vivantcorp

PCI DSS Compliance Checklist 2024

If your organization handles card data through online portals or POS (Point of Sale) devices, it must adhere to PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards) to avoid penalties and damage to its reputation. However, achieving PCI DSS compliance is a complex, time-consuming, and costly process.

This article aims to simplify this process by explaining the PCI compliance framework, outlining the different levels of compliance, briefly discussing the 12 PCI DSS requirements, and providing steps toachieve PCI DSS compliance

Overview of PCI DSS compliance

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance consists of security standards established by credit card companies to ensure that businesses processing, transmitting, or storing credit card information do so securely.

The primary goal of PCI DSS compliance standards is to prevent data breaches and safeguard sensitive cardholder information.

In 2004, the founding members of PCI DSS, including VISA, MasterCard, JCB International, and Discover Financial Services, collaborated to create a regulatory framework aimed at protecting user credit card data from fraudulent activities.

Why was PCI DSS implemented?

The PCI DSS compliance framework was put in place to enable organizations processing electronic transactions to implement necessary processes and policies to maintain a strong security posture and protect cardholder data.

The latest version, PCI DSS version 4, introduced in March 2022, brought reforms to existing security rules, making the framework more flexible and user-friendly. It can be easily implemented with the help of the PCI DSS compliance checklist.

PCI DSS Compliance Levels


To better understand the PCI DSS compliance checklist, it's important to determine the level at which your business operates. This assessment will help you evaluate the PCI requirements.

Level 1: Processes over 6 million transactions annually, and any organization identified as Level 1 by VISA must implement Level 1 grade controls.

Level 2: Requires Level 2 security for 1 to 6 million yearly transactions.

Level 3: Handles 20,000 to 1 million online transactions yearly. Needs Level 3 security measures.

Level 4: Processes up to 20,000 e-commerce transactions a year and handles up to 1 million total transactions a year. Implementation of controls and policies at Level 4 is mandatory.

PCI Compliance Level Annual Transactions
Level 1 (High Difficulty) Over 6 million
Level 2 (High Difficulty) 1 – 6 million
Level 3 (Moderate Difficulty) 20,000 – 1 million
Level 4 (Low Difficulty) English

PCI DSS compliance checklist: Objectives and Requirement

Depending on the PCI DSS requirements of your organization, the complexity of managing your PCI DSS compliance journey will differ.

Organizations need to implement controls, security policies, and administrative processes to protect card data and achieve PCI DSS compliance.

Here is the PCI DSS Compliance Checklist for 2024:

Here's a bullet-pointed PCI DSS Compliance Checklist for 2024:

1. Install and Maintain a Firewall:

  • Protect security systems from unauthorized traffic.
  • Filter and permit only authorized traffic.
  • Secure POS devices on wireless networks.
  • Control outbound traffic from card storage areas.
  • Log all changes with justifications.

2. Avoid Default Vendor Settings and Passwords:

  • Change default usernames and passwords.
  • Configure settings for security, not convenience.
  • Use strong passwords.

3. Protect Cardholder Data:

  • Safeguard all cardholder information.
  • Understand data flow within the organization.
  • Store, access, transmit, and dispose of data securely.
  • Mask PAN to show only the last few digits.

4. Encrypt Transmission:

  • Use encryption for card data during transmission.
  • Protect data on all channels, including the internet.

Automate all the PCI DSS requirements with the help of Vivant. Talk to our experts

Book a 1:1 Demo

5. Use Updated Antivirus Software:

  • Keep antivirus software up-to-date.
  • Install advanced solutions on all devices with network access.
  • Ensure continuous operation and log scanning.

6. Keep IT systems and software secure and up-to-date:

  • Conduct internal risk assessments.
  • Identify and patch vulnerable areas.
  • Apply continuous patches and remediation measures.

Remember, managing PCI DSS compliance depends on your organization's specific requirements and the complexity of your systems. Regularly reviewing and updating these practices is crucial for maintaining compliance and protecting sensitive data.

7. Limit Access to Cardholder Data:

  • Control employee access based on need, seniority, or role.
  • Document access control procedures.

