Compliance is something that developers dislike. Traditionally led by risk and information security teams, compliance standard enforcement in organizations is not something software engineers are trained to do. So when the words “PCI compliance” are tossed around, for many developers it mentally translates to limitations, guardrails, bottlenecks, and drastic changes to their workflows that impact productivity. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

As the world of digital payments evolves rapidly, staying ahead in terms of security standards is paramount for any business handling cardholder data. The introduction of PCI DSS 4.0 brings significant updates and enhancements aimed at strengthening payment security and overall cybersecurity in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.

In the world of digital transactions, businesses handling payment cards must demonstrate their data security measures through the Payment Card Industry Self-Assessment Questionnaire (PCI SAQ). Completing the SAQ is a key step in the PCI DSS assessment process, followed by an Attestation of Compliance (AoC) to confirm accuracy. Level 1 merchants and service providers, mandated by PCI SSC or customers, must complete a Report on Compliance (RoC), while others use an SAQ.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) are commonly followed by organizations that handle credit card transactions to ensure the security of cardholder data. Since standards and requirements can change over time, it’s essential to refer to the most recent version of the PCI DSS v4.0 standard for the most up-to-date information. PCI DSS v4.0 was updated in April 2022. The description of the updated change from PCI DSS v3.2.1 to PCI DSS v4.0 states.

If your organization has complied with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) for any length of time, the most recent release (PCI 4.0) is probably not news to you. In fact, despite the new version PCI compliance may feel like business as usual for you. ASV scanning, penetration testing, and a comprehensive compilation of documentation are probably well under way – and you may even have scheduled your next audit with a QSA. Easy, right?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) aims to prevent financial fraud by securing payment card data. Any company that handles this data must implement security measures to ward off unauthorized access. In this process, you’ll come across key terms like PCI SAQ (Self-Assessment Questionnaire), AOC (Attestation of Compliance), and PCI ROC (Report on Compliance). Let’s focus on the ROC for now.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying ahead of threats and ensuring the safety of sensitive customer data is paramount. For organizations that handle payment card information, complying with industry standards like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is not only a best practice, but a compliance requirement that can result in hefty fines upwards of $100,000 a month.