PCI Compliance Security Standards Its Features And Benefits PCI compliance is the term used to describe how businesses must comply with the Payment Card Industry's (PCI) security standards. The PCI Security Standards Council sets these standards in order to protect cardholders from fraud and data breaches. Any business that processes, stores or transmits credit card information must comply with these standards. There are four levels of compliance, depending on the number of transactions a business processes per year: ● Level 1 businesses must comply with all six PCI security standards and have an annual report on compliance; ● Level 2 businesses must comply with four of the six standards; ● Level 3 businesses must comply with three of the six standards; and ● Level 4 businesses only need to comply with two of the six standards. The six PCI security standards are: 1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect data; 2. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters; 3. Protect stored data with encryption; 4. Use and regularly update anti-virus software or programs; 5. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications; and 6. Restrict access to data by business need-to-know. PCI compliance is not a one-time event, but rather a continuous process that should be built into a business's overall security strategy. By adhering to the PCI compliance security standards, businesses can help protect themselves and their customers from data breaches and fraud. https://www.hostmerchantservices.com/