Key Takeaways
1. To get PCI DSS certification, understand your compliance level based on the volume of transactions processed annually.
2. Follow the 12 PCI DSS requirements to ensure your systems, processes, and security policies align with these core requirements.
3. I.S. Partners can guide you through the PCI certification process, from pre-audit preparation to ongoing monitoring.
6 Major Steps on How to Get PCI DSS Certification
Any organization handling payment cards must obtain a PCI DSS certification, which is mandatory and sets a strong baseline for protecting cardholder data and minimizing fraud risks.
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is the globally recognized security standard for entities that store, process, or transmit payment data. It offers essential guidelines to safeguard consumers and prevent breaches within the payment ecosystem.
To get PCI DSS certification in 2025, organizations should:
1. Know Your Appropriate Compliance Level
To start the journey toward PCI compliance, it’s essential to identify which compliance level applies to your organization.
These levels depend on the volume of annual credit card transactions and certain risk factors. Here’s a breakdown of each level and who they apply to:
| PCI DSS Level | Applies To |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | – Organizations processing over 6 million Visa/Mastercard transactions annually or over 2.5 million for American Express. – Organizations that have experienced a data breach. – Organizations classified as “Level 1 merchants” by a card association (e.g., Visa, Mastercard). |
| Level 2 | – Organizations processing between 1 and 6 million transactions annually. |
| Level 3 | – Organizations processing 20,000 to 1 million online transactions annually.- Organizations processing fewer than 1 million total transactions annually. |
| Level 4 | – Organizations processing fewer than 20,000 online transactions annually.- Organizations processing up to 1 million total transactions annually. |
2. Follow the 12 Requirements of PCI DSS
The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) sets specific requirements within its six main PCI DSS goals. To achieve PCI DSS compliance, organizations need to meet 12 core requirements:
- Install and maintain a firewall to protect cardholder data.
- Avoid using vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters.
- Protect stored cardholder data through encryption and other controls.
- Encrypt transmission of sensitive data across open, public networks.
- Use and regularly update antivirus software or programs on all systems commonly affected by malware.
- Develop and maintain secure systems and applications to protect payment card data.
- Restrict access to credit card data to only those who need to know.
- Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access to ensure accountability.
- Restrict physical access to cardholder data to prevent unauthorized access.
- Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
- Regularly test security systems and processes to identify vulnerabilities.
- Maintain a policy that addresses information security standards for all personnel to ensure consistent practices across the organization.
3. Complete a Self-Assessment or Hire a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)
For smaller merchants (Levels 2, 3, and 4), completing an SAQ is a practical way to validate PCI DSS compliance process without needing a full onsite audit.
The SAQ is designed as a tailored tool that guides merchants through the essential data privacy requirements of PCI DSS according to the specifics of their operations.
However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all SAQ; instead, multiple SAQ types are built to fit small merchants or other different business models and transaction methods. Below are some of the common types of SAQ:
- SAQ A is for merchants who outsource card data processing entirely to validated third-party vendors.
- SAQ B applies to merchants with point-of-sale systems that don’t store cardholder data electronically.
- SAQ C-VT fits businesses using virtual terminals with no electronic cardholder data storage.
Hence, it all comes down to selecting the correct SAQ type. It ensures that the assessment questions align with your organization’s unique setup and touchpoints with cardholder data. This accuracy lets you focus only on the specific requirements that apply to your business.
The results of an SAQ can be further validated through an auditor’s approval. A QSA can also sign off on SAQs to provide increased credibility.
Key Areas Covered in the Types of SAQ
Each SAQ type covers critical aspects of PCI DSS compliance assessment, with questions that help you verify how well your systems and processes safeguard cardholder data. Some primary areas include:
- Data Protection. Evaluate whether your methods for storing, processing, or transmitting cardholder data align with PCI’s strict encryption and masking standards.
- Access Control. This policy focuses on who can access cardholder’s personal information and ensures that only authorized personnel have the necessary permissions.
- Vulnerability Management. Assesses your steps to detect, manage, and address system vulnerabilities, ensuring timely updates and risk mitigation measures.
4. Conduct Quarterly Scans
All levels require quarterly network scans by an Approved Scan Vendor (ASV) to check for vulnerabilities.
These scans test for security gaps, particularly on any external-facing systems that process or transmit cardholder data.
Scheduling regular scans ensures ongoing monitoring and early detection of potential issues.
Here’s how to do it:
- Identify Systems in Scope. Determine all external-facing systems that handle, store, or transmit cardholder data, including web servers, firewalls, and network devices.
- Choose an ASV. Select an ASV from the PCI Security Standards Council’s list, ensuring they can perform PCI-compliant scans.
- Schedule Your Quarterly Scans. To ensure compliance, set a consistent schedule for scans. For many businesses, aligning scans with the end of each quarter is easiest.
- Run Pre-Scan Testing. Conduct internal scans before the official scan to identify and resolve issues. This gives you a chance to address vulnerabilities before the ASV scan.
- Review the Scan Results. Review the ASV’s scan report in detail. Identify vulnerabilities, assess their risk level, and prioritize remediation.
- Submit Your Attestation of Compliance (AOC). After successful scans, compile the scan report and AOC form and submit it to your acquiring bank or relevant PCI body.
- Maintain Continuous Monitoring. Establish a process for continuous monitoring and immediate follow-up on any detected vulnerabilities.
5. Get Audited For PCI DSS Certification
The PCI DSS audit identifies any areas where your business might be falling short on compliance—and even more importantly, it’s a roadmap for fixing those gaps. During the audit, a QSA digs into your systems and processes, helping you meet and sustain PCI requirements.
The process starts with finding the right QSA. Only certified QSAs authorized by the PCI Security Standards Council can conduct these audits since they’re trained to evaluate cloud security at the highest level.