8. Unique User IDs:

  • Assign unique IDs to employees for security and tracking.

9. Control Physical Access:

  • Restrict access to physical data assets.
  • Use RFIDs and surveillance to secure data.

10. Monitor Network Access:

  • Secure network resources against unauthorized access.
  • Log and review network activity daily.
  • Keep audit trail records for one year.

11. Test Security Systems:

  • Regularly scan for vulnerabilities.
  • Use ASV for external domain scans.
  • Conduct quarterly and annual penetration tests.

12. Information Security Policy:

  • Develop policies for employees and third parties.
  • Require policy acknowledgment from all employees.
  • Perform background checks to secure card data.

These points cover the essentials of controlling access, monitoring activities, testing security measures, and maintaining policies to protect cardholder data as per PCI DSS standards.

How to Achieve PCI Compliant: Understanding the 12 Requirements of PCI Security Standards

To achieve PCI compliance, you need to fulfill the 12 PCI-compliant requirements, which consist of 300 sub-requirements. These requirements encompass security systems, organizational processes, testing, and policies aimed at safeguarding cardholder data.

12 PCI DSS Requirements Step-by-Step

The PCI DSS provides a 12-step plan forprotecting customer data and achieving compliance. It includes steps such as installing and maintaining a firewall, avoiding default settings, protecting stored cardholder data, encrypting payment data transmission, updating antivirus software, deploying secure systems and applications, restricting cardholder data access, assigning user access identification, restricting physical access to data, tracking and monitoring network access, ongoing systems, and process testing, and creating and maintaining an infosec policy. Each step involves specific actions and considerations to ensure compliance with PCI DSS standards.

5 Best Practices for PCI DSS Compliance

  1. Data Transparency:PCI-DSS Requirement 3 emphasizes the need to store credit card data in specific, restricted locations. Organizations should map data flows and conduct regular network scans to prevent unauthorized storage of credit card information.
  2. Overlaps between GDPR and PCI DSS Compliance:Adhering to PCI DSS best practices can lead to GDPR compliance. Both standards limit the storage of personal customer data, aligning with the principle of only storing necessary personal data.
  3. Focus on Employee Training:Employee awareness is crucial for PCI DSS compliance. Investing in training employees to understand compliance requirements and the consequences of non-compliance is essential.
  4. Review Cloud Architecture Regularly:Cloud environments undergo frequent changes, potentially impacting PCI compliance. Regular reviews and planning changes with security experts are necessary to identify and address risks.
  5. Leverage SIEM:Ongoing monitoring of security controls is a central requirement of PCI DSS. Utilizing a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tool can help collect logs, monitor networks, and create alerts for suspicious behavior, meeting PCI DSS rules.

Benefits of PCI DSS Compliance

PCI DSS compliance offers several key benefits:

  1. Reduces risk -Compliance with PCI standards shields businesses from breaches. According to a Verizon study, compliant businesses have a 50% higher chance of successfully withstanding a breach attempt.
  2. Boosts customer loyalty -Customers are more inclined to make purchases, particularly online, from businesses that prioritize data security and maintain PCI compliance.
  3. Helps avoid additional costs -Businesses may face fines from banks in the event of a breach, as well as the need to replace credit cards or compensate customers. Fewer breaches result in reduced risk of fines. If a breach occurs, businesses are elevated to PCI Level 1 and required to undergo a comprehensive, costly certification process.
  4. Aligns with industry standards -PCI DSS compliance ensures that businesses across the board adhere to the same rigorous security standards. By aligning with these standards, businesses ensure that their information security meets industry-wide expectations.

The future of PCI compliance

The PCI DSS launched version 4.0 in March 2022, replacing version 3.2. Organizations compliant with 3.2 have until March 2024 to become compliant with version 4.0.

How Vivant Helps You Achieve PCI DSS Compliance Requirements

MeetingPCI compliancerequirements can be difficult, especially as they continue to change. However, failing to adhere to these regulations can result in costly penalties and harm to your reputation. That's why it's crucial to depend on comprehensive solutions such as Vivant to ensure complete compliance across your network.

