This autumn, the first stage in the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) will go into effect. PCI DSS is a set of requirements developed by the major credit card companies to enhance credit and debit card data security. All organisations that process, store, or transmit payment card data must follow the PCI DSS requirements or will eventually risk losing their ability to process credit card payments.

From October 2008, any organisation that requires a new merchant ID from the credit card companies must be PCI DSS compliant. In October 2009, all organisations must be PCI DSS compliant to process credit cards.

To learn more about how to become PCI compliant and fill out a self-assessment questionnaire, visit pcisecuritystandards.org.

For more information about PCI DSS, read our Frequently Asked Questions.