PCI-DSS vs. GDPR

PCI-DSS and GDPR address data security and privacy, although their respective scopes, objectives, and legal requirements are distinct. PCI-DSS is focused on payment card data security and is primarily driven by the payment card industry, in contrast to GDPR which is a comprehensive data protection regulation applicable to a broader range of personal data processing activities having global implications for organizations handling the data of EU residents and beyond.

What is PCI-DSS?

PCI-DSS is a thorough set of security standards to protect sensitive cardholder data. All organizations, regardless of size or industry, engaging in the processing or keeping cardholder data must adhere to this standard, enforced by the PCI Security Standards Council, a group of essential payment card corporations like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The framework has 12 fundamental requirements that force organizations to adhere to strict network protection, access control, and data security regulations.

What is GDPR?

GDPR, a European Union regulation, grants individuals increased authority over personal data. It is overseen by the European Data Protection Board, which ensures compliance with data privacy rules within the EU. The GDPR applies to organizations that process the personal data of EU residents and those in countries such as the UK that have adopted their own GDPR-like regulations post-Brexit. This regulation empowers individuals by allowing them to dictate how organizations collect, process, and store their personal information, emphasizing transparency and data protection. It aims to enhance individual’s privacy rights and data security.

PCI-DSS vs. GDPR

1. Scope and Purpose:

• PCI-DSS: The top credit card companies developed a set of security standards called PCI-DSS to protect cardholder data during payment card transactions. It primarily focuses on securing payment card data and making sure that organizations handling it operate in a secure environment.
• GDPR: The GDPR is an EU regulation that controls how an individual’s personal data is protected. It is a thorough privacy regulation covering many ways to process personal data, not just credit card information. Credit card and debit card numbers are also within the GDPR’s scope, as they are considered personally identifiable information (PII). By controlling the handling, storing, and sharing of personal data, the GDPR aims to safeguard individual rights and privacy.

2. Data Types:

• PCI-DSS: The primary focus of PCI-DSS is payment card data, which includes card numbers, cardholder names, expiration dates, and security codes. The security of financial information is ensured because it only covers information directly relevant to payment card transactions.
• GDPR: The GDPR covers a wide variety of personal data, including but not limited to names, addresses (both physical and electronic), identity numbers, health information, and other types of personal data. The GDPR adopts a more comprehensive approach, protecting all personal data to ensure that an individual’s rights to privacy and data protection are recognized and upheld.

3. Applicability:

• PCI-DSS: This standard is relevant to entities managing payment card data, including merchants, payment processors, and service providers. It is obligatory for any organization accepting credit or debit card payments to adhere to PCI-DSS guidelines to ensure secure handling of such financial information.
• GDPR: GDPR extends its scope to a broader array of organizations, irrespective of their location within or outside the European Union, as long as they handle the personal data of EU residents or those from other regions with similar laws, like the UK. It encompasses a broad spectrum of data processing activities, including data collection, storage, transfer, and personal data handling. GDPR’s reach extends to any entity that processes the personal information of individuals, making it one of the most extensive data protection regulations globally.

4. Penalties:

• PCI-DSS: Failure to comply with PCI-DSS may lead to fines imposed by the payment card companies, the potential loss of privileges to process card payments, and damage to an organization’s reputation. The penalties under PCI-DSS can reach up to $100,000 per month.
• GDPR: Non-compliance with GDPR can result in more substantial penalties, which include fines of up to €20 million or 4% of a company’s global annual revenue, whichever is higher. By highlighting the importance of data privacy under this rule, GDPR allows individuals to sue for damages. To encourage organizations to prioritize data privacy and security, the GDPR’s fines for violations are some of the most severe in data protection.

5. Regulatory Requirements:

• PCI-DSS: Organizations must comply with PCI-DSS to set up specific security measures, including firewall installation, encryption, access controls, and frequent security reviews. The protection of payment card data is often ensured by conducting audits and assessments to determine compliance. The primary objective of PCI-DSS is to safeguard cardholder data security during transactions.
• GDPR: Organizations must abide by several data protection standards to comply with GDPR. These include obtaining individual’s consent before processing their data, limiting the amount of information gathered, ensuring transparency of data practices, and offering the “right to be forgotten,” which enables individuals to request the deletion of their data. To assess and reduce potential data privacy threats, organizations must appoint Data Protection Officers and, when appropriate, conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments. Protecting individual’s rights and privacy in handling personal data is the primary goal of the GDPR.

Comparison of PCI-DSS and GDPR Regulations

Basis	PCI-DSS	GDPR
Scope and Purpose	Focuses on protecting credit card data during transactions.	Comprehensive data protection regulations for EU citizens’ personal data.
Data Types	Primarily payment card data (such as names and card numbers).	All forms of personal data (such as names, addresses, and identification numbers).
Applicability	Pertains to organizations that process, store, or transmit credit card information.	Pertains to organizations that process the personal data of EU citizens or operate in regions with comparable regulations.
Penalties	Up to $100,000 in monthly fines.	Up to 4% of the company’s yearly turnover or €20 million in fines, whichever is higher.
Regulatory Requirements	Managed by the PCI Security Standards Council.	Enforced by the European Data Protection Board and similar bodies in other regions.

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