PCI DSS: Standards vs. Reality
In this episode of InfoSec Insider, Alastair Stewart and Tibor Laczko, both Senior Consultants and Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) at URM, explore the theory versus the reality of compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Alastair and Tibor leverage nearly 30 years’ combined experience with the PCI DSS to discuss:
- Whether it would be cheaper to simply pay the fines instead of being PCI DSS compliant
- How often they see organisations treat PCI as a one-time project versus an ongoing programme
- The possibility of still suffering a breach while being fully compliant, and whether this has happened in the past
- The PCI requirements organisations struggle with most in practice
- How smaller merchants can cope with PCI requirements that were designed with larger organisations in mind
- The areas where PCI DSS lags behind current security threats
- And more.
Your questions matter
If there’s a PCI DSS related issue you’d like us to explore, share it with us below. We’ll use listener questions to guide future discussions and ensure our episodes tackle the challenges that matter most to businesses like yours.
About the InfoSec Insider
The InfoSec Insider podcast brings you weekly interviews with practicing senior consultants, who draw upon their extensive experience to provide detailed and practical guidance on all things information and cyber security, data protection compliance, risk management, and more. In each episode, one of our experts takes a deep-dive into a particular aspect of their area of specialism, whether that be certifying to ISO 27001, outlining some top tips for GDPR compliance, making the case for alternative approaches to pen testing, or discussing how to conduct an effective business impact analysis (BIA). Enhance your understanding and professional skillset with the InfoSec Insider podcast, brought to you by URM, the UK’s leading provider of cyber security and governance, risk management and compliance consultancy.
Contact the InfoSec Experts Today
Having assisted over 450 organisations to implement an ISMS and then achieve ISO 27001 certification since the Standard was first published in 2005, we at URM are the ideal partners to help you certify. With our fully-tailored approach, our specialists can support you through each stage of the ISO 27001 management system lifecycle, offering guidance specific to your organisation’s unique requirements.
Get in touch with our information security experts today to find out more.
InfoSec Solutions & Products
One the key requirements of ISO 27001 is the need for a robust risk assessment process which can produce repeatable and comparable results. With its proven, best practice methodology, URM’s information security risk management software, Abriska 27001, enables you to meet this requirement. We can also assist you to raise and maintain awareness among your staff with our expertly designed and engaging learning management system (LMS), Alurna.
InfoSec Training Courses
Our information security and risk management training courses can help you learn how to effectively manage information security. Our Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP) and Practitioner Certificate in Information Risk Management (PCIRM) training courses will prepare you to take the BCS (Chartered Institute for IT) administered exams, enabling you to gain industry-recognised qualifications.
Webinars & Events
URM has gained a reputation as the preeminent UK provider of live webinars, aimed at delivering valuable and practical insights to organisations looking to improve their information security, risk management, data protection etc. The webinars are delivered by our senior consultants who share hints and tips on topics such as certifying to ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials, complying with the GDPR. All of our webinars are completely free to attend, and include an opportunity to ask questions at the end.
This webinar focuses on turning PCI DSS from a point‑in‑time certification into an ongoing, integrated security practice.
Practical GDPR webinar for UK SMEs covering DSARs, data subject rights, common pitfalls, and tools to improve compliance in a changing regulatory environment.
Practical insights into implementing and preparing to certify against ISO 22301, helping your organisation strengthen its business continuity arrangements.
Information Security FAQs
What are 4 types of information security?
If we look to guidance from Annex A of ISO 27001, then the answer is organisational, people, physical and technological. The International Standard groups information security into these 4 categories. The ‘organisational’ category requires the creation of policies, roles and responsibilities and day-to-day business activities. The ‘people’ category ensures that the most appropriate staff are employed, and that they understand what is expected of them in relation to the business’ approach to infosec. ‘Physical’ controls relate to the security of business premises, clear desk policies etc, whilst, ‘technological’ controls relate to measures that may be adopted by organisations to assist in securing information through the use of technology such as capacity management, configuration management, change management, network security, firewalls, cryptography etc.
What are the 3 principles of information security?
The three aspects that information security (infosec) seeks to protect are ‘confidentiality’, ‘integrity’ and ‘availability’. Confidentiality ensures that information is not made available or disclosed to unauthorised entities. Integrity protects the accuracy and completeness of assets, whilst Availability ensures that information is accessible and usable on demand by authorised individuals.tc.
What are information security examples?
Examples of information security include encryption, firewalls, antivirus software, multi-factor authentication (MFA), vetting of individuals, controlling access to premises / information and providing staff awareness training.
What are 5 information security policies?
Policies provide direction on your organisation’s approach to different aspects of information security management. Policies may relate to the classification of data, password management, acceptable use of assets, authentication procedures and incident response - these are five examples, but your organisation may choose to formulate a policy relating to any aspect of information security (infosec) management.
