PCI SSC

Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council

A global organization founded in 2006 by major credit card companies, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB, to develop and maintain security standards for the payment card industry. Its primary goal is to improve the security of card transactions and protect cardholders’ data from theft and fraud.

PCI SSC Key Points:

1. Creation of Security Standards: The PCI SSC is responsible for developing security standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which outlines specific security measures businesses must follow to protect payment card data. Other standards include PA-DSS (for secure payment applications) and P2PE (Point-to-Point Encryption).
2. Industry Collaboration: The PCI SSC works closely with banks, merchants, payment processors, hardware and software developers, and other stakeholders in the payment card industry to ensure that security standards remain relevant and effective. It is not a regulatory body but an industry-driven entity aimed at setting best practices.
3. Global Adoption: The standards created by PCI SSC are used worldwide by organizations that handle credit card transactions. These include merchants, payment processors, financial institutions, and service providers that store, process, or transmit cardholder data.
4. Ongoing Education and Training: The PCI SSC provides educational resources, training programs, and certifications for businesses and professionals to stay informed about data security best practices. Certifications such as PCI Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) or PCI Internal Security Assessor (ISA) help organizations ensure their compliance with PCI DSS.
5. Adaptation to Emerging Threats: The council continuously updates its security standards to address new and evolving cybersecurity threats, ensuring that its guidelines remain robust and relevant in the face of advancing technology and fraud techniques.

In summary, the PCI SSC is the guiding authority for payment card data security, providing the standards and resources necessary for businesses worldwide to safeguard cardholder information.