Vivant simplifies compliance by overseeing and examining access to infrastructure, a crucial aspect of PCI DSS. Additionally, you can access a free set of tools and templates to quickly obtain SOC 2 certification. While SOC 2 differs from PCI DSS, there are several operational similarities. Both certifications require actions such as conducting regular vulnerability scans, implementing annual security awareness training, and conducting an annual risk assessment.

How to protect yourself from connectivity issues

Avoiding network issues – ensuring system integrity

The key to system integrity is to identify network issues pre-emptively. It's about staying ahead of potential problems with ongoing oversight. And it's about optimizing your Internet connection to avoid unforeseen issues. It's also important to ensure consistent, reliable backup Internet. Automated rebooting is a fairly effective option for avoiding prolonged Internet interruptions. By no means is it a fail-safe option, but it's certainly helpful in reducing Internet downtime. Will it completely solve the connection problem? NO! Do you still need some backup Internet – YES! With connection issues, there's nothing more important than ensuring data backup. A network or system failure can be catastrophic when data is lost, so backing up records and safeguarding data is fundamental. The prudent approach would be to install a resilient backup Internet platform. With any operation, large or small, cautious oversight and regular maintenance will forewarn of potential problems. It means closely monitoring hardware issues, third-party applications, and corrupted files. These are all good options, but with no guarantee of 100% Internet connectivity.

SmartCONNECT™ ensures network integrity with 100% guaranteed Internet connectivity

Yes – network precautions and IT safeguards are absolutely necessary. But nothing beats 100% Internet connectivity. And that's where SmartCONNECT™ comes into play – guaranteeing full connectivity regardless of the network issue. With SmartCONNECT™, your primary Internet connection is continuously monitored, always on guard for potential interruptions. In the event that there is an outage with your primary Internet provider, SmartCONNECT™ “saves the day”. SmartCONNECT™ is a leading-edge technology, fully protecting you from connection issues 24/7. Whatever the interruption, the technology switches you over to a secondary connection within a matter of seconds – and without any impact. The minute your primary Internet connection is restored, SmartCONNECT™ activates a FIVE-MINUTE monitoring cycle that ensures your connection is healthy. Once the connection is confirmed, you're switched back to the primary provider.

SmartCONNECT™ provides fully secure backup Internet with a host of benefits

Internet downtime is very expensive in any business. With SmartCONNECT™, business owners have peace of mind with 100% uptime. Today, you have to be connected 24/7 – anything short is a recipe for lost productivity and lost business. SmartCONNECT™ is proactive – with real-time monitoring that's seamless and automated. Best of all, there's never a need to expend valuable hours engaged in troubleshooting or problem-solving. It's all happening quietly and behind the scenes.

Switching over to secure and reliable Internet with guaranteed connectivity

Switching over to secure and reliable Internet connectivity is easy with Vivant Corporation. NO need to shop for a new provider. No need to set up a new service. And NO need for paperwork. We do it all on your behalf and we make sure that everything is customized to suit your needs. With Vivant, you're guaranteed 100% uptime – you're never without an Internet connection. We provide hassle-free customer service, along with FREE maintenance, upgrades, and tech support. Vivant Corporation makes it easy – ONE company, ONE bill, and ONE national support team.

5 reasons why Desktop-as-a-Service is a must in Re-launching Businesses

In response, more and more business leaders are eliminating existing infrastructures in favor ofDaaS.

Desktop-as-a-Serviceis now a game-changer

Certainly influenced by the reality of COVID-19, businesses are realizing the benefits ofDesktop-as-a-Service. There's much less reliance on high-performance hardware. There's considerably less cost associated with software applications. And there are no anxieties with data breaches.

Migrating to cloud-based

Regularly upgrading hardware and software can get very pricey overtime – not to mention the technical nightmares and potential security challenges.Desktop-as-a-Servicetotally eliminates these challenges, allowing for a world without data center infrastructure. At the same time,DaaSempowers users to benefit from a flexible, secure, and low-maintenance operating platform.

