As a merchant, accepting credit card payments is crucial for growing your business. However, with this convenience comes the responsibility of ensuring that your customers' sensitive information is secure. This is where PCI compliance comes into play.

1. What is PCI compliance?

PCI compliance refers to the set of rules and regulations that businesses must follow to protect their customers' payment card information. The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has developed these standards to ensure that all businesses that process, store, or transmit credit card data do so in a secure manner.

2. Why is PCI compliance important?

The consequences of not complying with PCI standards can be severe. Not only can it result in financial penalties, but it can also damage your reputation and cause you to lose customers' trust. Furthermore, if a security breach occurs, you may be liable for any damages incurred by your customers.

3. How to achieve PCI compliance?

The first step towards achieving PCI compliance is to understand which level of compliance applies to your business. This will depend on the volume of transactions you process each year. The four levels of PCI compliance are:

• Level 1: For businesses that process over six million transactions per year.
• Level 2: For businesses that process between one and six million transactions per year.
• Level 3: For businesses that process between 20,000 and one million e-commerce transactions per year.
• Level 4: For businesses that process fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions per year or up to one million non-e-commerce transactions per year.

Once you determine your level of compliance, you must complete a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) to identify areas where you need to improve security measures. You may also need to conduct a vulnerability scan of your systems to ensure that there are no security gaps.

After completing the SAQ and addressing any vulnerabilities, you must submit your compliance report to your acquiring bank. Your bank may also require you to undergo an annual PCI compliance audit to ensure that you continue to meet the standards.

PCI compliance may seem overwhelming, but it is a necessary step to protect your customers' sensitive information and maintain their trust. By following the guidelines set forth by the PCI SSC, you can ensure that your business remains secure and compliant. Remember, when it comes to protecting your customers' information, there is no such thing as being too careful.

In conclusion, PCI compliance is an essential part of any merchant's responsibility when it comes to accepting payments securely. Understanding the requirements and ensuring compliance can seem overwhelming.

The best thing to do is to contact your TCB Pay specialist and you’ll be walked through all these necessary steps. 

Reach out to us! You may call or text us at 866-444-8585 or email us at support@tcbpay.com

Source:

• itgovernanc