PCI Security Standards Council Issues Updated Self Assessment Questionnaire

The PCI Security Standards Council, a global, open industry
standards body providing management of the Payment Card Industry Data
Security Standard (DSS), PCI PIN Entry Device (PED) Security
Requirements and the Payment Application Data Security Standard
(PA-DSS), today announced that its updated Self Assessment
Questionnaire (SAQ) for merchants and service providers is now
available.

The SAQ is an important validation tool primarily used by
merchants and service providers to demonstrate compliance with the PCI
DSS. This new SAQ is specifically designed to simplify and streamline
the assessment process and aid merchants who are not required to have
onsite assessment to protect payment card data. "With the introduction
of the updated SAQ, merchants will now have a better understanding of
the steps necessary to secure their payment data and comply with the
PCI DSS," said Bob Russo, general manager, PCI Security Standards
Council.

Underscoring the need for continued adoption of the PCI DSS by
merchants is a recent report by Javelin Research and Strategy in which
63 percent of consumers believe that merchants and retailers are the
least secure among payment transaction stakeholders in protecting
account information.(1)

In response to industry feedback, this new SAQ incorporates
updates designed to reflect the most recent version 1.1 of the DSS and
replaces an earlier version that had been in place since January 2005.
The SAQ, version 1.1 is now available at
https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/tech/saq.htm and consists of four
unique forms to meet various business scenarios. These four include:

-- SAQ A: Addresses requirements applicable to merchants who have
outsourced all cardholder data storage, processing and
transmission.

-- SAQ B: Created to address requirements pertinent to merchants
who process cardholder data via imprint machines or standalone
dial-up terminals only.

-- SAQ C: Constructed to focus on requirements applicable to
merchants whose payment applications systems are connected to
the Internet.

-- SAQ D: Designed to address requirements relevant to all
service providers defined by a payment brand as eligible to
complete an SAQ and those merchants who do not fall under the
types addressed by SAQ A, B or C.

Also included on the Council´s Website is a set of frequently
asked questions and an instruction and guideline document for the SAQ,
intended to simplify the process and ensure that merchants and service
providers can more easily determine which SAQ is the proper tool for
them to use in confirming PCI DSS compliance.

"Issuing the latest self assessment questionnaire is another step
the PCI Security Standards Council is taking to ensure that all
merchants and service providers have options in determining their
compliance strategy," said Russo. "Having multiple SAQs available will
streamline the process and make it easier for stakeholders to
determine their compliance gaps and take action to ensure full
compliance with the Standard."

For More Information:

If you would like more information about the PCI Security
Standards Council or would like to become a Participating Organization
please visit pcisecuritystandards.org, or contact the PCI Security
Standards Council at info@pcisecuritystandards.org.

About the PCI Security Standards Council

The mission of the PCI Security Standards Council is to enhance
payment account security by driving education and awareness of the PCI
Data Security Standard and other standards that increase payment data
security.

The PCI Security Standards Council was formed by the major payment
card brands American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB,
MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc. to provide a transparent forum in
which all stakeholders can provide input into the ongoing development,
enhancement and dissemination of the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS),
PIN Entry Device (PED) Security Requirements and the Payment
Applications Data Security Standard (PA-DSS). Merchants, banks,
processors and point of sale vendors are encouraged to join as
Participating Organizations.

(1) Cundiff, Bruce. "Data Breaches and Buyer Behavior: Moving PCI
Compliance from Costly Burden to Competitive Advantage," Javelin
Strategy and Research, March 2007.