What is PCI DSS?
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security requirements established by the PCI Security Standards Council to protect cardholder data and ensure that all organizations that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.
Also known as: PCI DSS, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, PCI compliance
PCI DSS defines 12 core requirements organized into six categories: build and maintain a secure network, protect cardholder data, maintain a vulnerability management program, implement strong access control measures, regularly monitor and test networks, and maintain an information security policy. The standard applies to every entity involved in payment card processing — merchants, processors, acquirers, issuers, and service providers.
Requirements 3 and 4 are particularly relevant to encryption: Requirement 3 mandates protecting stored cardholder data (with specific encryption, hashing, and truncation methods), while Requirement 4 requires encryption of cardholder data during transmission over open, public networks. Requirement 7 enforces least-privilege access, and Requirement 8 mandates unique identification and strong authentication for all system access. Compliance is validated through self-assessment questionnaires or on-site audits depending on transaction volume.
PCI DSS compliance extends beyond the cardholder data environment (CDE) itself to any systems that could impact CDE security. This includes how credentials for payment systems are managed and shared. Sharing database passwords or API keys for payment processing systems over email or unencrypted channels violates the spirit — and often the letter — of PCI DSS requirements for strong access controls and encryption.
How Vaulted uses PCI DSS
Vaulted supports PCI DSS compliance by providing an encrypted, ephemeral channel for sharing credentials related to payment systems and cardholder data environments. When teams need to share database credentials, payment gateway API keys, or access tokens for PCI-scoped systems, Vaulted ensures the data is encrypted client-side with AES-256-GCM before transmission and is automatically deleted after use. This aligns with PCI DSS Requirement 4 (encrypt data in transit) and Requirement 7 (restrict access on a need-to-know basis) by replacing persistent plaintext secrets in email with self-destructing, zero-knowledge links.