PCI Security Standards Council Issues Latest Information Supplements to PCI Data Security Standard

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 the availability of two Information
Supplements providing further clarification for PCI DSS requirement
11.3, regarding penetration testing, and Requirement 6.6, regarding
application code review and application firewalls. Both of these
information supplements provide guidance to help merchants and service
providers meet these two requirements in support of their PCI DSS
compliance efforts. Both information supplements are now available on
the Council´s website at
https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/tech/supporting_documents.htm.

These Information Supplements are one of the Council´s methods to
provide clarification and guidance on the PCI DSS. The Council, in
conjunction with the payment card industry and its Participating
Organizations - now numbering more than 440 companies from around the
globe - utilizes these Information Supplements to assist merchants and
service providers to adopt PCI DSS and protect customer cardholder
data.

Requirement 11.3 addresses penetration testing, which includes
network and application layer testing, as well as controls and
processes around the networks and applications. Such testing is
invaluable to ensuring that both networks and applications are
protected from outside intrusion. The Information Supplement for
Requirement 11.3 provides guidance on who can perform penetration
testing, what the scope of such testing entails, the frequency of such
tests, preparation for these tests, testing methodology and components
of testing techniques.

Requirement 6.6, which becomes effective on June 30, 2008

provides two options which are intended to address common threats to
cardholder data and ensure that input to web applications from
un-trusted environments is fully inspected. The Information Supplement
for this requirement gives organizations clarification on implementing
application code reviews (option one) and/or application firewalls
(option two).

The first option for application code review for meeting
Requirement 6.6 is now subdivided into four alternatives designed to
meet the intent of the requirement. They include:

-- Manual review of application source code

-- Proper use of automated source code analyzer (scanning) tools

-- Manual web application security vulnerability assessments

-- Proper use of automated web application security vulnerability

assessment (scanning) tools.

The second option for Requirement 6.6 is a Web Application
Firewall (WAF) which is a security policy enforcement point positioned
between a web application and a client end point. The Information
Supplement provides recommended capabilities of a select WAF

additional recommended capabilities for certain environments

additional considerations for organizations implementing a WAF and
additional sources of information on Web application security.

"The Council is continually looking to provide the clearest
guidance to all in the payments chain on implementing the PCI DSS,"
said Bob Russo, General Manager, PCI Security Standards Council.
"These periodic Information Supplements are created from the varied
and critical industry feedback we continue to receive from our
stakeholders and are designed to make it easier for organizations PCI
DSS projects."

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, where you can also find answers
to frequently asked questions, 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
International, 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 Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS).
Merchants, banks, processors and point of sale vendors are encouraged
to join as Participating Organizations.