PCI DSS
Industry standard for securing payment card data
K-PIPA
South Korea's stringent regulation for personal data protection
Quick Verdict
PCI DSS secures payment card data via contractual controls for global merchants, while K-PIPA mandates comprehensive personal data protection for Korean residents with strict fines. Organizations adopt PCI DSS for payment compliance; K-PIPA to avoid legal penalties.
PCI DSS
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
Key Features
- 12 requirements organized into 6 control objectives
- Over 300 granular sub-requirements for card data
- Contractual enforcement via payment brands and banks
- CDE scoping with validated network segmentation
- Quarterly ASV scans and annual penetration tests
K-PIPA
Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
Key Features
- Mandatory Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) appointment
- Granular explicit consent for sensitive data
- 72-hour breach notifications to subjects and PIPC
- Extraterritorial applicability to foreign entities
- 10-day response for data subject rights
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 standard and contractual framework for protecting cardholder data (CHD) and sensitive authentication data (SAD). It mandates technical and operational controls for entities storing, processing, or transmitting payment card information, using a control-based approach with 12 core requirements across 6 objectives.
Key Components
- 12 requirements in 6 objectives: secure networks, data protection, vulnerability management, access controls, monitoring, policies.
- Over 300 sub-requirements; evolves via 3-year cycles (v4.0 mandatory since 2024).
- Compliance via SAQ (self-assessment) or QSA ROC; levels 1-4 by transaction volume; ASV quarterly scans.
Why Organizations Use It
- Contractual mandate from card brands/acquirers; avoids fines, processing bans.
- Reduces breach costs ($37/record avg.), builds trust.
- Enhances security hygiene, supports GDPR alignment.
Implementation Overview
- **Assess-Repair-Report cyclescope CDE, gap analysis, remediate, validate.
- Applies to merchants/service providers globally; costs $5K-$200K+; 3-12 months typical.
K-PIPA Details
What It Is
K-PIPA (Personal Information Protection Act) is South Korea's comprehensive data protection regulation, enacted in 2011 with major amendments in 2020, 2023, and 2024. It protects personal, sensitive, and unique identification information of Korean residents, applying to all data handlers domestically and extraterritorially. Adopting a consent-centric, risk-based approach, it emphasizes transparency, purpose limitation, and accountability.
Key Components
- Core principles: consent, data minimization, security, data subject rights.
- Mandatory Chief Privacy Officer (CPO), granular consents, encryption, access controls.
- No fixed control count; focuses on obligations like 72-hour breach notifications, 10-day rights responses.
- Enforced by PIPC with fines up to 3% revenue; no formal certification but ISMS-P aids transfers.
Why Organizations Use It
- Legal compliance for Korean operations or targeting residents.
- Mitigates fines (e.g., Google's KRW 70B), builds trust, enables EU adequacy.
- Enhances risk management, supports AI/innovation via pseudonymization.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, governance, technical controls, training, audits.
- Applies to all sizes/industries handling Korean data; CPO mandatory.
- No certification; PIPC audits/enforcement. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | PCI DSS | K-PIPA |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Payment card data security (CHD/SAD) | All personal information of Korean residents |
| Industry | Payment processing merchants/service providers globally | All sectors handling Korean personal data |
| Nature | Contractual industry standard, voluntary certification | Mandatory national law with fines/imprisonment |
| Testing | Quarterly ASV scans, annual ROC/SAQ by QSA | CPO audits, PIAs, no mandatory external certification |
| Penalties | Fines, card processing bans via contracts | Up to 3% revenue fines, 5 years imprisonment |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PCI DSS and K-PIPA
PCI DSS FAQ
K-PIPA FAQ
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