PCI DSS
Global standard for securing payment card data
RoHS
EU directive restricting hazardous substances in electrical equipment
Quick Verdict
PCI DSS secures payment card data via contractual controls for merchants worldwide, while RoHS mandates hazardous substance limits in electronics for EU market access. Companies adopt PCI DSS to process cards compliantly; RoHS to legally sell EEE products.
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 by card brands and acquirers
- Network segmentation reduces compliance scope significantly
- Quarterly ASV scans and annual penetration testing
RoHS
Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2)
Key Features
- Restricts 10 hazardous substances at homogeneous material level
- Time-limited exemptions in Annexes III and IV
- Requires technical documentation and EU DoC
- Tiered testing via IEC 62321 (XRF, ICP-MS, GC-MS)
- Open-scope for all EEE unless explicitly excluded
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 contractual security standard for protecting cardholder data. Developed by the PCI Security Standards Council, it mandates technical and operational controls for entities storing, processing, or transmitting cardholder data (CHD) and sensitive authentication data (SAD). Its control-based approach enforces baseline security via scoping the cardholder data environment (CDE).
Key Components
- 12 requirements grouped into 6 control objectives (e.g., secure networks, vulnerability management, access controls).
- Over 300 sub-requirements with testing procedures.
- v4.0 emphasizes MFA, segmentation, third-party risk.
- Compliance via SAQ (self-assessment) or ROC (QSA audit), plus quarterly ASV scans.
Why Organizations Use It
- Contractual obligation for merchants/service providers; non-compliance risks fines, processing bans.
- Reduces breach costs ($37/record avg.), builds customer trust.
- Enhances risk management, aligns with GDPR.
Implementation Overview
- Assess-Repair-Report cycle: scope CDE, gap analysis, remediate, validate.
- Applies to all card-handling entities; Levels 1-4 by volume.
- Typical for small-medium: $5K-$20K, 6-12 months; ongoing scans/pentests required. (178 words)
RoHS Details
What It Is
RoHS (Directive 2011/65/EU, recast as RoHS 2) is an EU regulation restricting hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to protect health and environment during waste management. It applies an open-scope approach to all EEE unless excluded, using homogeneous material thresholds (0.1% w/w for most, 0.01% for cadmium).
Key Components
- **10 restricted substancesPb, Hg, Cd, Cr(VI), PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP.
- **Annex III/IV exemptionsTime-limited for specific uses.
- **Compliance modelTechnical documentation, EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), CE marking, risk-based verification per EN IEC 63000 and IEC 62321 testing.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for EU market access.
- Reduces e-waste risks, enables recyclability with WEEE.
- Manages supply chain integrity, avoids fines/recalls.
- Builds ESG credibility, competitive edge in global markets.
Implementation Overview
- **Phased approachGap analysis, supplier declarations, testing, technical files.
- Targets manufacturers/importers of EEE; scales by portfolio size.
- No central certification; market surveillance by Member States requires 10-year documentation retention.
Key Differences
| Aspect | PCI DSS | RoHS |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Protects cardholder data in payment systems | Restricts hazardous substances in EEE materials |
| Industry | Payment processing, merchants, service providers globally | Electronics manufacturing, EEE sectors primarily EU |
| Nature | Contractual security standard, enforced by brands | Mandatory EU directive, legally binding regulation |
| Testing | Quarterly scans, annual pentests by QSAs/ASVs | Material analysis (XRF, ICP-MS) for substances |
| Penalties | Fines, loss of processing privileges, breach costs | Product recalls, fines, market bans by authorities |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PCI DSS and RoHS
PCI DSS FAQ
RoHS FAQ
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