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PCI Compliance: Mapping Credit Card Flow and Identifying Data Stores
Written By: Shorya Kansal ||
The e-commerce business thrives on the ease and convenience of online transactions, and credit cards are the foundation of this digital economy. However, the reliance on credit card data needs strong security measures to safeguard sensitive client information. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is an essential framework for assuring such security. Firms and service providers must know how card data is processed and kept throughout the transaction lifecycle. This comprises crucial information such as the cardholder’s name, CVV, main account number (PAN), expiration date, and service code.
Mapping the flow of this data and determining its storage format is critical for preventing audit failures and data breaches. This is especially difficult in light of – Requirement 3.2 of the PCI DSS standard, which states that firms “store account data to a minimum.” Striking a balance between enabling transactions and protecting sensitive information is an ongoing concern in e-commerce.
PCI DSS Requirement for CVV Handling
Regarding the Card Verification Value (CVV), PCI DSS dictates the immediate deletion of the CVV after a transaction is authorized. Storing the CVV in any form, even masked, encrypted, or hashed, is strictly prohibited.
Following authorization, PCI DSS permits the retention of specific cardholder information: the primary account number (PAN, but rendered unreadable), expiration date, cardholder name, and service code. To maintain compliance, organizations must identify all storage locations for card data within their infrastructure, including primary databases, backups, removable storage, paper records, and even audio recordings (if applicable).
Developing a comprehensive Data Retention Policy is crucial. This policy should define what data to retain, for how long, and where it resides. It should also outline the secure disposal process for data that reaches its retention limit.
Mapping the Credit Card Data Flow
To map the credit flow and track data storage, the following strategy can be utilized:
1. Scope Definition
Defining your card flow’s scope requires understanding the cardholder data environment (CDE). To ensure thoroughness, ask detailed questions such as:
- Are you exclusively concerned with internal data flow, or does it include interactions with vendors and partners?
- Does your focus encompass online, offline, or both types of transactions?
- What specific credit card data elements, such as card numbers, expiration dates, and security codes, are you interested in?
- Have you considered all systems, networks, and processes interacting with credit card data?
Using accurate data discovery tools, sensitive data must be meticulously identified throughout an organization’s digital infrastructure. Failing to safeguard this information can lead to noncompliance and data breaches.
2. Documenting Data Flows
Once the scope is defined, the subsequent crucial step involves documenting the flow of credit card data within the organization. This entails creating a comprehensive flow map illustrating how information enters, circulates, and exits your systems. In this mapping endeavor, every process, system, and person involved in the lifecycle of each credit card transaction must be accounted for.
3. Identifying Data Stores
PCI data stores are reserves or systems within an organization where credit card information is filed, even temporarily. These may include primary databases, backups, logs, and other storage locations where sensitive data could reside. It is imperative to complete identification procedures to maintain robust security measures. The following steps outline a systematic approach to identifying PCI Data Stores:
Not all data from credit cards carries the same level of sensitivity. It can be categorized into two main groups based on their degree of sensitivity. The highest or most secure level of protection is the total card number due to its direct association with the cardholder’s account and financial transactions. Although expired cards or tokens may seem less sensitive, they still fall within the same category and necessitate appropriate security measures.
4. Assessing Security Controls
Assessing the security controls installed in each identified data store is crucial to safeguarding classified cardholder data effectively. The assessment must elaborate on Access Controls, Encryption Mechanisms, Monitoring Protocols, and Auditing procedures.
By assessing and implementing these security controls in each identified data store, organizations can achieve compliance with PCI DSS and effectively safeguard classified cardholder data, mitigating the risk of data breaches and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information.
5. Risk Assessment & Remediation
Perform a comprehensive risk analysis and outline cardholder data security weaknesses that may lead to threats. This evaluation should include the technical and non-technical aspects of your organization’s functioning.
Define risks and rank them according to the threat they pose to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability security triad. Based on the risk assessment audit findings, appropriate security countermeasures for vulnerabilities identified concerning compliance with PCI DSS should be carried out. This may include network segmentation, transport and at-rest data encryption, strong access controls, and frequently scheduled security audits. The objective is to strengthen your organization’s security position to withstand such threats.
6. Regular Monitoring and Testing
Implement a continuous monitoring process to review and test security controls. This process also involves tracking access logs, performing periodic vulnerability scans, and conducting penetration. Implement a continuous monitoring process to review and test security controls. This process includes tracking access logs, performing periodic vulnerability scans, and conducting penetration tests. Routine observation is designed for timely detection and response so that a proactive approach is taken to securing credit card information.
Choose Accorian For Your PCI DSS Compliance
Accorian holds the prestigious distinction of having a team of highly Qualified PCI QSAs (Qualified Security Assessors) specializing in assessing PCI compliance, particularly emphasizing network infrastructure. We are also CREST accredited and an ASV (Approved Scan Vendor). Our PCI accreditations underline our expertise and credibility in cybersecurity and PCI DSS compliance.
Our potential client industry includes sectors such as banking, financial services, credit unions, eCommerce, and SaaS that must adhere to DSS requirements for the payment card industry.