PCID-03

Does the system or solutions use a third party to collect, store, process, or transmit cardholder (payment/credit/debt card) data?

Explanation

This question is asking whether your system or solution relies on any third-party services to handle payment card data at any stage of the transaction process. Payment card data includes credit card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, and other sensitive cardholder information. Why this matters in a security assessment: 1. PCI DSS compliance extends to your entire payment card processing chain, including third parties 2. Using third parties introduces additional security risks that need to be managed 3. You are responsible for ensuring that any third parties handling cardholder data on your behalf are also PCI DSS compliant 4. Third-party relationships require specific contractual agreements and ongoing monitoring This question helps assessors understand your payment card data flow and identify all entities that might have access to this sensitive information. If you use third parties, you'll need to demonstrate that you've properly vetted them, have appropriate contracts in place, and monitor their compliance. When answering this question: - Be comprehensive about all third parties involved in your payment processing - Specify what role each third party plays (collection, storage, processing, or transmission) - Indicate whether you've verified their PCI DSS compliance status - Mention any contractual agreements that address security requirements

Guidance

Refer to PCI DSS Security Standards for supplemental guidance in this section

Example Responses

Example Response 1

Yes, our system uses Stripe as a third-party payment processor to collect, process, and transmit cardholder data We have implemented Stripe Elements, which ensures cardholder data is collected directly by Stripe and never touches our servers We have a signed agreement with Stripe that includes security requirements, and we verify Stripe's PCI DSS compliance status annually Stripe maintains Level 1 PCI DSS compliance (the highest level) and provides us with their Attestation of Compliance (AOC) documentation.

Example Response 2

Yes, our solution integrates with PayPal and Braintree for payment processing Both third parties collect and process cardholder data on our behalf We've implemented these services using their secure APIs and SDKs, ensuring cardholder data is handled directly by these providers rather than our systems We maintain formal agreements with both providers that include security requirements, and we verify their PCI DSS compliance annually Both providers are Level 1 PCI DSS certified and provide us with their compliance documentation We also conduct annual reviews of these integrations to ensure they remain securely implemented.

Example Response 3

No, our system does not use any third parties to collect, store, process, or transmit cardholder data We have built our own payment processing infrastructure that directly interfaces with the card networks Because we handle cardholder data ourselves, we maintain our own PCI DSS Level 1 compliance certification Our internal payment processing systems are segregated from other company systems, undergo regular security assessments, and are subject to quarterly network scans and annual penetration testing as required by PCI DSS We recognize that handling cardholder data internally places significant compliance responsibilities on our organization, which is why we've dedicated substantial resources to maintaining our PCI DSS compliance program.

Context

Tab: Case-Specific
Category: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)