The version upgrade of PCI DSS 3.2.1 to PCI DSS 4.0 was effective from March 31, 2024. This happened to provide more security to the overall security procedure. Some changes in this version have been effective immediately. However, the major updates of the PCI DSS V4.0 have started working from April 1, 2025. These current updates with PCI DSS 4.0 have created some challenges as well within the payment security process. This blog will discuss the current PCI DSS updates and the challenges of PCI DSS 4.0 implementation due to those updates. This way, it will be possible for you to avoid those challenges in your business and provide better data security.
Table of Contents
Current PCI DSS 4.0 Updates
Several new PCI DSS 4.0 updates have currently introduced in recent times so that the cardholder data can be secured effectively. These updates are mentioned below.
Security Control Customization
The recent customization approach in the PCI DSS v4.0 can be considered as one of the transformative approaches in the data security process, as it provides more flexibility. It is possible for your organization to implement security measures that are specifically helpful for your organizational goals. Organizations can meet their standard security measures during the customization process. This way, it is possible to bring innovation within the process as the update is outcome oriented. The cardholder data can be kept secure while the organizations are utilizing this innovation, while being adaptable to the overall customization process.
Authentication of Controls
Earlier, the access to the cardholder’s data was wider, and it was possible to review that data with administrative access. However, the recent PCI DSS 4.0 update has made this control narrower. Now, it is possible to safeguard sensitive data by disallowing unauthorized access to the data. This indicates that the level of data security has increased in recent times. Along with that, the data can be password-protected while ensuring the password strength and complexity to provide extra security to the cardholder’s data. This way, the users can protect their data the way they want and create an increased amount of authentication control.
Encryption Requirement Enhancement
The latest update has highlighted the need for data encryption so that the data transfer process can become stronger and more robust. This ensures that the sensitive data of the cardholder is secure, and no authorized entity can access the data. This will reduce the PCI DSS scope and provide an increased protection to the customers.
Ongoing Monitoring
Periodic audits have highlighted data vulnerability, and that has increased the threat related to data security. The latest PCI DSS 4.0 update ensures that continuous monitoring is happening within the organizations, so that any unwanted activities can be detected quickly and handled in time. The response time towards the threat can decrease with the help of this monitoring process.
Increased Service Providers’ Accountability
The service providers are mainly responsible for maintaining security in the payment process, and that also impacts the cardholder’s data security. The recent PCI 4.0 requirements are that the service providers have to be more accountable for the cardholder’s data security process. They have to continuously create transparency with the security measure process so that the data remains secure.
Challenges of PCI DSS 4.0 Implementation
These updates have created a positive change within the cardholder’s data security process.
However, due to these updates, organizations are facing multiple challenges as well, and these challenges are mentioned below.
Customized Control Adaptation
The current update related to customized control creates a tailored approach towards security measures. This tailored approach is only possible when security experts have a higher level of expertise and proper awareness regarding the organizational risk management process. It is also required for the organizations to properly design the alternative methods they need to adapt so that the overall resources can be properly utilized. The lack of proper training related to the customization process can create a disruptive workflow.
Broad Implementation Accommodating
This recent update has created the need for an increased multifactor authentication process. This has undoubtedly increased cardholder data security. However, due to this, the technical challenges of accommodating this change have also increased. It required the organizations to go through multiple rounds of training and increased the need for managing complex processes. This change can hamper organizational logistics, and it can also fail if the employees of the organization aren’t properly trained to handle the process.
Encryption Technology Adaptation
The enhancement of the encryption requirement can be costly when there is no proper infrastructure related to the security process. This means that the particular organization would need to build the security infrastructure from the very bottom. It would require setting up a proper system for the security infrastructure, and that would cost a huge amount of investment for the company. They will not only require an investment in the technology but also require training the manpower, as mentioned earlier.
Continuous Monitoring
Continuous monitoring of the process instead of periodic assessment requires a higher amount of commitment. It also increases the requirement for resources to successfully monitor the process. Organizations would only be able to monitor the security process continuously when they are also continuously investing in a higher number of resources, and that also includes human resources. A higher number of human resources within the company will be able to detect a higher number of threats, and that would help to increase the data security of the cardholders.
Achieving Service Provider Standards
The accounting increase of service providers for PCI DSS 4.0 increases a higher amount of stress within the service providers. They need to conduct a higher number of audits to provide a detailed report so that the overall process can become more trustworthy. However, this creates additional pressure on the service providers, which may create burnout if not handled correctly.
Adapting with Continuous Documentation
The recent PCI 4.0 requirements are aligned with organizational policies and procedures. This means that the documentation of the overall organizational processes is required to follow this security update. However, this task is quite demanding, and continuous documentation can be tedious for organizations with a smaller number of employees.
Conclusion
The modern updates of PCI DSS 4.0 are here to stay, and modern organizations have to accommodate those updates within their security process as well. Therefore, it is required for you to deal with the challenges of PCI DSS 4.0. If the organizations can deal with the challenges, then it will be possible for them to provide an enhanced amount of security. However, it is possible to feel overwhelmed to deal with these challenges of PCI DSS 4.0, and that is where RiskMan Consulting can help you out. We provide customized PCI DSS 4.0 solutions for every business so that you don’t feel stuck in the process. Reach out to us to find out more about our services.
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