The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is a worldwide information security standard assembled by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).
The PCI-DSS applies whenever an organisation stores, processes or transmits payment card data. Payment cards are Visa, MasterCard, JCB, American Express and Diners International branded cards. Compliance with PCI-DSS is measured either by a self assessment for small organisations or through an on-site assessment by a QSA for larger organisations. The size cut-offs are determined by the card schemes and based on the number of transactions that an organisation is involved with. Associated standards are PA-DSS and PTS-DSS for payment applications and PIN transaction security. All of these standards are set and maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council. Compliance with the standards is mandated by the various card schemes but is communicated through acquiring banks or other parties. Failure to comply to PCI-DSS can result in fines or other sanctions.
Latest version of PCI standards PCI DSS 3.2.1