PCI DSS | Why You Need Documented Policies and Procedures for PCI

Payment Card industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS) compliance require many things, one of which is having numerous documented policies and procedures in place. Many merchants, service providers and other entities seeking to become PCI DSS compliant often overlook this critical area. Why? Because companies are so focused on technical and security issues surrounding hardware and software components that they fail to recognize the importance and value of having documented policies and procedures in place. What’s worse, most companies simply lack the skills in writing these types of documents. In short, you need to have them and they are important. Sure, they are important for PCI DSS compliance, but they are also important for ensuring that your organization documents the daily activities, processes, and operations that take place in your company. It just makes good business sense to do this. Moreover, if you have to comply with PCI DSS, then you may more than likely be a candidate for a number of other compliance mandates, such as HIPAA, Sarbanes Oxley, and GLBA. Guess what? You need documented policies and procedures to suffice for these regulatory requirements also.