PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security standards and compliance requirements established by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to protect payment card data and prevent unauthorized access, theft, or fraud during card transactions and processing. PCI DSS applies to organizations that store, process, or transmit payment card data, including merchants, payment processors, banks, and service providers, and defines requirements for securing cardholder data, maintaining secure network infrastructures, implementing access controls, conducting security testing, and maintaining compliance through regular audits and assessments. Compliance with PCI DSS helps mitigate risks, safeguard cardholder information, and maintain trust in the payment card industry ecosystem.
