How do you comply with PCI DSS?

Analyze your compliance level. Advertisement. ... Fill out the self-assessment questionnaire. ... Make any necessary changes. ... Find a provider that uses data tokenization. ... Complete a formal attestation of compliance. ... File the signNowwork.

How much does it cost to become PCI compliant?

How much does PCI compliance cost? If youâ\u20ac\u2122re a small business, PCI DSS compliance should cost from $300 per year (depending on your environment). If you're a very large enterprise and need a PCI DSS assessment, expect to pay $70,000+ in total costs (depending on your environment).

What does PCI compliant mean?

Being PCI compliant means consistently adhering to a set of guidelines set forth by the PCI Standards Council. PCI compliance is governed by the PCI Standards Council, an organization formed in 2006 for the purpose of managing the security of credit cards. ... Building and maintenance of a secure network and system.

How do you validate PCI DSS compliance?

Determine which self-assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) your business should use to validate compliance. ... Complete the self-assessment Questionnaire according to the instructions it contains.

Who is responsible for a merchants PCI compliance?

It is your responsibility to learn these regulations and adhere to them. Additionally, PCI-DSS states that you're also responsible for the compliance of any vendor that provides your business with software or services, as well as any company or individual who you hire.

How do you do a PCI DSS audit?

Think carefully about your PCI DSS audit goal. ... Choose a reputable PCI QSA for RoC audits. ... Preparation is key. ... Find out where your data resides (and hides) ... Segment networks and maintain an accurate network diagram. ... Conduct a gap analysis. ... Documentation, monitoring and audit logs. ... Conduct regular testing.

What happens if you are not PCI compliant?

If a data bsignNow occurs and you're not PCI compliant, your business will have to pay penalties and fines ranging between $5,000 and $500,000. ... If you're not PCI compliant, you run the risk of losing your merchant account, which means you won't be able to accept credit card payments at all.

How often are PCI audits required?

Level 4 merchants must complete the PCI DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) annually, but only Discover Merchants must submit an Attestation of Compliance every year. Additionally, Level 4 merchants are required to have a network scan by an ASV conducted quarterly.

What happens if you are not PCI DSS compliant?

If a data bsignNow occurs and you're not PCI compliant, your business will have to pay penalties and fines ranging between $5,000 and $500,000. ... If you're not PCI compliant, you run the risk of losing your merchant account, which means you won't be able to accept credit card payments at all.

What is the latest PCI DSS standard?

A: PCI DSS 3.1 will retire on 31 October 2016, and after this time all assessments will need to use version 3.2. Between now and 31 October 2016, either PCI DSS 3.1 or 3.2 may be used for PCI DSS assessments. The new requirements introduced in PCI DSS 3.2 are considered best practices until 31 January 2018.

How much does PCI DSS compliance cost?

How much does PCI compliance cost? If youâ\u20ac\u2122re a small business, PCI DSS compliance should cost from $300 per year (depending on your environment). If you're a very large enterprise and need a PCI DSS assessment, expect to pay $70,000+ in total costs (depending on your environment).

What happens if your not PCI compliant?

If a data bsignNow occurs and you're not PCI compliant, your business will have to pay penalties and fines ranging between $5,000 and $500,000. ... If you're not PCI compliant, you run the risk of losing your merchant account, which means you won't be able to accept credit card payments at all.

What is required for PCI compliance?

In general, PCI compliance is required by credit card companies to make online transactions secure and protect them against identity theft. Any merchant that wants to process, store or transmit credit card data is required to be PCI compliant, according to the PCI Compliance Security Standard Council.

How long does it take to be PCI compliant?

The entire process of becoming PCI compliant usually takes between one day and two weeks. The actual time for compliance will be dependent on how long the self-assessment questionnaire takes to complete. In addition, the business will need to pass a PCI scan.

Is PCI compliance mandatory?

Although the PCI DSS must be implemented by all entities that process, store or transmit cardholder data, formal validation of PCI DSS compliance is not mandatory for all entities. ... Acquiring banks are required to comply with PCI DSS as well as to have their compliance validated by means of an audit.

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What pci dss signed means for electronic signatures

pci dss signed refers to the practice of executing, storing and transmitting signed documents in a way that aligns with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements when cardholder data is involved. It emphasizes controls around data minimization, field-level protection, secure transport, access controls, and detailed logging so signatures and associated documents do not expose payment information. For organizations accepting or processing card data, pci dss signed workflows must combine encryption, masking, strict authentication, and retention policies to reduce scope and demonstrate adherence to PCI requirements during audits.

Why align electronic signing with PCI DSS

Meeting pci dss signed expectations reduces cardholder data exposure, simplifies audits, and supports legal and contractual obligations for merchants and service providers.

