In today’s digital age, where credit card transactions have become the norm, ensuring cardholder data security is paramount. In a security breach at JD Sports in January 2023, hackers potentially accessed the personal and financial information of 10 million customers. With security breaches occurring more frequently than before, protecting cardholder information becomes more crucial. Organizations must adhere to PCI DSS requirements when storing credit card information to minimize the risk of data breaches and unauthorized use. 

 

This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the PCI DSS requirements for storing credit card data securely.

 

Understanding PCI DSS requirements for cardholder data storage

 

PCI DSS, developed by major credit card companies, aims to enhance the security of card transactions and protect sensitive cardholder information. It applies to any organization or business that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data. To comply with PCI DSS, organizations must be aware of the data items authorized for storage and the security measures required.

 

Authorized cardholder data for storage

 

PCI DSS permits the storage of specific cardholder data, which includes the 16-digit Primary Account Number (PAN), cardholder’s name, expiration date, and service code. These data elements are crucial for transaction processing and subsequent verification. However, it’s important to note that EMV chip data is not considered cardholder data and cannot be stored after authorization.

 

Prohibited storage of sensitive authentication data (SAD)

 

Sensitive authentication data (SAD) is strictly prohibited from storage after authorization. SAD includes the full magnetic stripe data, CVV or comparable data, PIN, and PIN blocks. Storing such data significantly increases the risk of unauthorized access and potential fraud. Attackers often target SAD in card and card-not-present transactions, making its protection vital.

 

Encryption and rendering cardholder data unreadable

 

PCI DSS mandates that cardholder data be rendered unreadable using strong encryption techniques. Organizations must implement industry-standard encryption methods to safeguard this information. Accepted approaches include strong one-way hash functions, truncation, index tokens with securely stored pads, and the use of robust cryptography. Making the data unreadable, even if compromised, becomes useless to attackers.

 

 

PCI DSS requirements for data retention and deletion

 

Organizations should retain cardholder data only for legitimate legal, regulatory, or business reasons. PCI DSS emphasizes the establishment of data retention and secure deletion policies. Deleting data after the minimum retention period is crucial unless there is a compelling reason to retain it. Moreover, if non-cardholder data is retained alongside card transactions, it must align with PCI DSS requirements.

 

Breakdown of PCI DSS requirements for storing credit card data

 

Requirement 3 of the PCI DSS compliance emphasizes protecting stored account data. Let’s look at the breakdown of PCI DSS requirement 3 related to storing cardholder data:

 

• PCI DSS requirement 3.1: Establish data retention policies and secure deletion procedures.

 

• PCI DSS Requirement 3.2: Prohibit storage of sensitive authentication data after authorization.

 

• PCI DSS requirement 3.3: Mask the 16-digit Primary Account Number (PAN) when displayed.

 

• PCI DSS requirement 3.4: Render PAN data is unreadable if storage is unavoidable.

 

• PCI DSS requirement 3.5: Protect encryption keys from disclosure and misuse.

 

• PCI DSS requirement 3.6: Document key management processes and procedures.

 

10 recommendations for storing credit card data

 

In addition to meeting the core PCI DSS requirements, organizations should implement the following best practices when storing credit card data:

 

1. Never store sensitive authentication data.
2. Make primary account numbers (card numbers) unreadable when stored.
3. Retain cardholder data only when necessary, ensuring a legitimate purpose.
4. Document and establish processes for storing and managing credit card transactions, including access controls and monitoring.
5. Implement multi-factor authentication.
6. Use strong and unique passwords.
7. Regularly update and patch systems.
8. Limit access to cardholder data on a need-to-know basis.
9. Encrypt data transmissions.
10. Regularly conduct security assessments and audits.

 

FAQs

 

 

Automating PCI DSS compliance with CyberArrow

 

Storing credit card information comes with strict PCI DSS requirements, designed to protect sensitive customer data and prevent security breaches. Meeting these requirements is critical for any business handling cardholder data, but the process can be complicated and time-consuming.

 

Instead of manually managing compliance, you can rely on CyberArrow GRC to simplify and automate the entire process.

 

Why choose CyberArrow GRC for PCI DSS compliance?

 

• Automated compliance: Ensure your business meets all PCI DSS requirements for storing credit card data without manual effort.

 

• Secure storage practices: Implement best-in-class encryption and tokenization to safeguard sensitive information.

 

• Real-time monitoring: Stay on top of compliance status with continuous tracking and alerts.

 

• Audit-ready documentation: Automatically generate and store the necessary documentation for PCI DSS audits, making the process stress-free.

 

A retail business utilized CyberArrow GRC to automate its PCI DSS compliance for securely storing credit card information. They reduced the time spent on manual compliance tasks by 80% and significantly improved their data security.

 

See what Emirates have to say about CyberArrow GRC:

 

Don’t let the complexities of PCI DSS compliance slow down your business.