Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC)

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) is an organization that develops and maintains security standards to protect payment card data worldwide. Its goal is to ensure that merchants, service providers, and financial institutions handle credit and debit card information securely, reducing the risk of theft and fraud. By setting guidelines like the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the PCI SSC helps businesses implement best practices for safeguarding sensitive data, maintaining trust, and complying with legal requirements across the payment industry.