Common challenges when implementing pci dss signed

Identifying and isolating fields that may capture cardholder data across diverse document templates and flows.
Applying consistent encryption and masking to stored documents without breaking signature validation or usability.
Maintaining detailed, immutable logs for signature events while avoiding storage of sensitive card data.
Coordinating cross-team responsibilities for access controls, incident response, and vendor attestations.

Typical user roles involved in pci dss signed processes

IT Security Manager

Responsible for selecting and configuring eSignature platforms to meet technical PCI DSS requirements, enforcing TLS, encryption, and access controls, and coordinating vulnerability assessments and logging for audit readiness.

Compliance Officer

Oversees policy alignment with PCI DSS, documents procedural controls, manages evidence collection for assessments, and liaises with Qualified Security Assessors to validate that signing workflows do not increase cardholder data scope.

Which teams typically adopt pci dss signed workflows

Security, compliance, payments and legal teams commonly coordinate on pci dss signed integration to reduce card data scope and satisfy auditors.

Payment operations teams ensuring transactions and receipts are handled with minimal card data retention.
Compliance and risk teams validating controls and evidence for PCI audits and reports.
IT and security teams implementing encryption, tokenization, and access monitoring for signature systems.

Successful implementations rely on clear responsibilities, documented controls, and technology that supports masking, tokenization, and strong authentication.

Additional features useful for pci dss signed compliance

Supplementary capabilities enhance security posture and operational control for organizations handling payment-related signatures.

Encryption Keys

Customer-managed key options for encrypting documents at rest and separating control of cryptographic material from the vendor environment.

Retention Policies

Configurable retention and automated deletion reduce risk by removing documents after required retention periods or upon request.

Secure Integrations

Prebuilt connectors to payment gateways and tokenization services prevent PANs from traversing eSignature storage, keeping card data in PCI-scoped systems.

Compliance Reporting

Exportable logs and packaged evidence facilitate assessor review and reduce time required to compile PCI reports and documentation.

Admin Auditing

Administrative activity logs show configuration changes and access granted to help prove control over signing environment.

Encryption in Transit

Enforced TLS for all data transfers to prevent interception of signing flows that include payment details.

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Core features that support pci dss signed workflows

Key eSignature features reduce card data scope and support auditability while preserving the integrity of signed records for compliance and operational needs.

Field Masking

Masking prevents display of full primary account numbers in documents and UI while preserving reference tokens. This reduces exposure of cardholder data in signed records and supports easier segmentation during PCI assessments.

Tokenization

Tokenization replaces PANs with non-sensitive tokens that allow business processes without retaining card numbers. Tokens remove sensitive data from signing storage while enabling reconciliation with payment gateways.

Detailed Audit Trail

Immutable, timestamped logs capture signer identity, IP address, authentication method, and document state changes, providing the required evidence trail for PCI-focused reviews or investigations.

Access Controls

Role-based permissions and mandatory multi-factor authentication limit who can view, send, or export signed documents containing payment references, supporting least-privilege and accountability requirements.

How to create and use pci dss signed documents online

A concise process overview describes document preparation, secure signing, and safe storage for PCI-sensitive workflows.

Prepare document: Identify and redact or mask any PAN fields before sending.
Configure fields: Place signature and consent elements separate from payment inputs.
Authenticate signer: Use multi-factor authentication or verified email.
Store securely: Encrypt signed documents and apply retention rules.

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Quick setup steps for a pci dss signed workflow

Follow these core steps to configure a signing workflow that minimizes cardholder data exposure and aligns with PCI DSS controls.

01

Assess scope: Identify documents and fields that might capture card data.
02

Design templates: Remove or mask PAN fields; use tokens instead.
03

Enable protections: Turn on TLS, encryption, masking, and RBAC.
04

Log and test: Validate audit trails and perform security testing.

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Typical configuration settings for pci dss signed workflows

These example settings represent a baseline configuration to reduce cardholder data exposure while retaining auditing and operational needs.

Setting Name	Configuration
Reminder Frequency	48 hours
Document Encryption	AES-256
Field Masking Policy	Mask PAN
Retention Period	2 years
Signer Authentication	MFA required

Supported platforms for secure signing

pci dss signed workflows should run on supported browsers and mobile platforms that enforce current security standards.

Desktop browsers: Chrome, Edge, Safari
Mobile operating systems: iOS, Android
APIs and SDKs: REST API support

Ensure platform versions are current and that TLS, browser security features, and mobile OS updates are applied; unsupported or outdated clients can introduce vulnerabilities that may expand PCI scope or weaken audit evidence integrity.

