What is the primary objective of **PCI DSS**?

**The primary objective of PCI DSS is to protect cardholder data (CHD) and sensitive authentication data (SAD) to reduce payment card fraud.** PCI DSS establishes 12 requirements across 6 control objectives for any entity storing, processing, or transmitting CHD, such as Primary Account Number (PAN). It prohibits storing SAD post-authorization and mandates rendering stored PAN unreadable via hashing, truncation, tokenization, or strong cryptography.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **PCI DSS**?

**All merchants and service providers that store, process, or transmit cardholder data (CHD) or sensitive authentication data (SAD) must comply with PCI DSS.** This includes system components in or connected to the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE). Compliance is contractually enforced by card brands (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) via acquiring banks; merchants are leveled 1-4 by transaction volume, with Level 1 (e.g., >6M transactions/year) facing strictest scrutiny.

Does **PCI DSS** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**PCI DSS requires external validation for higher-risk entities, including QSA-conducted Reports on Compliance (ROC) for Level 1 merchants/service providers and quarterly Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) scans.** Lower levels use Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs) like SAQ A for fully outsourced CHD handling. Attestations of Compliance (AOCs) accompany reports submitted to acquirers/brands.

How often should an assessment for **PCI DSS** be performed?

**PCI DSS assessments occur annually via SAQ or ROC, with quarterly external ASV vulnerability scans and internal scans after significant changes.** Additional cadences include annual penetration testing (Requirement 11.3), semi-annual firewall rule reviews (Requirement 1.1), and ongoing monitoring like daily log reviews (Requirement 10).

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **PCI DSS**?

**Non-compliance with PCI DSS results in contractual fines from card brands (up to $100K/month), loss of payment processing privileges, fraud liability, and breach costs averaging $37/record.** Enforcement via acquiring banks may include increased fees, forensic mandates, and compounded penalties under laws like GDPR for CHD breaches.

An **PCI DSS** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**PCI DSS can be mapped to other international frameworks to support integrated compliance programs.** Its 12 requirements align with controls in standards like NIST CSF and ISO 27001, enabling gap analysis, shared evidence, and reduced duplication for organizations pursuing multi-framework certification.

What is the first step to begin implementing **PCI DSS**?

**The first step to implement PCI DSS is to define and document the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) scope via data flow diagrams and asset inventories.** Identify all CHD/SAD locations, flows, and connected systems; assume everything in scope until segmentation is validated to minimize compliance burden.

What is the primary objective of **ISO 14064**?

**ISO 14064 provides requirements and guidance for quantifying, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals.** The standard family—**ISO 14064-1:2018** for organizational inventories, **ISO 14064-2:2019** for project-level reductions/removals, and **ISO 14064-3:2019** for validation/verification—ensures inventories adhere to five principles: **relevance**, **completeness**, **consistency**, **transparency**, and **accuracy**. It enables credible GHG statements for regulatory reporting, investor disclosure, and carbon markets through defined boundaries, data quality management, and assurance processes.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 14064**?

**No organizations are legally mandated to comply with ISO 14064, as it is a voluntary international standard.** It is professionally required for entities preparing credible GHG inventories, including companies in energy-intensive sectors, project developers (e.g., renewable energy, CCS), governments, NGOs, and verification bodies. Users include those meeting stakeholder demands for verified data under programs like emissions trading or investor ESG requirements, where ISO 14064 ensures comparability and auditability.

Does **ISO 14064** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 14064 does not require external audit or third-party certification.** Parts 1 and 2 provide specifications for self-managed inventories and project accounting, while **ISO 14064-3** offers optional guidance for validation (forward-looking) or verification (historical) by competent, impartial bodies. In practice, third-party assurance under **ISO 14065:2020** enhances credibility for markets, regulators, and finance, using risk-based sampling, materiality assessment, and evidence gathering at limited or reasonable levels.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 14064** be performed?

**ISO 14064 assessments should be performed annually to maintain consistency and enable trend analysis.** Organizational inventories under **ISO 14064-1** cover a defined reporting period (typically calendar year), with base-year recalculations for significant structural changes (e.g., acquisitions). Project monitoring under **ISO 14064-2** follows the defined plan's frequency. Principles require documenting changes in methods, boundaries, or data to ensure comparability over time.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 14064**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 14064 carries no direct penalties, as it is voluntary.** Indirect consequences include invalidated GHG claims, rejected reports in emissions trading or green finance, reputational damage from greenwashing accusations, and exclusion from stakeholder programs demanding verified data. Poor inventories risk material misstatements during **ISO 14064-3** assurance, leading to modified opinions, lost market access, or regulatory scrutiny in jurisdictions referencing ISO methods.

An **ISO 14064** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 14064 aligns closely with the GHG Protocol's principles and Scope 1-3 categories.** Its five principles (**relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy**) mirror GHG Protocol requirements, enabling interoperable inventories. **ISO 14064-1** supports organizational reporting compatible with value-chain standards, while **Part 2** aids project baselines. Mapping facilitates dual compliance, though organizations must document boundary and methodological alignments.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 14064**?

