Are You Launching an e-Commerce? Learn How to Get PCI DSS Certified
One of the major changes that have taken place in recent years has been the unstoppable growth of e-commerce. During the most challenging months of the pandemic, it became the most common purchasing method for many consumers. This attracted many traditional stores and numerous entrepreneurs to try their luck in e-Commerce.
Already in 2020, almost a quarter of all purchases made in Spain were through this channel. In addition, a recent study, the European Ecommerce Report, states that online sales will increase by 17% in 2022, reaching 65.3 billion euros in revenue.
With these figures, it is no surprise that the launch of new e-Commerce businesses is increasingly common, nor that cybercriminals have intensified their interest in this type of business. Therefore, the necessary measures must be taken to prevent any cyberattack. One of the most important measures relates to the use of cards by customers. This is the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), a certification required to implement this payment method.
The answer to this question can be summarized in just two words: it’s necessary. Moreover, if the standard is not met and an attack occurs, the business will be exposed to strict audits, significant penalties, and even the loss of permission to process cards. In other words, its trajectory as an online store would come to an early end compared to what was initially planned. Therefore, every measure is welcome, especially considering that between 2020 and 2021, the number of cyberattacks on retail businesses increased by 117% compared to 2019, according to a study by Positive Technologies. These attacks targeted customer data primarily, and in 2021, more than half sought to directly steal money.
So, if you’re wondering, “Why is it so important to comply with the PCI DSS standard when launching my online store?”, you should know that it establishes twelve requirements that companies must meet to ensure the security of transactions made with payment cards (whether credit or debit), and thus prevent fraud. As we have just seen, cyberthreats have proliferated around new e-commerce sites, and payment methods are one of the main targets.
If you are working on launching an e-commerce business, you probably already know that it is necessary to comply with this standard so customers can pay with their cards. The next step is not only to obtain PCI DSS certification, but also to ensure maximum security for potential customers. There is no doubt that if word gets out that an online store does not offer secure payment guarantees, buyers will disappear, and all the effort and investment put into the business will be lost.
To prevent this, we recommend relying on expert consulting that simplifies the process and ensures everything has been done correctly, since you could lose valuable time that you could invest in other matters related to your company’s core.
To obtain PCI DSS certification, your business must meet a series of requirements (specifically twelve) that fall under the following objectives:
As can be seen, this is not a one-time task; it must be ongoing – hence the annual review – since cyberthreats constantly evolve. And one must never forget that the goal is not only to obtain the certificate, but to provide the highest possible security to your customers.
A clear example of these cyberattacks is the practice known as web skimming, which increased by 150% between May and November 2021 and consists of installing malware on e-Commerce pages to steal credit and debit card data.
At this point, you should also know that there are different certification levels, since not all businesses handle the same number of transactions. Most new online stores begin their journey with PCI DSS Level 4 Certification, as it is intended for organizations that process fewer than 20,000 online transactions per year.
The following levels are:
In short, if you are considering launching an e-Commerce that accepts card payments, you must adapt your business to the requirements of the PCI DSS standard, as only then will transactions be secure, and you will offer guarantees to your customers. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to contact our specialists.