Visa and Mastercard Credit Card Companies have implemented some very common sense standards for their merchants to uphold in order to connect to their system networks and accept their credit cards. These same standards could be applied to any enterprise. How secure is your organization?
Twelve basic requirements of the PCI Data Security Standard
Build and maintain a secure network
Requirement 1: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data
Requirement 2: Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters Protect cardholder data
Requirement 3: Protect stored cardholder data
Requirement 4: Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks Maintain a vulnerability management program
Requirement 5: Use and regularly update anti-virus software
Requirement 6: Develop and maintain secure systems and applications Implement strong access control measures
Requirement 7: Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know
Requirement 8: Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access
Requirement 9: Restrict physical access to cardholder data Regularly monitor and test networks
Requirement 10: Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
Requirement 11: Regularly test security systems and processes Maintain an information security policy
Requirement 12: Maintain a policy that addresses information security