**The first step is defining organizational and operational boundaries.** Under **ISO 14064-1**, select consolidation approach (**equity share** or **control**—financial/operational) and identify emission sources/sinks across **Scopes 1-3**. This **relevance** principle-driven decision sets the inventory scope, informs data needs, and ensures completeness, forming the foundation for data collection, quantification, and assurance.

PCI DSS vs ISO 14064

Standards Comparison

PCI DSS

Mandatory

2022

Industry standard protecting payment cardholder data

ISO 14064

Voluntary

2018

International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, and verification.

Quick Verdict

PCI DSS secures payment card data for merchants via audits and scans, preventing breaches. ISO 14064 quantifies GHG emissions for all organizations, enabling verified sustainability reports. Companies adopt PCI DSS for compliance, ISO 14064 for credible environmental transparency.

Payment Security

PCI DSS

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard v4.0

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

12 requirements organized into 6 control objectives
300+ granular controls with testing procedures
Transaction-volume-based merchant levels 1-4
Prohibits SAD storage post-authorization
Quarterly ASV scans and annual pentests

Greenhouse Gas Accounting

ISO 14064

ISO 14064 Greenhouse gases standards series

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Five principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy
Modular parts for organizations, projects, and verification
Scopes 1-3 emissions classification and boundaries
Baseline scenarios and additionality for projects
Risk-based third-party validation and verification

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

PCI DSS Details

What It Is

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a global industry framework mandating security for organizations handling cardholder data. Its primary purpose is protecting CHD and SAD during storage, processing, and transmission via contractual obligations enforced by payment brands. It uses a control-based approach with 12 requirements across 6 objectives.

Key Components

12 requirements in 6 control objectives (e.g., secure networks, vulnerability management, access controls)
Over 300 sub-requirements and testing procedures
Built on Assess-Repair-Report cycle
Compliance via SAQ (self-assessment) or ROC (QSA audit), with levels 1-4 by transaction volume

Why Organizations Use It

Contractual mandate for merchants/service providers to avoid fines, processing bans
Reduces breach risks/costs ($37/record avg.), builds customer trust
Enhances security hygiene, third-party oversight
Competitive edge via compliance badges

Implementation Overview

Scoping CDE, gap analysis, remediation (segmentation, MFA, encryption)
Quarterly scans, annual pentests
Applies to all card-handling entities globally
v4.0 mandatory post-2024, audited by QSAs/ASVs (180 words)

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

ISO 14064 is an international standard family (Parts 1-3:2018-2019) providing specifications and guidance for GHG emissions quantification, reporting, and verification. It focuses on organizational inventories (Part 1), project-level reductions (Part 2), and validation/verification (Part 3), using a principles-based approach emphasizing relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, and accuracy.

Key Components

Three modular parts covering inventories, projects, and assurance.
Core principles mirroring GHG Protocol.
Boundary setting (organizational/operational), Scopes 1-3, baselines, monitoring.
Voluntary third-party verification under ISO 14064-3, often with ISO 14065-accredited bodies; no formal certification but assurance statements.

Why Organizations Use It

Meets regulatory demands (e.g., CSRD, SB-253), enables carbon markets, green finance.
Drives internal efficiencies, risk management, stakeholder trust.
Enhances credibility for investors, procurement, net-zero claims.

Implementation Overview

Phased: governance, boundary design, data systems, reporting, verification.
Applies to all sizes/industries; 6-12 months typical for mid-sized firms.
Involves cross-functional teams, software tools, optional reasonable/limited assurance audits. (178 words)

Key Differences

Aspect	PCI DSS	ISO 14064
Scope	Protects payment card data security	Quantifies GHG emissions and removals
Industry	Payment processing, merchants globally	All sectors for environmental reporting
Nature	Contractual security standard, voluntary	Voluntary GHG accounting framework
Testing	Quarterly scans, annual audits by QSAs	Independent validation/verification optional
Penalties	Fines, loss of card processing rights	No direct penalties, reputational risk

Scope

PCI DSS

Protects payment card data security

ISO 14064

Quantifies GHG emissions and removals

Industry

PCI DSS

Payment processing, merchants globally

ISO 14064

All sectors for environmental reporting

Nature

PCI DSS

Contractual security standard, voluntary

ISO 14064

Voluntary GHG accounting framework

Testing

PCI DSS

Quarterly scans, annual audits by QSAs

ISO 14064

Independent validation/verification optional

Penalties

PCI DSS

Fines, loss of card processing rights

ISO 14064

No direct penalties, reputational risk

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PCI DSS and ISO 14064

PCI DSS FAQ

ISO 14064 FAQ

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PCI DSS

ISO 14064

Quick Verdict

PCI DSS

Key Features

ISO 14064

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

PCI DSS Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

PCI DSS FAQ

What is the primary objective of PCI DSS?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with PCI DSS?

Does PCI DSS require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for PCI DSS be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with PCI DSS?

An PCI DSS be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing PCI DSS?

ISO 14064 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 14064?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 14064?

Does ISO 14064 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 14064 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 14064?

An ISO 14064 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 14064?

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The Reasons Why NIS2 is Fundamental for Cyber Resilience in Europe

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Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

CMMI vs APRA CPS 234

LEED vs AS9110C

PIPEDA vs ISO 56002