrating your organization's commitment to PCI compliance. Our services are designed to help you identify and address vulnerabilities in your systems.

We offer Network Penetration Testing, which simulates a cyber attack on your system to identify potential weaknesses. Vulnerability Scanning is also available, which helps identify vulnerabilities in your systems before they can be exploited.

If you're looking for a more comprehensive approach, our Gap Assessment can help you identify areas where your systems fall short of PCI compliance requirements. We also offer Patch Management, which ensures that your systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Here are some specific services we offer:

We can also provide you with a OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online PCI DSS Attestation of Compliance (AoC) certificate, which is a great way to demonstrate your organization's commitment to PCI compliance.

PCI compliance is a critical aspect of protecting sensitive payment card information. The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS) is a global information security standard designed to prevent fraud through increased control of credit card data.

Organizations of all sizes must follow PCI DSS standards if they accept payment cards from the five major credit card brands, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and the Japan Credit Bureau (JCB). This includes merchants and businesses that store, process, or transmit payment and cardholder data.

The PCI DSS is written to allow for flexibility and customization, making it easier for companies to adapt to their specific needs. However, achieving and maintaining PCI DSS compliance requires a series of steps that credit card processors must continually follow.

The six objectives and 12 requirements of the PCI DSS outline a series of steps that include implementing firewalls, using antivirus and anti-malware software, and regularly updating software and security systems. These steps also involve restricting access to cardholder data, creating and monitoring access logs, and testing security systems on a regular basis.

Here are the 12 major steps to become PCI compliant:

By following these steps and adhering to the PCI DSS standards, organizations can protect cardholder data, increase customer trust and organizational reputation, and benefit from effective incident response planning and quality reporting on compliance and attestation of compliance.

Microsoft has completed an annual PCI DSS assessment and is certified as compliant under PCI DSS version 3.2 at Service Provider Level 1. Azure, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint Online are certified as compliant under PCI DSS version 3.2 at Service Provider Level 1.

Shopify stores are also Level 1 PCI compliant by default, requiring no extra effort on the behalf of business owners to ensure compliance. This applies to Shopify stores, their shopping cart services, and the web hosting itself.

Amazon Web Services is certified as a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider, which means its tech infrastructure is fully compliant. Building a service atop AWS’ cloud platform does not mean your service will instantly be compliant as well, but AWS’ well-documented tools will give you a head start on managing your own PCI compliance certification.

Here's a quick rundown of the major providers and their PCI compliance status:

WorldPay is a great choice for businesses looking for a payment provider that's PCI compliant, especially since they offer phone payment options through their interactive voice response system.

Their processing partner, MerchantPartners, ensures WorldPay meets PCI standards, saving businesses the hassle of dedicating months to implementation.

DuploCloud's automatic infrastructure provisioning can also help prepare your business for PCI compliance, as well as other requirements like HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR, making it a turnkey solution for compliance.

Microsoft has made significant strides in ensuring compliance with PCI DSS standards. Its cloud infrastructure, Azure, is certified as a Level 1 PCI DSS Service Provider, meeting the most stringent standards laid out by the PCI Security Standards Council.

Azure provides a solid path toward compliance for businesses built on its cloud infrastructure, but it's essential to note that services built on Azure do not automatically inherit its PCI compliance. Businesses are ultimately responsible for ensuring their offering meets all requirements.

Microsoft's annual PCI DSS assessment using an approved Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) has validated its infrastructure, development, operations, management, support, and in-scope services. This assessment results in an Attestation of Compliance (AoC), which is available to customers.

The PCI DSS designates four levels of compliance based on transaction volume, with Azure, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint Online certified as compliant under PCI DSS version 3.2 at Service Provider Level 1. This is the highest volume of transactions, exceeding 6 million a year.

Here's a summary of Microsoft's compliance status:

Note that while Microsoft's compliance status is a significant advantage, it's crucial to understand that it does not automatically translate to PCI DSS certification for services built or hosted on these platforms. Businesses are responsible for ensuring their own compliance with PCI DSS requirements.