What is PCI Compliance?

Payment card industry (PCI) compliance is required by credit card companies to protect and secure the information within credit card transactions. The PCI compliance contains both technical and operational requirements for companies to secure and protect the credit card data their customers supply in their card payments. The PCI Security Standards Council develops and maintains the compliance standards for PCI compliance.

Why Is PCI Compliance Important?

Adhering to PCI compliance not only protects your customers but also significantly reduces your risk of expensive penalties and fines that can result from a security breach. Based on 2025 data, IBM estimates that a data breach, on average, costs a business a whopping $4.44M. For many businesses, data security is important for financial and reputational ruin. The best way to prevent breaches is by closely following all PCI compliance requirements. It’s not just about protecting your customers; it’s about protecting yourself.

If your business is found to be out of compliance, you can face steep fines from the card brands, merchant processor, or acquiring bank. Needless to say, compliance is important.