In this piece, I would like to provide a high-level overview of the practical side of PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). My goal is to offer tech leaders, fintech managers, and company executives a realistic guide for pursuing certification. a high-level overview of the practical side of PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). a realistic guide for pursuing certification. Most digital products today operate within financial frameworks. That’s why the need for standardized, reliable approaches to data protection is more urgent than ever. PCI DSS, introduced in 2004, answers this need and is now used worldwide to reduce risk and prevent financial fraud. At its core, PCI DSS is a certification for companies that handle cardholder data. It **defines technical and organizational requirements for storing, processing, and transmitting that data securely. \ But PCI DSS isn’t just a list of boxes to check—it’s a framework that supports safer financial operations across the board. PCI DSS What PCI DSS Requires What PCI DSS Requires Protect cardholder data from leaks and unauthorized access Monitor and audit all actions involving that data Work only with certified partners Protect cardholder data from leaks and unauthorized access Protect cardholder data from leaks and unauthorized access Monitor and audit all actions involving that data Monitor and audit all actions involving that data Work only with certified partners Work only with certified partners Certification helps companies build real-world skills: organizing workflows, strengthening infrastructure, and managing sensitive data properly. It pushes businesses to mature operationally—improving interdepartmental coordination and clarifying ownership. In short: if you want to be certified, your processes can’t be chaotic. Technically, PCI DSS focuses on two things: preventing breaches and enabling post-incident investigation. Organizationally, it demands access control, well-documented procedures, and clear individual responsibility. PCI DSS focuses on two things: preventing breaches and enabling post-incident investigation. And it’s not a one-and-done deal. PCI DSS compliance is continuous. You’ll need to regularly train staff, review system security, and update access policies. Yes, it adds workload but also brings clarity, structure, and reliability to your processes. PCI DSS compliance is continuous Getting Started: Practical Steps for First-Timers Getting Started: Practical Steps for First-Timers Here are a few practical tips for businesses just starting their PCI DSS journey: Here are a few practical tips for businesses just starting their PCI DSS journey: Appoint a Security Owner Appoint a Security Owner Appoint a Security Owner The first step is to designate someone responsible for security. This person is critical in managing the certification process, from organizational controls to implementation oversight. They should have a solid understanding of PCI DSS requirements and know how to meet them without compromising operational efficiency. Study the Standard Thoroughly Study the Standard Thoroughly Study the Standard Thoroughly This person should dive into the PCI DSS requirements. There's a wealth of documentation available, including official guides from the PCI Security Standards Council. These provide detailed, step-by-step explanations of each requirement and insight into how auditors will verify compliance. Set Up Process Documentation Set Up Process Documentation Set Up Process Documentation Certification requires all employees to have job descriptions outlining their duties and access levels. A few key points: Employees must sign these documents when hired. It's best to keep them digitally (scanned copies or electronic signatures). Employees must sign these documents when hired. Employees must sign these documents when hired. It's best to keep them digitally (scanned copies or electronic signatures). It's best to keep them digitally (scanned copies or electronic signatures). Organize Security Training Organize Security Training Organize Security Training Employee training in information security is a fundamental requirement. The earlier you implement it, the easier it will be to scale later. Focus on: Onboarding – new hires should complete security training as part of the hiring process. Ongoing education – refreshers at least every six months. Ease of scheduling – use Google Calendar, Jira, or similar tools to automate reminders. Onboarding – new hires should complete security training as part of the hiring process. Onboarding – new hires should complete security training as part of the hiring process. Ongoing education – refreshers at least every six months. Ongoing education – refreshers at least every six months. Ease of scheduling – use Google Calendar, Jira, or similar tools to automate reminders. Ease of scheduling – use Google Calendar, Jira, or similar tools to automate reminders. Start Small Start Small Start Small If your company is still in its early stages, it’s best to implement certification requirements gradually. It’s much easier to build structured processes with a small team than to try and impose order on an already complex organization. The sooner a company adopts a systematic approach to security, the easier it will be to achieve certification and maintain PCI DSS compliance later on. From a technical perspective, a strong infrastructure team is key to successfully implementing PCI DSS. While development also plays an important role, the main workload typically falls on the infrastructure side. For instance, we ran into logging issues while analyzing our app’s interaction with cardholder data. Our database