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) by establishing 12 requirements across 6 control objectives for organizations that store, process, or transmit payment card account data.** Managed by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) since 2006, it mandates secure networks, data protection, vulnerability management, access controls, monitoring, and policies to reduce fraud and breach risks. CHD includes the Primary Account Number (PAN); SAD (e.g., full track data, CVV, PIN) cannot be stored post-authorization.

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), or whose systems connect to or impact the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), must comply with PCI DSS.** This applies globally via contractual obligations from card brands (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) and acquiring banks. Levels are based on transaction volume: Level 1 (highest, e.g., >6M transactions/year for merchants) requires QSA audits; Levels 2-4 use SAQs. No employee/revenue thresholds; scope includes connected systems like authentication servers.

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

**PCI DSS requires external validation for higher-risk entities: Level 1 merchants/service providers need a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) for a Report on Compliance (ROC), plus Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) quarterly scans.** Levels 2-4 use Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs) with ASV scans; no formal certification exists, but Attestation of Compliance (AOC) accompanies reports. All must pass 4 quarterly ASV scans (no CVSS ≥4.0 vulnerabilities).

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

**PCI DSS assessments must be performed annually, with ongoing quarterly external ASV vulnerability scans and continuous monitoring.** Annual ROC/SAQ validation occurs via QSA or self-assessment; internal scans, penetration tests (annual + post-changes), firewall reviews (semi-annually), and log reviews (daily for critical events) ensure the Assess-Repair-Report cycle. Segmentation testing is annual per Requirement 11.3.4.

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

**Non-compliance with PCI DSS results in contractual penalties including fines up to $100,000/month per card brand, loss of payment processing privileges, fraud liability, and breach costs averaging $37/record.** Acquirers pass fines; breaches trigger forensics, GDPR fines (€20M/4% turnover), lawsuits, and reputational damage. Verizon reports 47.5% fail to maintain controls.

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

**PCI DSS can be mapped to other frameworks, but mappings are organization-specific and do not substitute full compliance.** PCI SSC provides guidance; overlaps exist with NIST CSF (e.g., Identify-Protect functions) and ISO 27001 Annex A, aiding integrated programs via control alignments like access management and logging.

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 through data flow diagrams and asset inventories.** Identify all CHD/SAD locations, flows, and connected systems; assume full scope until segmentation is validated to minimize CDE via tokenization or isolation.

What is the primary objective of **SAMA CSF**?

**The primary objective of SAMA CSF is to create a common approach for addressing cybersecurity across SAMA-regulated financial institutions, achieve appropriate maturity levels of cybersecurity controls, and ensure cybersecurity risks are properly managed.** Version 1.0 (May 2017) structures this through four domains—Cyber Security Leadership and Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, Operations and Technology, and Third Party Cyber Security—with a six-level maturity model targeting at least Level 3 (Structured and Formalized), where policies, standards, procedures, and KPIs are defined and monitored.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **SAMA CSF**?

**SAMA CSF is mandatory for all SAMA-regulated entities, including banks, insurance and reinsurance companies, financing companies, credit bureaus, and financial market infrastructure providers operating in Saudi Arabia.** All domains apply fully to banks; non-banks may exclude certain subdomains (e.g., payment systems unless handling cardholder data or SWIFT). Boards, senior management, CISOs, CROs, IT leaders, and third-party risk managers bear direct responsibility, with a Saudi national CISO requiring SAMA non-objection.

Does **SAMA CSF** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**No, SAMA CSF does not require external audit or third-party certification; compliance is demonstrated through periodic self-assessments using SAMA-provided questionnaires and subject to SAMA supervisory review and audits.** Internal audits must align with the framework and auditing standards, producing evidence like maturity assessments, while external auditors may support but lack formal certification status.

How often should an assessment for **SAMA CSF** be performed?

**SAMA CSF assessments must be performed periodically, including annual reviews of critical information assets and as triggered by events like projects, changes, outsourcing, or new products.** Self-assessments via SAMA questionnaires evaluate maturity levels across domains, with penetration testing for customer-facing services and ongoing monitoring via KPIs (Level 3) and KRIs (Level 4+), feeding into SAMA reviews.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **SAMA CSF**?

