PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance levels categorize businesses on the basis of the level of card transactions they process annually. You can find four main levels, each with its own group of requirements and validation procedures. Level 1 comprises businesses that process over six million card transactions each year, including major charge card issuers and global merchants. These entities must undergo an annual onsite assessment conducted by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and submit an Attestation of Compliance (AOC) to demonstrate adherence to PCI DSS (Data Security Standard) requirements.
Level 2 encompasses businesses that process between one and six million card transactions annually. Including smaller merchants and service providers. They are required to complete an annual Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and may also be susceptible to quarterly network scans to validate compliance. Additionally, they must submit an AOC with their acquiring PCI compliance levels .
Level 3 consists of businesses processing 20,000 to one million e-commerce transactions annually. These entities will also be required to complete an annual SAQ and might need to conduct quarterly network scans. Although Level 3 merchants have lower transaction volumes in comparison to Level 2, they still handle significant cardholder data and must maintain robust security measures.
Each PCI compliance level is associated with specific validation requirements to guarantee the security of cardholder data. These requirements are outlined in the PCI DSS, a set of security standards designed to safeguard payment card data. The PCI DSS encompasses various security measures, including network security, access control, encryption, and vulnerability management.
Regardless of the PCI compliance level, businesses must prioritize security and adopt a thorough method of protecting payment card data. Including implementing strong access controls, encrypting sensitive data, regularly updating security measures, and conducting regular security assessments and audits. By prioritizing security and compliance, businesses can mitigate risks, build trust with customers, and safeguard their reputation in the marketplace.
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