Credit card fraud and identity theft continue to be major concerns, with recent data from The Motley Fool highlighting a troubling upward trend:
- Identity theft rose in 2024, with 1,135,291 cases reported—an increase of nearly 98,000 compared to 2023.
- Credit card fraud remained the most common form of identity theft in 2024.
These statistics underscore the importance of securing payment data at every stage of processing and transfer. Although Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance saw a significant uptick in 2020, with 43.4% of organizations maintaining full compliance compared to a record low of 27.9% in 2019, there is substantial room for improvement.
With the introduction of PCI DSS 4.0, organizations now face more flexible but demanding requirements that call for both technical rigor and strategic adaptability. One crucial area to strengthen is the way sensitive payment data is transferred and managed. This is where managed file transfer (MFT) solutions play a critical role.
What Is PCI DSS?
Who Has to Be PCI Compliant?
PCI DSS applies to all merchants who accept credit cards and other payment processing organizations. Because PCI DSS isn’t a law, your business might not need to be compliant.
Your company needs to be PCI DSS compliant if:
- Your company signed a contract with a credit card company as a merchant, or
- Your state added some of PCI DSS to its laws
Overview of PCI DSS Requirements
There are 6 goals and 12 requirements of PCI DSS according to PCI DSS V. 4.0.1:
| Goal | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Build and Maintain a Secure Network and Systems | 1. Install and Maintain Network Security Controls 2. Apply Secure Configurations to All System Components |
| Protect Account Data | 3. Protect Stored Account Data 4. Protect Cardholder Data with Strong Cryptography During Transmission Over Open, Public Networks |
| Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program | 5. Protect All Systems and Networks from Malicious Software 6. Develop and Maintain Secure Systems and Software |
| Implement Strong Access Control Measures | 7. Restrict Access to System Components and Cardholder Data by Business Need to Know 8. Identify Users and Authenticate Access to System Components 9. Restrict Physical Access to Cardholder Data |
| Regularly Monitor and Test Networks | 10. Log and Monitor All Access to System Components and Cardholder Data 11. Test Security of Systems and Networks Regularly |
| Maintain an Information Security Policy | 12. Support Information Security with Organizational Policies and Programs |
MFT Features that Help with PCI Compliance
By implementing an MFT solution, organizations can address multiple PCI DSS requirements efficiently, reducing the complexity of compliance management. See how MFT capabilities map to the primary goals of PCI DSS compliance in the table below:
| Goal | MFT Feature |
|---|---|
| Build and Maintain a Secure Network and Systems | MFT solutions should use firewalls and require IP address whitelisting to protect against brute force attacks. |
| Protect Account Data | By encrypting files in transit and at rest, MFT solutions keep cardholder information safe. They also should have retention policies to archive or purge files after a certain time period. |
| Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program | MFT solutions should scan every file for viruses and have multiple application security measures in place to keep unauthorized users out. |
| Implement Strong Access Control Measures | MFT solutions should have strong user authentication, including support for two-factor authentication. They should also require endpoint authentication with a password or key.
Role-based access controls in MFT solutions help administrators limit access according to the security principle of least privilege. |
| Regularly Monitor and Test Networks | MFT solutions should track all file transfers and user actions. They should support email and text alerts in case a file transfer fails or no files are received. |
| Maintain an Information Security Policy | Companies can require employees to use an MFT solution in their information security policies to protect confidential employee and customer data. |
Move Closer to Full Compliance
The risk of data theft and fraud has been increasing—how do you protect your customers’ data?
Thru can help. Our cloud managed file transfer solution has many features that help your company protect data and achieve compliance, including:
- End-to-End Encryption: MFT solutions ensure that cardholder data is encrypted during transit and at rest, aligning with PCI DSS requirements for data protection.
- Access Controls: Role-based access controls restrict data access to authorized personnel only, satisfying requirements for user identification and authentication.
- Audit Trails: Comprehensive logging and monitoring capabilities provide visibility into data transfers, aiding in the detection of unauthorized access and supporting compliance audits.
- Automated Processes: Automation reduces the risk of human error, ensuring consistent application of security policies and procedures.
Learn more about Thru’s secure file transfer and compliance »
To read our complete policy documentation, go to our Trust Center »
