Achieving PCI-DSS Compliance with CIPH3R’s FPE

Format-preserving encryption (FPE) can be used to help organizations accomplish certain requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). PCI DSS is a set of security standards designed to ensure the protection of cardholder data. Here’s how FPE can contribute to PCI DSS compliance:

• Data Encryption (Requirement 3): PCI DSS Requirement 3 mandates the encryption of sensitive data, including cardholder data. FPE allows organizations to encrypt this data while preserving its original format. This means that the data can still be processed, sorted, and used for legitimate business purposes without the need for decryption.

• Protection of Primary Account Numbers (PAN) (Requirement 3.4): PCI DSS specifically requires the protection of the primary account number (PAN). FPE can encrypt PANs in a way that retains their format (16 digits), making it easier for organizations to handle and store this critical information securely.

• Access Controls (Requirement 7): Requirement 7 of PCI DSS focuses on limiting access to cardholder data. FPE can help organizations limit access to sensitive data by ensuring that only authorized personnel or systems can decrypt and use the data in its original format.

• Audit Trail (Requirement 10): PCI DSS Requirement 10 requires the establishment of audit trails and the monitoring of access to cardholder data. FPE can be combined with access controls to create a secure audit trail, ensuring that any access or decryption of sensitive data is logged and monitored. Data Masking (Requirement 3.3): PCI DSS Requirement 3.3 allows for the use of data masking to protect PANs, which involves displaying only the first six and last four digits. FPE can be used to implement this masking while retaining the original format.

• Tokenization (Requirement 3.5): Tokenization is a common method used to protect cardholder data. FPE can be used to tokenize data securely while preserving the original data format. Tokens can be created and used without revealing the sensitive information they represent.

• User Identification and Authentication (Requirement 8): FPE can help protect user credentials (e.g., usernames and passwords), which are used to access systems and handle cardholder data, contributing to user authentication as required by PCI DSS Requirement 8.

It’s important to note that while FPE can be a valuable tool in achieving PCI DSS compliance, it should be part of a broader data security strategy that includes other security measures, such as access controls, secure key management, regular security assessments, and compliance with all relevant PCI DSS requirements. Compliance efforts should be guided by the specific needs and circumstances of the organization and the advice of qualified security professionals.

Reach out to CIPH3R to learn more about how our solution can automate your PCI Encryption Needs