Reduced computing costs

Considering the weight of end-user computing costs,Desktop-as-a-Servicesubstantially reduces those costs right across the board. Moreover,Desktop-as-a-Serviceprovides a cloud-based platform that protects against long-term investments (like on-premises infrastructure). In fact, with a reputableDesktop-as-a-Serviceprovider, the customized subscription allows for “pay-as-you-go” pricing (only pay for what you use).

Highly enhanced security

It's no surprise to anyone in business that data security vulnerabilities are pervasive. While the software updates and patches are time-consuming, they can also be costly. WithDesktop-as-a-Service solution for small businesses,vulnerabilities are dramatically reduced – like data breaches, cyber-attacks, and malware infiltration. Data is safe and sound on the cloud-based platform.

Simplified management

With today's work-at-home environment,DaaSstreamlines computing management from end to end. Countless users are supported, in any manner of devices, anywhere, and at any time. Even more,Desktop-as-a-Serviceallows various software applications to run on a variety of operating systems. Work-at-home teams can rest assured that valuable data is safe and secure on the cloud.

Improved user productivity

End-user productivity is one of the big when benefits adopting aDesktop-as-a-Service solution for small businesses.There is simply no equal when comparing performance, data access, mobility, and flexibility – all without compromising data security. Without the threat of data breach, work-at-home teams are productive, allowing business activities to continue, without interruption.

Choosing the very bestDesktop-as-a-Service

Choosing the rightDesktop-as-a-Service provideris critical for business success – you're creating a new business model and setting the stage for future growth. While the market leaders like Citrix, Microsoft, and Google dominate, there's much to be said for the smallDesktop-as-a-Serviceproviders.VivantSmartDESK™ does it all – with impressiveDaaSfeatures – far better client support – and measurably better pricing. This is a cloud-basedDesktop-as-a-Service solution for small businessesthat will deliver effective worker collaboration along with guaranteed data security.

Mobility

SmartDESK™ allows work-at-home teams to experience the typical PC desktop experience on any device of choice, from any location, and at any time. Employees are productive and responsive.

Security

With SmartDESK™ the risk of data breach and cyber-attacks is dramatically reduced. There's no anxiety over information loss because all data is cloud-based – very safely secured and stored.

Flexibility

SmartDESK™ has the technical flexibility to allow different software to run on different systems. Work-at-home teams can easily access cloud-based data with no chance of being compromised.

Continuity

Once deployed, SmartDESK™ guarantees business continuity – there's no threat of losing files – no fear of compromised applications – and never any stress worrying about viruses or malware.

Bottom Line

WithSmartDESK™DaaSthere's no investment in hardware or software. A “pay-as-you-go” option allows business owners to pay on a transaction basis – the best way to maintain the bottom line.

Read this blogDesktop-as-a-Service is a game changer for the future.

How to Improve Remote Work Virtual Collaboration

Vivant's business virtual collaboration tools will allow your teams to collaborate from different locations. Most importantly, they will be able to incorporate the same technologies into their work processes that they would if they were in their office.

According to a recent report, over 40 million workers in the United States alone will be fully remote by 2025. That represents a 5% increase in remote work from just two years ago. As remote work becomes more common, the need for a solid framework for virtual collaboration has become an urgent business requirement.

Still, too many employers fail to provide reliable tools to help employees collaborate virtually. As a result, they frequently experience issues such as delays, decreased productivity, and a reduced revenue stream.

Vivant VoIP can facilitate virtual collaboration

Choosing a virtual collaboration platform for your company can be a lot trickier than it seems. There are many suppliers on the market, but choosing the wrong one could cause more problems than it solves.

Vivant offers professional-level business VoIP phone service at consumer-level prices. What distinguishes us from the competition is that our VoIP plans include all of the features and functionalities you require right out of the box.

Let's take a look at how our virtual collaboration tools for business can help make your teams more productive and your business more profitable.

What is virtual cooperation and how does it work?

Virtual collaboration allows people to share information and ideas online or when they're working from separate locations. Video conferencing, emailing, and instant messaging are just a few of the tools that businesses and individuals can use to communicate with one another remotely.

Do you have teams that work from international locations? No problem! Vivant makes it easy for offshore workers to use the same technology and virtual communications tools to simulate the benefits of in-person interactions.

