Remote working. What started as a response to a global pandemic has quickly become a permanent part of how many organisations operate. With flexibility and convenience, however, comes a new set of challenges – especially when it comes to securing sensitive data, such as cardholder information and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
As any cyber security consultant will tell you, it’s not easy to navigate the complexities of maintaining PCI DSS compliance with a remote workforce. But there are ways to stay secure when the workplace is anywhere.
What PCI Compliance Means (and why you should care)
In a nutshell, PCI DSS is a set of security requirements designed to protect cardholder data. Any business that handles credit card information must comply with these standards. They cover a wide range of security measures, from encryption and access control to maintaining secure networks and monitoring activity. The goal is simple: prevent payment data from falling into the wrong hands.
Remote working: A double-edged sword for PCI compliance
In a traditional office environment, many of these standards are easier to enforce. You have control over the network, the devices, and the security policies in place. But with remote work, many of these controls move outside your organisation’s direct reach.
Remote working has revolutionised the way we work, but it’s also revolutionised the way hackers view your organisation.
Now that employees are working from home, or anywhere else with an internet connection, there are new vulnerabilities to consider. Let’s break down some of the key areas where remote work affects PCI compliance:
1. Network security: the wi-Fi problem
In an office, your IT team can secure the network with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption protocols. But once an employee connects from home, or anywhere else for that matter, all bets are off. Employees might be accessing personal data using unencrypted home Wi-Fi networks, or worse, public networks at cafes or airports, which means you might as well be handing it over to cybercriminals with a bow on top!
2. Device security: the bring your own device dilemma
When your team is working remotely, they may be using personal devices to access sensitive information. The problem with this is that personal devices don’t always meet the stringent security standards that PCI DSS requires. It’s not uncommon for home computers to lack the latest software updates or security patches, meaning they are left vulnerable to malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats.
3. Access controls: who has access to what (and do they need it)?
You know that PCI compliance is clear about restricting access to sensitive cardholder data, but do you know exactly which employees have access to which sets of data? Hopefully you do, but this is often overlooked by businesses, meaning some employees have access to data they don’t need, which adds another (unnecessary) weak link into your security chain.
Only those employees who need access should have it, and their access should be tightly controlled. However, in a remote work setting, this may become harder to manage, especially if employees are logging in from personal devices or unsecured networks.
4. Monitoring and logging: keeping an eye on things
PCI DSS requires you to monitor and log access to cardholder data to detect and respond to suspicious activity. In a traditional office, that’s relatively easy – you have control over the network and the devices accessing it. But with remote work, ensuring proper monitoring becomes more complex. Employees are accessing systems from a variety of locations and devices, making it harder to track and secure access.
5. Human error: training is more important than ever
One of the biggest risks to any security programme (remote working or not) is human error. Whether it’s falling for a phishing email or accidentally sharing sensitive data, employees are often the weakest link in your security chain. Unfortunately, the risk can often be magnified with remote work, as employees may be less vigilant without the usual office reminders of best practices.
So, what can we do about it?
Now that we’ve covered the main challenges, let’s look at how your organisation can stay PCI compliant in the new remote-first reality.
- Review and update your policies: You may need to revise your current compliance policies to address the challenges that come with remote working. Policies should explicitly address the risks associated with remote working, including secure network usage, device security, and access controls.
- Implement strong security practices: Ensure all employees are using devices that meet your company’s security policies. Ideally, you’d issue company-approved devices to your staff with the necessary security measures in place, but if that’s not feasible, at the very least, personal devices should be required to meet certain security criteria, e.g. VPNs, strong passwords, encryption, up to date software, and anti-malware tools.
- Tighten up access controls: Using role-based access controls ensures that employees only have access to the data necessary for their job role. Additionally, you should enforce multi-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security.
- Implement centralised logging and monitoring: Invest in centralised logging and monitoring tools that give you visibility into network activity across all devices and locations. These systems can track access to cardholder data across your network, regardless of where employees are working. This will help you detect suspicious activity and respond to potential threats quickly.
- Train your employees (and then train them again!): Security awareness training is more important than ever and should consist of more than just a one-time event. Employees should be trained on how to spot phishing attempts, the importance of using secure passwords, and how to safely handle cardholder data. Using engaging and real-life scenarios is a great way to capture attention and shift mindsets towards the importance of remaining compliant.
The shift to remote working has changed the way businesses operate, and it has forced organisations to rethink their approach to data security. Remote working is here to stay, and the best thing you can do is embrace the new challenges head-on. Tighten your security policies, give your team the tools they need to stay secure, and make sure everyone understands the part they have to play, as well as what’s at stake. With the right tools, policies, and mindset, you can keep your organisation compliant and your cardholder data secure.
