What is PCI-DSS?

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.

The PCI DSS was developed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, which is an organization made up of major credit card companies including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The PCI DSS is intended to help protect cardholders' sensitive information and reduce the risk of credit card fraud.

The PCI DSS includes a set of requirements that companies must follow in order to ensure the security of credit card information. These requirements are organized into six main categories:

1. Build and maintain a secure network
2. Protect cardholder data
3. Maintain a vulnerability management program
4. Implement strong access control measures
5. Regularly monitor and test networks
6. Maintain an information security policy

Companies that handle credit card information are required to comply with the PCI DSS in order to accept credit card payments. Failure to comply with the PCI DSS can result in fines, penalties, and the loss of the ability to accept credit card payments.