PCI-DSS Compliance: What Developers Need to Know
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is a set of security requirements for organisations that store, process, or transmit credit card data. Non-compliance can result in significant fines, loss of payment processing rights, and liability for fraudulent transactions.
The Fastest Route to Compliance
The single most effective step for most applications is to avoid handling card data at all. By using a PCI-compliant payment gateway (Stripe, Braintree, Adyen) with hosted payment pages or tokenisation, you delegate the cardholder data environment to the gateway and dramatically reduce your PCI scope.
Key Requirements Relevant to Development
- Req 6: Develop and maintain secure systems — use a secure SDLC, perform code reviews, address OWASP Top 10
- Req 8: Identify and authenticate access to system components — strong authentication, MFA for admin access
- Req 10: Log and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
- Req 11: Test security systems regularly — vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
- Req 3 and 4: Protect stored cardholder data and encrypt in transit — if you must store card data
Our Approach
We design payment integrations to minimise PCI scope from the outset. We work with your payment gateway's compliance team and can help you complete your Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and provide technical documentation for your QSA.