PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance levels categorize businesses based on the volume of card transactions they process annually. You can find four main levels, each having its own set of requirements and validation procedures. Level 1 comprises businesses that process over six million card transactions each year, including major charge card issuers and global merchants. These entities must undergo an annual onsite assessment conducted by way of a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and submit an Attestation of Compliance (AOC) to show adherence to PCI DSS (Data Security Standard) requirements.

Level 2 encompasses businesses that process between one and six million card transactions annually. This includes smaller merchants and service providers. They're required to accomplish an annual Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and are often subject to quarterly network scans to validate compliance. Additionally, they should submit an AOC for their acquiring bank.

Level 3 includes businesses processing 20,000 to one million e-commerce transactions annually. These entities may also be required to accomplish an annual SAQ and might need to conduct quarterly network scans. Although Level 3 merchants have lower transaction volumes compared to Level 2, they still handle significant cardholder data and must maintain robust security PCI compliance levels .

Each PCI compliance level is connected with specific validation requirements to guarantee the security of cardholder data. These requirements are outlined in the PCI DSS, a couple of security standards designed to safeguard payment card data. The PCI DSS encompasses various security measures, including network security, access control, encryption, and vulnerability management.

Regardless of these PCI compliance level, businesses must prioritize security and adopt a comprehensive method of protecting payment card data. Including implementing strong access controls, encrypting sensitive data, regularly updating security measures, and conducting regular security assessments and audits. By prioritizing security and compliance, businesses can mitigate risks, build trust with customers, and safeguard their reputation in the marketplace.