PCI-DSS 4.0 Standard: Ensuring Online Payment Security in 2024

Credit card payments are at the heart of e-commerce, but they are also a prime target for cybercriminals. To secure transactions, the payment card industry enforces strict standards through the PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).

In 2024, PCI-DSS version 4.0 becomes the mandatory reference standard, introducing new requirements and reinforcing security measures. In this article, we detail:

• The major changes of PCI-DSS 4.0
• The risks of non-compliance
• The best practices to ensure secure payments
• How Answer Writer can help simplify your PCI-DSS 4.0 compliance.

Who is affected by PCI-DSS 4.0?

The PCI Security Standards Council, which includes Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and other players, imposes PCI-DSS on any organization that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data, including:

• E-commerce businesses
• Payment service providers
• Acquiring banks
• Call centers handling payments
• Any entity handling cardholder data

Since April 2024, PCI-DSS 4.0 is officially in force. Some requirements remain “best practices” until March 2025, but will become mandatory thereafter. Failure to comply may result in: 🚨 Fines from $5,000 to $100,000 per month
Loss of customer trust
High costs in the event of a data breach (investigations, remediation, etc.)

What’s new in PCI-DSS 4.0: What changes in 2024

1. Widespread Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is now mandatory for all access to cardholder data environments (not just for admins). Goal: reduce the risk of account compromise.

2. A flexible compliance approach: Customized Approach

Organizations can suggest alternatives to traditional controls, provided they prove security is maintained. More flexibility, but also greater audit accountability.

3. New technical requirements

• Implementation of DMARC to protect email against phishing.
• Stronger anti-malware protections, including on systems not covered by traditional antivirus.
• Improved API and payment terminal security.

4. Enhanced password and cryptography security

• Minimum password length increased to 12 characters.
• Obsolete protocols deprecated (unsecure TLS, short RSA keys, etc.).
• Stricter access management to limit unnecessary access to sensitive data.

5. Increased monitoring and security testing

• More thorough annual access rights reviews.
• More frequent and extended penetration testing.
• Stronger anomaly detection and incident response.

How to comply with PCI-DSS 4.0?

Compliance with PCI-DSS 4.0 requires a methodical approach. Here are the key steps:

1️⃣ Define your PCI-DSS scope: Identify systems handling cardholder data and reduce their exposure (e.g., outsource to a PCI-certified provider).

2️⃣ Understand the 12 PCI-DSS requirements: Firewall, encryption, access management, log monitoring, regular testing…

3️⃣ Perform a Gap Analysis: Assess gaps between your current practices and PCI-DSS 4.0 requirements.

4️⃣ Implement the necessary remediations:

Examples:

✔ Enable multi-factor authentication
✔ Add a strict access management policy
✔ Configure DMARC to protect email systems

5️⃣ Train and raise awareness among teams: Ensure IT, sales, and support staff understand PCI-DSS best practices to avoid human error.

6️⃣ Plan your compliance audit: Depending on your business, you’ll need to: ✔ Complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)
✔ Undergo an audit by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)

7️⃣ Maintain daily compliance: Quarterly vulnerability scans, annual penetration testing, continuous monitoring… PCI-DSS 4.0 requires a continuous security approach.

Achieving PCI-DSS 4.0 compliance with Answer Writer

PCI-DSS 4.0 compliance requires detailed documentation and rigorous tracking.

Answer Writer helps automate this process with:

Automated PCI-DSS compliance reporting
Tailored policy and procedure generation
Checklists and real-time requirement tracking

With Answer Writer, you reduce the time spent on compliance while ensuring precise and structured monitoring.

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Conclusion: PCI-DSS 4.0, an essential shift for payment security

With PCI-DSS 4.0, businesses must strengthen their security measures while adopting a more flexible yet demanding approach. Prepare now to avoid penalties and protect your customers.

➡ Need help writing your compliance documentation? Try Answer Writer and streamline your PCI-DSS management with ease.