Here are a few examples of how you can use virtual collaboration to help you share ideas and complete tasks:

  • Video conferencing: Video conferencing increases productivity, saves time, lowers travel costs, and promotes overall collaboration. The advantage of video conferencing is that it allows for all of these benefits to be realized without the need for constant travel for face-to-face communication.
  • Instant messaging: Collaborators can connect quickly and securely using instant messaging. Some communication platforms allow users to form groups to organize communications and collaborate with specific group members on a case-by-case basis.
  • Tools for online collaboration: Some online collaboration solutions allow users to view shared files and make real-time modifications. Authorized members can also impose restrictions or limit access to information to certain contributors.

Tips to help you improve your virtual collaboration

Despite the numerous advantages that virtual collaboration can provide for businesses, it is not without its own set of challenges. The good news is that we're about to provide you with some helpful tips to help you overcome these common issues.

As you'll quickly discover, a few tweaks here and there and virtual collaboration will become an indispensable tool for your day-to-day tasks.

  1. Use visual tools to increase collaboration: According to studies, visual thinkers account for more than 60% of the population. In other words, we process words as a series of images and learn more effectively through visual means.It's critical to consider the function of visual thinking tools in ideation, workflow, and collaboration to guarantee we're communicating as effectively as possible.
    Using a virtual whiteboard can help your team members become more engaged.
  2. Keep in touch via video: To bring their distributed teams together, an increasing number of businesses are turning to enterprise video communication tools. Without a regular check-in cadence, effective virtual collaboration is nearly impossible.Having quality video conferencing capabilities allows colleagues and direct reports to get some essential facetime. This allows each party to clarify project details, reinforce the team's objectives, and ask any other questions they may have.
    Modern video conferencing tools come with HD video and audio right out of the box. They also come with built-in collaboration features such as screen sharing, co-annotating, and fully integrated chat.
  3. Make a schedule and stick to it: Many businesses struggle to keep their scheduling processes efficient and practical. When you factor in the difficulties of different time zones and conflicting calendars, things get much more problematic.Thankfully, companies like Vivant have stepped in to fill the void with advanced scheduling tools that remove the guesswork and virtually eliminate back-and-forth. Scheduling meetings with these tools is as simple as sharing your calendar link and allowing contacts to see your availability and reserve a slot for themselves.
  4. Eliminate the background noise: Most of us remember to keep our microphones muted, but it's easy to forget to eliminate background noise. Use a service that can detect and activate the microphone only when the loudness reaches a predetermined threshold that you may control.This way, the microphone will only turn on when it detects your voice. Of course, finding a quiet space or soundproofing your walls, if you have your own office, is the best option.
  5. Standardize software access: Providing equal access to software is one of the most significant barriers to efficient virtual collaboration. This is critical because employees must be able to do their duties efficiently whether they are on-site or working from home. To avoid compatibility difficulties, they must also use the same software.

Get world-class virtual collaboration tools with Vivant VoIP

When it comes to workplace collaboration, traditional phone systems have many limitations. The benefits of implementing technology to better your business, particularly Vivant's hosted VoIP solution, promote a more collaborative environment for businesses both inside and outside the workplace.

Vivant VoIP enables organizations to take advantage of mobile, wireless, and Internet technology to meet today's business needs. Contact us today to take advantage of the flexibility and collaboration that Vivant VoIP can offer.

How to handle calls during the pandemic and streamline phone orders?

We had aclient todaywho was not able to cope with the number of calls ringing to their 30 locations and was looking to find a way to not lose the orders. There are a few creative ways to cope with the surge in demand during thispandemic.

Centralized Order Management

If you have the ability to push phone orders to your locations remotely, this is by far the most effective way to manage phone orders. Reroute all of your calls for orders to your corporate office or one location that you may have 5 or 6 employees just simply taking orders. This allows you to free up manpower at the locations and more importantly to share resources. Instead of having one person per location answering calls and going back & forth to making food, you have a handful of staff at the corporate office to take the burden away and allow the restaurant to just make food and push it out. During this pandemic when sales are down, the goal is to capture as much revenue as possible.Let's go through an example of a real case point. Customer calls the Dallas phone number and presses option 1 to place an order․ The call is routed to the HQ office where it rings 5 phones and it displays the call is from the Dallas location. Employees then can answer the call as if they were in theDallaslocation, take the order and push that order to the Dallas office. This is where agreat POS systemwill be helpful that allows that employee to enter orders remotely for any given location, otherwise, you will be forced to manually key that transaction in the legacy POS system at the location just like UberEats.

Call Queue Management

The next option is to route the calls to the specific location and as soon as you hit capacity, route the calls to a queue system where you announce a message to the caller: “thank you for calling our restaurant”, “we are busy taking phone orders from other customers but hang tight, and we will be with you in a few minutes”, “while waiting on hold, you can browse our menu at restaurant.com or even place an order online”. Then you can queue the call and play some infomercials to clients while they are waiting to be connected to the staff in the store. As soon as a phone is free, the system can wait 10-15 seconds and then connect that call to the newly free employee to take the next order. This eliminates the risk of your clients calling in and hearing ringing for a minute or two and then assuming you are closed due to the current situation and calling your competitor who has a system like this in place.Though today ahigh call volumecan be difficult to deal with, these methods will help you to cope with increasing demand. Well treated customers become your loyal customer, which means many more happy sales for you. Spare no effect and you will survive the pandemic. Good luck to you!

Internet connection downtime – the perfect recipe for lost profits

If your business relies heavily on the Internet, then you know only too well how downtime can impact your bottom line. You're handcuffed – everything that drives your business is frozen, including POS terminals that depend exclusively on the Internet. In short, it all has a direct impact on your revenue and your profits.

The truth is, you're not alone. The cost ofInternet downtimeaffects every business and the pain in dollars and cents is dramatic. Not surprisingly, industry statistics are staggering, with the cost of “single hour” downtime rising year after year. Industry associations report that “single hour” downtime rose by a third in the last decade.

Today, it's important to have a business continuity plan

Needless to say, broadband connectivity is a lifeline for practically every business around the world. That's whyInternet uptimeis so indispensable. Every business owner needs to generate revenue, create profit, reach customers, and access data – it all requires 100% uptime.When Internet connectivity is down for even a short period during business hours, there's more at stake than just lost revenues. Customers who are inconvenienced will go elsewhere. The in-house will be looking for a fix. And here again, it's your bottom line that's being affected.

Preventative measures are the key to assuring uptime

In understanding the painful cost of Internet connection downtime, measures can be taken to avoid the pitfalls. In fact, 100% uptime is actually possible. Today, with SmartConnect, your business can experience 100% uptime for all of your various Internet and phone services.SmartCONNECT™technology keeps your connection active, even when there's an outage from your Internet Service Provider. Everything is up all the time – from cloud accessibility to online ordering, to payment processing, to incoming sales calls. Your business is protected.

Businesses with high-volume calls and online orders

Businesses with high volume calls and online ordering can suffer big when there's an Internet outage. Everything is affected by customer service, from sales calls, to order processing. Clearly, this all translates into a lost business that may be irretrievable.By implementing technology that ensures 100% uptime, businesses can guarantee 24/7 business activities. That makes for unlimited payment processing; continuity of online ordering; consistentphone service; and complete access to data saved on the cloud.

Downtime costs you. Uptime keeps you in business

It presents challenges for businesses every day. Connection downtime is one of the more damaging challenges. The ultimate cost – is lost revenue While prevention is a viable option, a proactive action plan is even better. The best scenario, of course, is 100% uptime.The cost of downtime is painful, with direct and indirect costs that vary with specific business activities. While lost sales and lost profits are of urgency, disruption costs are also considerable – like lost employee productivity, additional overtime costs, and critical loss of valuable data.Business owners might put their focus on downtime prevention or perhaps on creating an action plan for a potential outage. In the end, however, the most productive approach is to implement a sound backup prevention plan, with long-term sustainability that will be 100% guaranteed.With the latest technologies fromVivant,your business can rest assured that both the Internet and phone service are never down. That means everything is working 100% of the time, without costly interruptions, and with business humming. You just focus on the business of doing business.