What does the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) regulate?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) specifically regulates information security for cardholder data. This standard was created to enhance payment card security and protect sensitive data from theft and fraud. Organizations that handle credit card information must adhere to PCI-DSS requirements to ensure they are safeguarding cardholder data effectively.

The standard encompasses various security measures, including but not limited to encryption, access control, monitoring, and maintaining secure networks to protect cardholder data at every stage of the transaction process. Compliance with PCI-DSS is crucial for any business that accepts, processes, or stores credit card information, as it helps reduce the risk of data breaches and builds consumer trust in payment systems.