PCI DSS Compliance and SSL: Key Requirements for Payment Security
· Compliance
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a global security standard managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, founded by Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, and JCB. Any business that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data must comply.
TLS Requirements
PCI DSS v4.0 (2022) for cardholder data transmission: TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are prohibited. TLS 1.2 is the minimum requirement. TLS 1.3 is recommended. All SSL versions are prohibited. Weak ciphers (NULL, RC4, DES, 3DES) are prohibited.
Who Must Comply?
Any business with a payment form on its website (even if processed via third-party iframe), any system storing/processing/transmitting card data, and any business integrating with payment service providers.
Compliance Levels
Based on annual transaction volume: Level 1 (6M+ transactions/year) requires an annual on-site audit by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA). Levels 2–4 require a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ).
Beyond TLS
TLS configuration is just one PCI DSS component. Full compliance also requires firewall and network segmentation, regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, access control and identity management, and a security incident management plan.
Non-Compliance Consequences
Monthly fines of $5,000–$100,000, suspension or termination of card processing rights, forensic audit costs after a data breach, and reputational damage.
PCI DSS SSL Configuration Checklist
Disable TLS 1.0 and 1.1. Configure strong cipher suites (AES-GCM, ChaCha20). Verify with SSL Labs (target A or A+). Track certificate expiry dates. Enable HSTS.
Visit the PekiSSL product page to find the right certificate for your needs.