I.S. Partners is one of these certified providers. As a PCI compliance service and third-party auditing company, we work across multiple industries to help organizations build a secure environment for credit card information.
In addition to a team of QSA’s who can attest to pci compliance, I.S. Partners also provides vulnerability scanning and penetration testing services to aid in PCI compliance.
We have a team that oversees these combined services to ensure clients are meeting throughout the year and set up for success once the annual PCI assessment is needed.
Our team of PCI experts will help you conduct the PCI audit. We will prepare you, guide your team through readiness assessments, and ensure everyone understands PCI standards and specific requirements.
We also go beyond the external audit with services like PCI transformation and long-term programs focused on maintaining compliance.
6. Monitor and Maintain
Keeping PCI DSS compliant isn’t a “once and done” task. It’s an ongoing process that demands vigilance, teamwork, and real-time responses to potential threats.
Monitoring continuously means keeping a close watch on your systems that handle cardholder data so you can spot security threats as they happen and respond immediately.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Use Real-Time Monitoring Tools. Implement tools to detect unusual activity across systems handling cardholder data. Set up instant alerts to catch and respond to issues as they arise.
- Create a Compliance Team. Form a team dedicated to PCI DSS upkeep, ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities and compliance needs are met across departments.
- Schedule Regular Compliance Check-Ins. Hold brief, quarterly meetings with department heads to discuss any compliance-related changes or updates, keeping everyone aligned.
- Provide Ongoing Security Training. Run short, focused training sessions to keep staff sharp on security basics, detection, and quick response practices.
- Perform Routine System Checks. Conduct quarterly system checks to confirm compliance, document changes, and fix vulnerabilities immediately.
How Long Does it Take to Get PCI DSS Certification?
The timeline can vary depending on the size and maturity of your organization, but on average, it takes anywhere from 4 to 8 months to get certified for the first time, with most small businesses averaging around 6 months.
For small-to-medium-sized businesses, you can expect to be audit-ready in about 4 months, followed by an additional 2 months to complete the assessment process. On the other hand, larger or more mature organizations might take anywhere from 8 months to a year or longer to finalize the process.
The timeline typically breaks down like this: the pre-audit preparation phase usually spans 3 to 4 months, during which you’ll gather documentation, perform initial assessments, and address any immediate gaps.
Then, the actual assessment—whether it’s a full Report on Compliance (ROC) audit or filling out a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)—can take another 2 to 3 months, depending on the complexity of your operations.
Benefits of Getting PCI DSS Certification
The major benefits of getting PCI DSS certification are preventing data breaches and avoiding costly fines. However, there are more benefits your business can reap, and they are:
Mitigates Data Breaches
In March, American Express (Amex) notified customers that their credit card details might have been compromised due to a breach at a third-party provider. This incident raises a critical question: could stricter PCI DSS compliance have prevented such a data leak?
Yes, PCI DSS compliance is designed specifically to prevent these types of vulnerabilities by enforcing strict security controls around cardholder data storage, processing, transmission and other sets of requirements.
Had the third-party provider adhered to PCI DSS standards, they would have needed to implement robust encryption, secure network protocols, and regular vulnerability assessments, all of which could have minimized exposure.
Aligning With Global Standards
Achieving PCI compliance requirements means aligning with a worldwide network of businesses committed to the highest data security standards. It’s a mark of trust that tells your customers their sensitive information is in safe hands.
The PCI DSS was crafted by five leading credit card companies (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, and American Express), each with a vested interest in protecting consumer data.
Compliance with these standards ensures that your company follows strict security protocols when storing, processing, or transmitting cardholder data.
Build Customer Trust
Building customer trust has become more crucial than ever, especially as consumers become increasingly wary of data security.
While many may not know the specifics of PCI DSS assessment, seeing a PCI logo on a transaction page can provide reassurance. It signals that you’re taking extra steps to protect customers’ card information, and in today’s world, that’s powerful.
With major data breaches frequently in the news, customers are understandably cautious about sharing their payment details online.
According to Security Magazine, 66% of people would lose trust in a company and its payment environment that’s experienced a breach. For a business, any compromise in security could impact reputation and customer loyalty.
PCI compliance can help bridge this trust gap, showing your commitment to protecting customer data and giving you an edge in a competitive market.
Helps With Other Compliance Frameworks
PCI compliance can also be a springboard for achieving other regulatory certifications. Think of it as laying the groundwork for broader security measures.
For example, PCI DSS requires penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify and fix technical gaps, which aligns closely with what’s needed for frameworks like SOC and ISO 27001.
Partner With I.S. Partners for PCI DSS Certification and Compliance
Are you looking to assess your current cardholder data processing activities and measure them against PCI DSS standards?
I.S. Partners is here to help. As one of the top QSAs certified by the PCI Council, we specialize in helping businesses like yours sail through the complexities of PCI DSS version.
Our PCI Certification Services are designed to fully address all 12 key PCI DSS requirements, ensuring that you meet industry standards and sustain them over time. Our process includes a tailored audit process, one-on-one consultations, and team training to ensure your long-term success.
I.S. Partners’ approach toward PCI compliance drafts an efficient path toward mapping the process with other security framework compliance (e.g., SOC, HIPAA, and others).
What Should You Do Next?
What Should You Do Next?
Streamline your PCI DSS compliance by following these three critical steps now.
Identify and document the cardholder data environment (CDE) to determine where sensitive payment card information is stored, processed, or transmitted.
Implement and maintain robust security measures, including a firewall, encryption, and access controls, to protect cardholder data.
Engage a Qualified Security Auditor who can help you maximize the compliance process.
Ready to get started on your PCI DSS certification journey? Contact I.S. Partners today to ensure your business meets the highest physical security standards and stays compliant year after year.
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