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Comparison between GDPR and PCI-DSS

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Overview

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) are two different regulations and standards that organizations must comply with. GDPR is a European Union (EU) regulation that applies to all organizations that process personal data of EU citizens. PCI-DSS is a standard that applies to organizations that process, store, or transmit payment card data. Both regulations and standards require organizations to have appropriate security measures in place to protect the data in their possession. GDPR focuses on the protection of personal data, while PCI-DSS focuses on the protection of payment card data. Both regulations and standards require organizations to have policies and procedures in place to ensure the security of the data.



What is GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law that was adopted by the European Union (EU) in April 2016. It replaces the 1995 Data Protection Directive and is designed to give individuals greater control over their personal data and to harmonize data protection laws across the EU. The GDPR applies to all organizations that process personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the organization is located. It requires organizations to process personal data lawfully, transparently, and for a specific purpose. It also requires organizations to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data, and to provide individuals with certain rights, such as the right to access, rectify, or delete their data. Organizations that fail to comply with the GDPR may face significant fines.


What is PCI-DSS?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is a set of security standards designed to protect cardholders and their data from fraud and data breaches. It was created by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) and is used by organizations that process, store, or transmit credit card information. PCI-DSS is designed to protect cardholder data by establishing a secure environment for processing, storing, and transmitting cardholder data. It requires organizations to maintain a secure network, protect cardholder data, maintain a vulnerability management program, implement strong access control measures, regularly monitor and test networks, and maintain an information security policy. Compliance with PCI-DSS is mandatory for any organization that processes, stores, or transmits credit card information. Failure to comply can result in hefty fines and other penalties.


A Comparison Between GDPR and PCI-DSS

1. Both are designed to protect sensitive data.

2. Both require organizations to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data.

3. Both require organizations to keep records of their data processing activities.

4. Both require organizations to notify authorities and customers of data breaches.

5. Both require organizations to provide data subjects with certain rights and access to their data.

6. Both require organizations to conduct regular assessments and audits to ensure compliance.

7. Both require organizations to appoint a data protection officer (DPO) to oversee compliance.


The Key Differences Between GDPR and PCI-DSS

1. GDPR is a European Union (EU) regulation, while PCI-DSS is a global standard for payment card security.

2. GDPR applies to any organization that collects, processes, or stores personal data from EU citizens, while PCI-DSS applies to any organization that processes, stores, or transmits cardholder data.

3. GDPR focuses on protecting the personal data of individuals, while PCI-DSS focuses on protecting the financial data of customers.

4. GDPR requires organizations to implement technical and organizational measures to protect personal data, while PCI-DSS requires organizations to implement technical and operational measures to protect cardholder data.

5. GDPR requires organizations to notify individuals of any data breaches, while PCI-DSS requires organizations to notify their payment card brand of any data breaches.