didn’t allow for selective logging of card-related operations—it logged everything, generating an overwhelming volume of data. We had to isolate cardholder data in a separate database to solve this. So, What Specialists Do You Need to Prepare for PCI DSS? A dedicated security lead — someone who owns the certification process and ensures compliance from an organizational standpoint. An infrastructure team, responsible for setting up processes and building a secure environment. A senior developer with security expertise who implements encryption and hashing, selects secure algorithms, and ensures proper handling of sensitive data at the code level. A dedicated security lead — someone who owns the certification process and ensures compliance from an organizational standpoint. An infrastructure team, responsible for setting up processes and building a secure environment. A senior developer with security expertise who implements encryption and hashing, selects secure algorithms, and ensures proper handling of sensitive data at the code level. Why Host Your Infrastructure in the Cloud? Cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud (GCP), and Azure can significantly simplify the certification process by offering built-in services that meet security requirements out of the box. For example, AWS Key Management Service (KMS) fully addresses encryption key management requirements. If cardholder data is encrypted using KMS, auditors typically won’t have any follow-up questions regarding that area of compliance. Cloud platforms also streamline access logging, security monitoring, and infrastructure management. However, it’s essential that your team thoroughly understands how to work with the chosen cloud provider’s tools and architecture. Balancing Compliance and Velocity Balancing Compliance and Velocity How do you stay secure without slowing your team to a crawl? Minimize access. Automate everything. Log it all. Key principles: Key principles: Restrict access to cardholder data Restrict access to cardholder data Restrict access to cardholder data Fewer people = easier compliance. Fewer audit questions. Automate development workflows (CI/CD) Automate development workflows (CI/CD) Automate development workflows (CI/CD) Routing most work through CI/CD limits access to production. Test environments with no real data are also recommended. Use password managers and access controls Use password managers and access controls Use password managers and access controls Don’t allow unrestricted access to critical accounts (e.g., AWS root). Enforce “four-eyes” access: one group holds login credentials, another holds the second factor (2FA)—track access: who, when, and why. Log everything Log everything Log everything Use Jira and GitHub to track changes and approvals. For access requests, always log: For access requests, always log: Why access is needed What requirement is being fulfilled Who approved it Why access is needed What requirement is being fulfilled Who approved it With automation, limited access, and solid logging, you can remain PCI DSS-compliant without halting development. Still, let’s be honest: real compliance will slow development somewhat and cost more. That’s the tradeoff for protecting trust. Documentation and Audit: Make It Easy on Yourself Documentation and Audit: Make It Easy on Yourself Beyond automation and access restrictions, another key factor is making audit preparation as convenient and efficient as possible. How did we organize our audit documentation? How did we organize our audit documentation? Create a structured Confluence space Training → links to videos and certificates Pen tests and scans → direct report access Policies and procedures → all in one place Create a structured Confluence space Training → links to videos and certificates Pen tests and scans → direct report access Policies and procedures → all in one place Create a structured Confluence space Create a structured Confluence space Training → links to videos and certificates Pen tests and scans → direct report access Policies and procedures → all in one place Training → links to videos and certificates Pen tests and scans → direct report access Policies and procedures → all in one place Auditors want clarity. Not clutter. No approvals in chat apps No approvals in chat apps No approvals in chat apps All sign-offs go in Jira or Confluence. That’s how you maintain traceability. Track changes in Jira and GitHub Track changes in Jira and GitHub Track changes in Jira and GitHub You don’t need paper trails. But your processes must be well documented. Proving compliance: Access logs Screenshots of GitHub workflows (code review, deploy checks) Confluence logs showing who changed what and why Proving compliance: Access logs Screenshots of GitHub workflows (code review, deploy checks) Confluence logs showing who changed what and why Proving compliance: Proving compliance: Access logs Screenshots of GitHub workflows (code review, deploy checks) Confluence logs showing who changed what and why Access logs Screenshots of GitHub workflows (code review, deploy checks) Confluence logs showing who changed what and why Final Takeaway Final Takeaway Security and speed are not opposites. With structure, they complement each other. Use tools like Jira, Confluence, and password managers to build accountability and clarity into your workflows. Automate where possible. Log what matters. Restrict what doesn’t need to be open. And keep your documentation ready to show. PCI DSS isn’t a blocker. It’s the scaffolding your business can grow on, without losing customer trust. That’s what helps us pass audits with confidence, keep our team productive, and scale without fear.