**Non-compliance with SAMA CSF triggers regulatory enforcement actions, including supervisory interventions, remediation demands, heightened scrutiny, audit findings, and potential operational restrictions.** As a mandated framework, violations fall under SAMA's broader supervisory powers, risking financial penalties, business limitations, reputational damage, and systemic impacts from incidents due to weak controls.

Can **SAMA CSF** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, SAMA CSF can be mapped to international frameworks like NIST CSF, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and SWIFT CSCF, as it is explicitly based on these standards.** Domains align with NIST functions (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover), ISO 27001 ISMS elements, and sector-specific mandates (e.g., PCI-DSS for cardholder data), enabling integrated implementations without official SAMA-provided tables.

What is the first step to begin implementing **SAMA CSF**?

**The first step to implement SAMA CSF is to secure Board and Senior Management sponsorship, establish governance (e.g., Cyber Security Committee and independent CISO function), and conduct a control-level gap analysis against the framework's maturity model.** This Phase 1 initiation produces a project charter, asset inventory, and baseline maturity assessment targeting Level 3 minimum.

PCI DSS vs SAMA CSF

Standards Comparison

PCI DSS

Mandatory

2022

Global standard securing payment cardholder data environments

SAMA CSF

Mandatory

2017

Saudi framework for financial cybersecurity compliance.

Quick Verdict

PCI DSS secures global payment card data via 12 requirements and audits, while SAMA CSF mandates maturity-based cybersecurity for Saudi financial firms. Organizations adopt PCI DSS for contractual compliance and breach avoidance; SAMA CSF for regulatory adherence and sector resilience.

Payment Security

PCI DSS

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

12 requirements across 6 control objectives protecting card data
Over 300 granular sub-requirements with testing procedures
Contractual obligation for merchants and payment service providers
Network segmentation reduces Cardholder Data Environment scope
Quarterly ASV scans and annual penetration testing required

Cybersecurity

SAMA CSF

SAMA Cyber Security Framework Version 1.0

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Six-level maturity model targeting Level 3 minimum
Four core domains with detailed subdomains
Principle-based risk management approach
Mandatory governance and board oversight
Third-party risk and outsourcing controls

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 contractual security framework for protecting cardholder data (CHD) and sensitive authentication data (SAD). Managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, it applies control-based requirements to merchants and service providers handling card payments globally.

Key Components

12 requirements grouped into 6 control objectives (secure networks, data protection, vulnerability management, access controls, monitoring, policies).
Over 300 sub-requirements with testing procedures.
Compliance via SAQs for smaller entities or ROCs by QSAs; includes ASV scans and penetration tests.

Why Organizations Use It

Contractual enforcement by card brands prevents fines, processing bans.
Reduces breach risks/costs ($37/record avg.); builds customer trust.
Enables market access, vendor partnerships; shifts to proactive security in v4.0.

Implementation Overview

Scoping CDE, gap analysis, remediation (segmentation, encryption, MFA).
Phased: assess-repair-report cycle; 6-12 months typical.
Applies to all card-handling orgs; Levels 1-4 based on volume.

SAMA CSF Details

What It Is

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Cyber Security Framework (SAMA CSF), Version 1.0 (May 2017), is a mandatory regulatory framework for SAMA-regulated financial institutions in Saudi Arabia. It provides a principle-based, outcome-oriented approach to cybersecurity governance, focusing on detecting, resisting, responding to, and recovering from cyber threats across information assets.

Key Components

Four primary domains: Cyber Security Leadership and Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, Operations and Technology, Third Party Cyber Security.
Detailed subdomains with principles, objectives, and control considerations.
Six-level Cyber Security Maturity Model (minimum Level 3: Structured and formalized).
Aligned with NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS; enforced via self-assessments and SAMA audits.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory compliance for banks, insurers, finance firms to avoid penalties, audits.
Enhances resilience, reduces incident risks, improves efficiency.
Builds competitive edge, stakeholder trust, enables partnerships.