Security controls to support pci dss signed

Encryption at rest: AES-256 or stronger

Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2+ enforced

Field masking: Tokenize or mask PAN

Access control: Role-based and MFA

Audit logging: Immutable event records

Data retention: Policy-driven lifecycle

Real-world examples of pci dss signed workflows

Two concise case examples show how signing workflows can be designed to reduce card data scope and retain audit evidence.

Retail payment receipt

A point-of-sale system issues a digital receipt without storing full PANs, using tokenization for any reference data

Tokenization of PAN fields
Minimizes storage and liability

Resulting in reduced PCI scope and simpler audit evidence collection.

Service contract with card payment

A subscription provider collects consent and payment authorization through an embedded signing flow that masks payment fields

Masked input and direct gateway tokenization
Protects cardholder data while keeping user experience intact

Leading to documented proof of consent with no PAN retained on signature storage.

Best practices for secure and accurate pci dss signed workflows

Follow these operational and technical practices to maintain compliance posture and reduce exposure when documents and signatures intersect with payment data.

Minimize card data capture

Design templates and processes to avoid collecting PANs unless absolutely necessary. Use redaction, masking, and tokenization so the signing environment never stores raw card numbers. Document reasons and controls where capture cannot be avoided.

Separate payment processing

Direct payment entry through PCI-compliant gateways rather than through the signing system; use tokens or references in signed documents to link transactions without exposing PANs within eSignature storage.

Retain auditable logs

Maintain immutable, exportable logs of signing events, authentication methods, and administrative changes. Ensure logs are protected from tampering and retained according to policy to support PCI assessments and incident investigations.

Review and test controls

Regularly test encryption, access controls, masking, and integrations; include signing workflows in vulnerability scans and penetration tests and update configuration based on findings and auditor feedback.

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Data accuracy, security, and compliance

airSlate SignNow is committed to protecting your sensitive information by complying with global industry-specific

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FAQs and troubleshooting for pci dss signed

Common questions and practical answers to help teams resolve implementation issues and clarify compliance considerations for pci dss signed workflows.

Feature comparison for pci dss signed capabilities

A compact comparison of specific capabilities that affect PCI DSS scope and control for signing platforms.

Feature	signNow (Recommended)	DocuSign	Adobe Sign
Field masking availability
Tokenization support	Gateway tokenization integration	Via partner integrations	Via partner integrations
Customer key control	Customer-managed keys available	Limited key options	Enterprise key options
Audit trail detail	Granular, exportable logs	Detailed logs	Detailed logs

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Risks and penalties for noncompliant signing

Regulatory fines: Monetary penalties

Contract breaches: Loss of merchant agreements

Cardholder exposure: Fraud and chargebacks

Reputational damage: Customer trust loss

Remediation costs: Forensic and repair expenses

Audit failure: Additional audits required

Pricing and offering comparison for eSignature vendors

Pricing and security feature overview to help evaluate vendors for pci dss signed workflows; columns show commonly referenced plans and capabilities.

Plan / Feature	signNow (Featured)	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	HelloSign	PandaDoc
Free tier availability	Free trial available	Free trial available	Free trial or limited plan	Free trial available	Free trial available
Starting price (monthly)	$8 per user per month (starter)	$10 per user per month (starter)	$9.99 per user per month (individual)	$15 per user per month (starter)	$19 per user per month (starter)
PCI-relevant security	Field masking, tokenization connectors, exportable logs	Field masking, advanced security add-ons	Field masking, enterprise security	Masking available, integrations	Masking and SSO options
API access	Included in paid plans	Available on business plans	Included in some plans	Paid API add-on	Included in growth plans
Enterprise support	Dedicated enterprise options available	Enterprise tier available	Enterprise licensing available	Enterprise plans available	Custom enterprise plans

Simplify complicated workflows

Generate, perform, and maintain workflows of any complexity, electronically from near any place. Scalable eSignature capabilities enable you to exchange documents with the right people in the proper order and define roles for each receiver. Perform document workflows faster and simpler than ever before.

Automate document management

Optimize complicated signing tasks with airSlate SignNowï¿½s highly effective tools to improve your company. Control your automatic signature workflows to ensure they're running at maximum efficiency with fast notifications and reminders.

Optimize in team collaboration

Join teams together in a safe, shared environment. Manage documents, use form templates and notices to create better cross-organization communication. Free your workers from having to hang out on repeated actions so that they can concentrate on valuable, business-crucial duties.

Integrate into your current framework

Manage your tasks with best-in-class integration. Collect Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint in multi functional business stream. Link up your applications to a single unit for countless opportunities and higher performance.

Stay compliant with industry-leading data security

Feel confident knowing that your data remains secure by the most up-to-date in encryption security. airSlate SignNow is GDPR and eIDAS certified and provides you visibility into your signing experience with court-admissible audit trails. Configure user access permissions and roles to regulate who has access to what.

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