PCI DSS Awareness Training: Why Organizations Need It In 2024?

In today’s digital age, securing payment card data is of utmost importance, especially given the increasing frequency and complexity of cyberattacks. It’s here that the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) comes into play. The PCI DSS is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all businesses that accept, process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. However, achieving and maintaining this standard is no small task, requiring consistent awareness and education. This is where the need for organizations to invest in PCI DSS awareness training arises.

The role of employees in PCI DSS Compliance

While organizations invest heavily in technical solutions to secure their systems, it is crucial to recognize the significant role that employees play in maintaining PCI DSS compliance. Employees are often the weakest link in the security chain, unintentionally exposing organizations to potential risks. Most data breaches can be traced back to human error. According to Verizon’s 16th Annual Data Breach Investigations report, 74% of all breaches include the human element through error, privilege misuse, social engineering, or use of stolen credentials¹.

This is where PCI DSS awareness training comes in. Investing in PCI DSS awareness training equips employees with the knowledge and understanding necessary to protect cardholder data. By educating employees about the importance of data security, organizations can empower them to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to mitigate risks.

Benefits of PCI DSS awareness training

For PCI DSS training to be effective, it must be tailored to the employee’s role and responsibility within the organization. By tailoring training to the employee’s role and making it dynamic, organizations ensure that employees understand their responsibilities in protecting cardholder data. There are several advantages that PCI DSS awareness training confers on organizations.

• Enhanced knowledge and understanding

PCI DSS awareness training equips employees with a comprehensive understanding of the standard’s requirements, and the potential consequences of non-compliance. This enhanced knowledge empowers employees to recognize potential vulnerabilities and adopt best practices to secure cardholder data effectively.

• Increased awareness of security threats

PCI DSS awareness training helps employees recognize common security threats such as phishing attacks, social engineering techniques, and malware and equips them with the knowledge to identify and report suspicious activities promptly. This heightened awareness fosters a security-conscious culture within the organization.

• Reduction of human errors and breaches

Through PCI DSS awareness training, employees gain a better understanding of secure practices. They learn proper handling of sensitive data, secure password management, and adherence to security protocols. This knowledge reduces the occurrence of inadvertent errors and significantly decreases the likelihood of security breaches.

• Improved incident response

PCI DSS awareness training equips employees with the necessary knowledge to respond effectively in the event of a security incident. They learn incident response procedures, including how to report incidents, mitigate risks, and protect data integrity, which can help organizations minimize the impact of a breach and swiftly recover from security incidents.

• Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

PCI DSS awareness training ensures that employees understand their responsibilities regarding payment data security. Compliance not only helps organizations avoid potential fines and penalties but also demonstrates a commitment to protecting sensitive customer information.

• Enhanced reputation and customer trust

Demonstrating a commitment to data security through PCI DSS compliance and employee training enhances an organization’s reputation and fosters customer trust. Customers are more likely to trust organizations that prioritize the protection of their sensitive information.

The trainings and workshops offered by SISA:

• CPISI (PCI DSS Training – Certified Payment Industry Security Implementer):
  A workshop that focuses on the successful implementation of PCI DSS in an entity along with giving real world examples that helps gain knowledge on threat landscape.

• CPISI-D (Certified Payment Industry Security Implementer for Developers):
  CPISI-D is designed especially for payment application developers to give them the ability to effectively develop applications in a secured manner.

• CPIDR (Certified Payment Security Incident Detector and Responder):
  Crafted for IT security analysts that work on monitoring security networks, applications, and infrastructure. This program trains teams in identifying and responding to threats.

• CPISI-Hybrid (Online PCI Training):
  A 30 day self-paced intensive online program for comprehensive implementation of PCI DSS to enable better security application.
• PSA (PCI DSS Security Awareness Training):
  This training covers everything on the security standards, starting from introduction to Payment Security Standards to sharing the knowledge on program management and maintaining PCI Compliance.

Conclusion

Achieving PCI DSS compliance is not a one-off event but a continuous process that necessitates constant vigilance and education. Organizations that invest in PCI DSS awareness training are securing more than just their defense against data breaches and fines – they are safeguarding their reputation, fostering customer trust, and building a security culture.

As a global forensics-driven cybersecurity solutions company, SISA offers a range of training and workshops for various security standards (PCI DSS, P2PE, etc.) that cover everything from fundamentals of payments security to implementation of controls.

The training programs are delivered in multiple formats – in-house, online and hybrid, to enable flexible learning. Depending on the clients’ requirement they can opt one that best fits your organization’s or individual employee needs.

If you’d like to know more or set up a training with SISA, do write in to training@sisainfosec(dot)com or share your enquiry to know more.