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PCI-DSS Compliance Audit Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for auditing compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) in financial services organizations, covering all 12 PCI-DSS requirements and associated controls.

PCI-DSS Compliance Audit Checklist
by: audit-now
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About This Checklist

The PCI-DSS Compliance Audit Checklist is an essential tool for financial services organizations to ensure they meet the stringent requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. This comprehensive checklist helps auditors and security professionals systematically evaluate and verify the implementation of critical security controls, protecting sensitive cardholder data and maintaining compliance with industry regulations. By utilizing this checklist, businesses can identify vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding customer information in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

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Industry

Financial Services

Standard

PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

Workspaces

Corporate offices
Data centers
IT departments

Occupations

Internal Auditor
IT Security Specialist
Compliance Officer
Risk Manager
Information Security Analyst

Data Security Controls Assessment

(0 / 5)

1
Provide documentation or evidence of security training for staff handling cardholder data.

Upload or describe the training documentation.

To ensure that employees are aware of security risks and best practices.
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2
Is there an incident response plan in place for data breaches?

Select the status of the incident response plan.

To ensure that proper procedures are established to respond to security incidents.
3
What is the frequency of vulnerability scans performed on the systems?

Enter the number of scans performed each month.

Regular vulnerability scans help identify and mitigate security risks.
Min: 1
Target: Monthly
Max: 31
4
Are access controls implemented for all systems handling cardholder data?

Indicate if access controls are in place.

To confirm that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data.
5
Is cardholder data encrypted in transit and at rest?

Select the encryption status of cardholder data.

To ensure that sensitive cardholder data is protected from unauthorized access.
6
Is network segmentation implemented to protect cardholder data?

Select the status of network segmentation.

Network segmentation helps reduce the attack surface and limits access to sensitive data.
7
Document any findings from the last network security audit.

Provide details of the audit findings.

To track and address vulnerabilities identified during the last audit.
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8
Is there a policy in place for the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)?

Indicate if a VPN usage policy exists.

A VPN policy helps ensure secure remote access to the network.
9
How many alerts were generated by the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) in the last month?

Enter the number of alerts.

Monitoring IDS alerts helps identify potential security breaches.
Min: 0
Target: 0
Max: 1000
10
Is the firewall configuration reviewed regularly?

Select the status of the firewall configuration review.

Regular reviews ensure that the firewall settings are up to date and effective in blocking unauthorized access.
11
Is cardholder data encrypted when stored?

Select the encryption status of stored cardholder data.

Encryption of stored data protects it from unauthorized access.
12
Provide details of training records for staff handling cardholder data.

Describe the training provided related to data handling.

Training staff ensures that they are aware of proper data handling procedures.
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13
How often is cardholder data deleted after it is no longer needed?

Enter the frequency of data deletion in terms of months.

Regular deletion of unnecessary data minimizes the risk of exposure.
Min: 1
Target: Monthly
Max: 12
14
Is there a documented data retention policy in place?

Indicate if a data retention policy exists.

A data retention policy helps ensure that cardholder data is only kept as long as necessary.
15
Are cardholder data storage practices compliant with PCI-DSS requirements?

Select the compliance status of cardholder data storage practices.

Compliance with PCI-DSS ensures that stored cardholder data is protected from unauthorized access.
16
Is role-based access control implemented for sensitive data access?

Select the status of role-based access control implementation.

Role-based access control limits access based on user roles, enhancing security.
17
Provide documentation related to the organization's access control policy.

Describe or upload the access control policy documentation.

Documented policies ensure that access controls are consistently applied.
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18
What is the policy for deleting inactive user accounts?

Enter the number of days after which inactive accounts are deleted.

Timely deletion of inactive accounts reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Min: 0
Target: 90
Max: 365
19
Is two-factor authentication implemented for accessing sensitive systems?

Indicate if two-factor authentication is in use.

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to user access.
20
How frequently are user access rights reviewed?

Select the frequency of user access rights reviews.

Regular reviews of user access rights help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
21
Are incidents categorized appropriately during the incident management process?

Select the status of incident categorization.

Proper categorization helps in analyzing incidents and improving response strategies.
22
Document the findings from the last post-incident review.

Provide details of the findings from the review.

Post-incident reviews help identify areas for improvement in incident response.
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23
What is the average time taken to respond to incidents?

Enter the average incident response time in minutes.

Monitoring response times helps improve incident management processes.
Min: 1
Target: 30
Max: 1440
24
Is all incident documentation complete and accurate?

Indicate if incident documentation is complete.

Complete documentation is essential for effective incident management and reporting.
25
How often is the incident response plan tested?

Select the frequency of incident response plan testing.

Regular testing ensures that the incident response plan is effective and up to date.

FAQs

This checklist is designed for internal auditors, IT security professionals, compliance officers, and third-party assessors responsible for evaluating PCI-DSS compliance in financial services organizations.

PCI-DSS compliance audits should be conducted at least annually, with ongoing monitoring and assessments throughout the year to maintain continuous compliance.

The checklist covers all 12 PCI-DSS requirements, including network security, cardholder data protection, vulnerability management, access control, monitoring and testing, and information security policies.

Yes, the checklist can be tailored to address unique organizational structures, technologies, and processes while ensuring all PCI-DSS requirements are met.

By systematically reviewing and validating PCI-DSS controls, the checklist helps organizations identify and address potential vulnerabilities, thereby strengthening their overall data security posture and reducing the risk of data breaches.

Benefits

Ensures comprehensive coverage of all PCI-DSS requirements

Streamlines the audit process and improves efficiency

Helps identify security gaps and areas for improvement

Facilitates consistent and standardized assessments across the organization

Supports ongoing compliance monitoring and maintenance