Where to start with PCI-DSS in a mobile app?

Introduction

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to protect cardholder data. While PCI DSS primarily focuses on traditional e-commerce environments, the rise of mobile payments has necessitated an understanding of PCI DSS compliance within mobile applications.

Understanding the Scope

What data is in scope?

The key to PCI DSS compliance is understanding what data you handle. If your mobile app stores, processes, or transmits any of the following data, you are subject to PCI DSS requirements:

• Cardholder Name
• Card Number
• Expiration Date
• CVV/CVC
• Cardholder PIN

Determining Applicability

Not all mobile apps need to be fully PCI DSS compliant. You can determine if your app is in scope by answering the following:

• Does your app store, process, or transmit cardholder data?
• Is your app used to make purchases or payments?
• Do you store cardholder data on the device?
• Do you transmit cardholder data to your servers?

Essential PCI DSS Requirements for Mobile Apps

If your app is determined to be in scope, you need to address the following PCI DSS requirements:

1. Secure Network

• Secure your network connections using TLS/SSL encryption.
• Implement secure network segmentation to isolate sensitive data.
• Use strong passwords for network access.

2. Secure Systems and Applications

• Use secure coding practices to minimize vulnerabilities in your app.
• Regularly patch operating systems and libraries.
• Implement strong access controls to prevent unauthorized access.

3. Protection of Cardholder Data

• Do not store cardholder data on the device if possible. If it must be stored, encrypt it using strong algorithms.
• Only store the minimum amount of data required for transactions.
• Use tokenization or data masking to protect sensitive data.

4. Access Control

• Restrict access to sensitive data to authorized individuals.
• Implement strong password policies for employee access.
• Use multi-factor authentication when possible.

5. Monitoring and Logging

• Implement security monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access attempts and suspicious activity.
• Maintain detailed logs of all access to cardholder data.
• Regularly review security logs for potential threats.

Implementation Strategies

1. Tokenization

Tokenization replaces sensitive cardholder data with unique tokens, rendering the original data unreadable.

// Example tokenization implementation
const cardNumber = '1234567890123456';
const token = generateToken(cardNumber);
// Tokenized data is now sent for processing

2. Data Masking

Data masking replaces sensitive data with random or masked characters, hiding the real data.

// Example data masking implementation
const maskedCardNumber = maskCardNumber(cardNumber);
// Masked card number is displayed instead of the actual number

3. Secure Storage

If you must store cardholder data, use strong encryption methods, like AES-256.

// Example secure storage implementation using AES-256 encryption
const encryptedData = encryptData(cardholderData, encryptionKey);
// Store encrypted data instead of plain text

4. Third-Party Payment Gateways

Integrating with reputable payment gateways offloads much of the PCI DSS compliance burden. These gateways handle sensitive data processing securely, eliminating the need to store cardholder data on your own servers.

Conclusion

Meeting PCI DSS requirements for mobile apps can seem daunting. By following the strategies outlined, you can ensure your app is secure and protects sensitive data. Remember, PCI DSS is an ongoing process, requiring regular assessments and updates to stay compliant.