The PCI DSS, a set of comprehensive requirements for payment account data security,
was developed by the founding payment brands of the PCI Security Standards Council, including
American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and
Visa Inc. Inc. International, to help facilitate the adoption of consistent data security measures
on a world wide basis.
The PCI DSS is a multifaceted security standard that includes requirements for security management,
policies, procedures, network architecture, software design and other critical protective measures.
This comprehensive standard is intended to help organizations proactively protect customer account
data. The PCI Security Standards Council will enhance the PCI DSS as needed to ensure that the
standard includes any new or modified requirements necessary to mitigate emerging payment security
risks, while continuing to foster wide-scale adoption. Ongoing development of the standard will provide
for feedback from the Advisory Board and other participating organizations. All key stakeholders are
encouraged to provide input, during the creation and review of proposed additions or modifications
to the PCI DSS. The core of the PCI DSS is a group of principles and accompanying requirements,
around which the specific elements of the DSS are organized:
