PCI Compliance refers to meeting the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. Compliance is essential for protecting sensitive data and preventing fraud.
Why it matters: Failure to achieve PCI compliance exposes the merchant’s business to increased data breach risk, potential hefty financial penalties, and damage to brand reputation. Staying compliant with Payment Card Industry compliance standards helps reduce merchant risk, enhances payment security, and builds customer trust.