Answers
What is PCI DSS?
In short
PCI DSS is the payment card industry's data security standard, mandatory for any organisation that stores, processes or transmits cardholder data.
Short answer
PCI DSS is the payment card industry's data security standard, mandatory for any organisation that stores, processes or transmits cardholder data.
What this actually means in practice
Scope is everything: the more systems that touch cardholder data, the more expensive PCI gets. Use tokenisation, hosted fields and processor APIs to keep scope as small as possible. Validate annually via SAQ or QSA depending on volume.
The most common pitfall
Letting PCI scope creep into systems that should never touch cardholder data.
What to do next
Run a scope assessment and aggressively shrink the cardholder data environment.
Frequently asked questions
Does Forth Systems help with this?
Yes — Forth Systems works with banks, payment institutions, insurers and infrastructure operators on exactly this kind of work. Engagements start with a fixed-scope assessment so you see the shape before committing.
How experienced is the team?
Engagements are staffed by named, UK-based senior engineers — not a rotating offshore pool. References from the second line of comparable clients are available on request.
Where are you based?
Edinburgh-based, delivering UK-wide with onsite presence in London and across Scotland as required.
How fast can we start?
Most engagements start within 2-4 weeks of a signed SoW, faster where an existing supplier framework is in place.