How PCI DSS Works
PCI DSS covers secure network configuration, encryption, authentication, logging, vulnerability management, and ongoing monitoring. The validation process depends on your role and transaction volume, affecting compliance effort, cost, and operational risk.
PCI DSS Levels typically map to annual transaction volume and entity type (merchant vs service provider), and may vary by card brand/acquirer.
- Merchant Level 1: highest volume; usually requires an annual ROC audit by a QSA.
- Merchant Levels 2-4: lower volumes; commonly validated via SAQ and quarterly scans (requirements increase with volume).
- Service Provider Level 1: higher volume; typically ROC and stricter ongoing controls.
- Service Provider Level 2: lower volume; often SAQ and scans, depending on scope.
In a multi-PSP orchestration project, PCI DSS compliance is critical because many connections and internal functions handle payment data. In Akurateco, PCI DSS-aligned architecture is supported through tokenization and centralized controls, helping reduce card data exposure while keeping real-time processing and visibility consistent as you add more PSPs and expand features across connected services.
Why PCI DSS Matters for Your Business
PCI DSS protects sensitive customer payment data and builds customer trust by demonstrating strong security. For businesses, this means reduced risk of breaches, fraud exposure, and operational disruption. It also influences implementation complexity and long-term compliance cost, especially if your stack touches raw card data.
Akurateco helps you meet those goals with a secure, PCI-aligned payment infrastructure that supports encrypted transaction flows and centralized control over how payment data is handled. On top of that, it gives you scalable, API-first integration to launch multi-currency processing and connect new providers faster without rebuilding your payments stack each time.
Wrapping Up / Final Note
PCI DSS is a core standard for protecting cardholder data and maintaining trust in payment operations. Akurateco delivers a PCI-ready payment foundation, offering multiple deployment options, enterprise support for complex payment use cases, and scalable capabilities, with flexible pricing and professional services.
- Add payment methods instantly without developing new integrations.
- Benefit from built-in fraud protection, tokenization, smart transaction routing, and reconciliation capabilities.
- Avoid regulatory burdens, as the main gateway will take care of compliance.
