Many retailers with a e-commerce website probably already know the term PCI Compliance, however, not everyone may understand what it really means for their online business. Therefore, below we will talk a little about what it is PCI Compliance and why it is important for your Ecommerce.
What is PCI Compliance?
First you have to understand that PCI Compliance is not a government law or regulation. Its correct name is PCI DSS, which means "Payment Card Industry - Data Security Standard" and which basically refers to a standard that contains a series of security requirements that all merchants, large or small, must comply with.
Every merchant must comply with the PCI Compliance, even if you don't handle a large number of transactions or use third-party providers to outsource credit card information. For those merchants who outsource their payment processes, the scope of PCI is smaller and the verification requirements are minimal.
PCI Compliance applies to any business
Muchos Ecommerce retailers think PCI Compliance does not apply to their businesses as they are too small. In reality, this standard applies to any business that processes, stores, or transmits credit card data. If, as the manager of an Ecommerce store, you do not take security seriously and suffer from a hack with the theft of customer information, you can face serious repercussions.
In consecuense, PCI Compliance is mandatory if credit card payments are accepted, so if the requirements are not followed and met, you can face penalties, fines, or even the business may be prohibited from accepting credit cards as payment in the future. Hence the importance of PCI Compliance for Ecommerce.