Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard certification and compliance services
Get Certified TodayPCI DSS, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, is a pivotal framework established by major credit card companies such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Its primary objective is to fortify the security measures surrounding cardholder data, ensuring its protection during transactions.
This standard comprises 12 comprehensive security requirements, covering aspects like network security, encryption, access control, and monitoring. Adherence to PCI DSS is mandatory for organizations handling payment card transactions, and it involves validation through self-assessment questionnaires for smaller merchants and on-site assessments by Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) for larger businesses.
Compliance with PCI DSS is not merely a regulatory obligation, it's a fundamental aspect of maintaining data security and fostering trust within the payment card industry. By complying with PCI DSS standards, organizations mitigate the risks associated with data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive cardholder information.
PCI DSS Compliance is mandatory for any organization that stores, processes, or transmits payment card data. This applies not only to banks and large payment providers, but also to smaller businesses that accept card payments.
Whether your organization handles a few thousand transactions per year or millions, compliance is essential for protecting sensitive data, avoiding penalties, and ensuring trust with customers and partners.
PCI DSS Standard consists of 6 goals and 12 requirements that are mandatory in order to comply with the standard. The requirements set forth by the PCI SSC (Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council) are both operational and technical, and the core focus of these rules is always to protect cardholder data.
In order to become PCI compliant, the business must meet the 12 PCI compliance requirements, which are split up into 300 sub-requirements. The following PCI compliance requirements include security systems, organizational processes, testing and policies that can help protect cardholder data.
The PCI Security Standards Council defines four compliance levels based on the number of annual card transactions. These levels determine the type of validation your organization requires:
Organizations processing over six million transactions annually.
Requires an on-site audit conducted by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) along with quarterly vulnerability scans.
Organizations handling between one and six million transactions annually.
Requires the completion of a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and quarterly scans.
Organizations processing between 20,000 and one million e-commerce transactions annually.
Requires an SAQ and quarterly scans.
Organizations processing fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions annually, or up to one million transactions in total.
Requires an SAQ and quarterly scans.
For larger organizations, working with a QSA Firm like GRC Arabia is essential, as the assessment and Report on Compliance (ROC) must be conducted by certified experts.
MADA, the Saudi Payments Network, plays a pivotal role in overseeing electronic payment systems across Saudi Arabia. As a regulatory authority, MADA sets forth requirements to ensure the integrity and security of payment transactions within the country's financial ecosystem.
Regarding PCI DSS compliance, businesses operating in Saudi Arabia must adhere to MADA's guidelines in addition to global PCI DSS standards. This entails implementing robust security measures to safeguard cardholder data, undergoing regular assessments, and maintaining ongoing compliance with security standards.
We start by identifying which systems, applications, and processes fall under PCI DSS scope, then benchmark your current security posture against PCI DSS requirements.
Based on the findings, we provide a clear remediation roadmap with practical recommendations to close gaps and strengthen security controls.
Our team conducts Vulnerability Assessments, Penetration Testing, and ASV scans to validate technical security measures and identify potential weaknesses.
We help you design and implement security policies, procedures, and governance practices that align with PCI DSS requirements and business operations.
As a QSA Firm, we perform the official PCI DSS assessment, prepare the Report on Compliance (ROC) or Attestation of Compliance (AOC), and guide you through certification.
After certification, we assist with continuous monitoring, quarterly scans, staff training, and annual audits to ensure compliance is maintained.
We are an officially recognized Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) firm, authorized to conduct PCI DSS audits and issue Reports on Compliance (ROC).
Over a decade of experience delivering PCI DSS compliance services to banks, fintechs, telecoms, and payment gateways in Saudi Arabia.
Our consultants understand both international PCI DSS standards and local regulatory requirements such as MADA and the SAMA Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).
From initial gap assessments to remediation guidance, technical testing, audits, and ongoing support — we cover the full compliance lifecycle.
We design compliance strategies that match the size, risk level, and business model of your organization, ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
Compliance is not a one-time exercise. We provide continuous monitoring, annual re-certification support, and staff training to maintain compliance year-round.
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