Implementation Overview

Phased: initiation, gap analysis, risk assessment, deployment, monitoring, improvement.
Targets financial sector in Saudi Arabia; scalable by size.
Requires self-assessments, evidence portfolios; no external certification.

Key Differences

Aspect	PCI DSS	SAMA CSF
Scope	Payment card data protection, 12 requirements, 300+ controls	Financial sector cybersecurity, 4 domains, maturity model
Industry	Global payment card handlers, merchants/service providers	Saudi financial institutions, banks/insurers/credit bureaus
Nature	Contractual standard, voluntary but enforced by brands	Mandatory regulatory framework for SAMA-regulated entities
Testing	Quarterly ASV scans, annual pentests, QSA ROC/SAQ	Periodic self-assessments, maturity levels, SAMA audits
Penalties	Fines, processing bans via brands/acquirers	Regulatory actions, fines, supervisory enforcement

Scope

PCI DSS

Payment card data protection, 12 requirements, 300+ controls

SAMA CSF

Financial sector cybersecurity, 4 domains, maturity model

Industry

PCI DSS

Global payment card handlers, merchants/service providers

SAMA CSF

Saudi financial institutions, banks/insurers/credit bureaus

Nature

PCI DSS

Contractual standard, voluntary but enforced by brands

SAMA CSF

Mandatory regulatory framework for SAMA-regulated entities

Testing

PCI DSS

Quarterly ASV scans, annual pentests, QSA ROC/SAQ

SAMA CSF

Periodic self-assessments, maturity levels, SAMA audits

Penalties

PCI DSS

Fines, processing bans via brands/acquirers

SAMA CSF

Regulatory actions, fines, supervisory enforcement

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PCI DSS and SAMA CSF

PCI DSS FAQ

SAMA CSF FAQ

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

Beyond the Burden: How Intuitive Compliance Software Transforms Daily Workflows

Explore intuitive compliance software that automates workflows, simplifies onboarding, and reduces stress. Cut non-compliance costs 3x and boost efficiency for

The 'Black Box' Risk: Why Human-in-the-Loop is the Ultimate Fail-Safe for 2026 Security Operations

Uncover the black box AI risk in security ops. Learn why human-in-the-loop auditing is crucial for 2026. Upskill analysts to ensure data privacy and robust secu

Breaking Down NIST CSF 2.0 Structure: Core, Tiers, Profiles, and Real-World Application

Master NIST CSF 2.0 structure: Govern + 5 Core functions, Tiers (Partial-Adaptive), Profiles for gaps, and real-world apps. Build effective cyber risk strategie

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

100+ Standards & Regulations

AI-Powered Insights

Collaborative Assessments

Actionable Recommendations

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

NIST CSF vs SAMA CSF

Compare NIST CSF vs SAMA CSF: Flexible NIST 2.0 governance vs SAMA's mandatory maturity model for Saudi finance. Key diffs, mappings & tips. Boost compliance now!

ISO 22301 vs ISO 27017

Compare ISO 22301 vs ISO 27017: BCM resilience vs cloud security controls. Uncover differences, ISO 27001 integration & boost continuity now!

TISAX vs ISO 27018

Compare TISAX vs ISO 27018: Automotive security standard (TISAX) vs cloud PII privacy code (27018). Uncover key differences, implementation tips, and ideal use cases. Secure your chain now!

PCI DSS

SAMA CSF

Quick Verdict

PCI DSS

Key Features

SAMA CSF

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

PCI DSS Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

SAMA CSF 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?

Can PCI DSS be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing PCI DSS?

SAMA CSF FAQ

What is the primary objective of SAMA CSF?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with SAMA CSF?

Does SAMA CSF require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for SAMA CSF be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with SAMA CSF?

Can SAMA CSF be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing SAMA CSF?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

Beyond the Burden: How Intuitive Compliance Software Transforms Daily Workflows

The 'Black Box' Risk: Why Human-in-the-Loop is the Ultimate Fail-Safe for 2026 Security Operations

Breaking Down NIST CSF 2.0 Structure: Core, Tiers, Profiles, and Real-World Application

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

NIST CSF vs SAMA CSF

ISO 22301 vs ISO 27017

TISAX vs ISO 27018