Scope → Segmentation → Tokenization → Evidence — Built to Pass, Built to Operate
PCI DSS protects card data (PAN, SAD) across people, process, and technology.
SolveForce turns PCI from a paperwork burden into an engineering system: tight scope, segmented CDE, tokenization/encryption, and continuous evidence wired to your SIEM/SOAR—so you can accept cards and sleep at night.
Connective tissue:
🔐 Keys/Secrets → /key-management • /secrets-management • /encryption
🚪 Access → /iam • /pam • /ztna • /nac
🧱 Segmentation → /microsegmentation • 🌐 Front door → /waf • /ddos
☁️ Platform → /cloud • 🔄 Delivery → /infrastructure-as-code • /devops
🔏 Privacy/Egress → /dlp • 📊 Evidence/IR → /siem-soar • /incident-response
💾 Continuity → /cloud-backup • /backup-immutability • /draas
🎯 Outcomes (Why SolveForce for PCI)
- Minimum scope — shrink your CDE with network/app segmentation and tokenization.
- Secure-by-default — FIPS-validated crypto, least-privilege access, hardened configs, continuous monitoring.
- Audit-grade evidence — control artifacts stream to SIEM; ASV scans, pen tests, rule reviews, and change records always ready.
- Fewer surprises — policy-as-code, zero-trust access, WAF/Bot at the edge, immutable backups.
🧭 Scope & Approach (What We Deliver)
- Scope definition — data-flow diagrams (e-com, POS, IVR, CCaaS), CDE boundaries, segmentation tests.
- Tokenization & PAN minimization — client-side tokens, hosted fields/redirect, or P2PE—remove PAN from your systems where possible.
- Network controls — microsegmented CDE, deny-by-default, egress allow-lists, secure DNS. → /microsegmentation
- App & API front door — WAF/Bot + DDoS, schema validation, HMAC/JWS signing, strong TLS, HSTS. → /waf • /ddos
- Crypto & custody — CMKs/HSMs (KMIP), envelope encryption, key rotation & dual control. → /key-management • /encryption
- Identity & privilege — SSO/MFA, RBAC/ABAC, JIT admin via PAM (session recording), unique IDs. → /iam • /pam
- Monitoring & IR — centralized logs with retention, use-cases in SIEM/SOAR, IR runbooks & TTX. → /siem-soar • /incident-response
🧱 PCI DSS v4.0 — What We Engineer (12 Requirements, summarized)
- Network security — hardened firewalls/routers, rule recertification, segmentation validation.
- Secure configurations — baseline CIS/benchmarks; no defaults; config drift alerts.
- Protect stored account data — tokenize; truncate/display mask; encrypt PAN at rest; remove SAD after auth.
- Strong crypto for transmission — TLS 1.2+; FIPS modules; HSTS; secure ciphers.
- Malware protection — EDR on in-scope systems; allow-listing for fixed-function devices.
- Secure software lifecycle — SDLC, SAST/DAST/SCA, SBOM, signed artifacts; change approvals. → /devops
- Access control — least privilege, SoD, role reviews.
- Identify & authenticate — MFA for admins and CDE access; password/passkey policies; unique IDs.
- Physical security — DC/closet access control & logs (for on-prem/colo CDE).
- Logging & monitoring — time sync; immutable/WORM logs; alerting & case handling in SIEM.
- Vuln mgmt & tests — ASV scans, internal/external scanning, segmentation tests, pen tests, change-triggered testing.
- Governance — policies, risk assessments, incident plans, service provider oversight, AOC/ROC/SAQ management.
Customized Approach (v4.0): where needed, we define Objective → Controls → Testing Procedures with Targeted Risk Analysis, or stick to Defined Approach controls.
🧰 Merchant & Service Provider Paths
- SAQs (A, A-EP, B, B-IP, C-VT, C, P2PE, D Merchant, D SP) — we minimize scope to reach the simplest viable SAQ.
- ROC/AOC — for higher volumes or service providers, we prep you to pass an on-site assessment and produce clean Reports on Compliance and Attestations of Compliance.
📐 SLO Guardrails (Operate PCI like a product)
| Control / Metric | Target (Recommended) |
|---|---|
| CDE encryption coverage (at rest & in transit) | = 100% |
| PAN tokenization coverage (app tier) | ≥ 99% (no raw PAN outside CDE) |
| Critical vuln remediation (High/Critical) | ≤ 30 days / ≤ 15 days |
| ASV scan pass rate (quarterly) | = 100% (no unresolved Highs) |
| Firewall rule recertification | ≤ 6 months (or policy-defined) |
| Pen test cadence | Annual + after significant change |
| MFA coverage (admins & CDE users) | = 100% |
| Log retention & integrity | Meets policy; WORM on CDE logs |
| Evidence completeness (assessments/IR) | = 100% |
SLO breaches open tickets and trigger SOAR (rollback, revoke, rekey, resegment) with approvals. → /siem-soar
🧪 Testing & Evidence (always ready)
- Quarterly: ASV ext scans; internal vuln scans; segmentation tests; firewall reviews.
- Annual: pen test (incl. segmentation), risk assessment, IR test/TTX, policy recerts, training.
- Change-based: targeted scans/pen tests after significant changes.
- Artifacts: DFDs, CDE diagrams, inventory, key mgmt procedures, WAF rules & logs, access reviews, SoD matrix, change tickets, DR drills, AOC/ROC/SAQ, vendor AOCs.
🔒 Design Tenets (to shrink PCI pain)
- Tokenize early (browser/edge) and keep PAN out of your apps.
- Segment ruthlessly — CDE VRFs/VLANs; ZTNA for admin; no flat VPNs.
- Key custody — HSM + dual control; rotate on schedule & events.
- Policy-as-code — block risky configs in CI; IaC drift detection. → /infrastructure-as-code
- Immutable evidence — WORM logs/backups; signed releases; reproducible builds. → /backup-immutability
🛠️ Implementation Blueprint (No-Surprise Compliance)
1) Scope & DFDs — identify PAN flows; define CDE; pick tokenization/P2PE strategy.
2) Segmentation & front door — microseg CDE; WAF/Bot + DDoS; API signing; egress control.
3) Crypto & custody — CMEK/HSM, key ceremonies, vault for secrets; TLS hardening.
4) Identity & privilege — SSO/MFA, RBAC/ABAC, PAM JIT; unique IDs; session recording for admin.
5) Build pipeline — SAST/DAST/SCA, SBOM, signed artifacts; change approvals; infra policy gates.
6) Monitoring & IR — SIEM rules/use-cases; SOAR playbooks; time sync; alert runbooks & TTX.
7) Vuln mgmt & testing — ASV/internal scans, pen/segmentation tests; remediate & re-test.
8) Continuity — Object-Lock backups; DR runbooks; restore drills with artifacts.
9) Assess & attest — SAQ/ROC/AOC package, evidence binder, service-provider AOCs; set ConMon cadence.
✅ Pre-Engagement Checklist
- 📈 Cardholder channels (e-com, POS, CCaaS/IVR, mail/phone), volumes, service providers.
- 🗺️ Current DFDs, network diagrams, inventory; CDE boundary hypothesis.
- 🧰 Tokenization/P2PE posture; WAF/Bot & DDoS posture; API auth/signing.
- 🔐 Keys/Secrets: KMS/HSM, rotation SOPs; vault usage; TLS policy.
- 👤 Identity & PAM: SSO/MFA, SoD, JIT admin; access review cadence.
- 🧪 Scans & tests history: ASV, internal, pen, segmentation; open findings.
- 📄 Policies: IR/BCP/DR, change, logging, retention; training/comms plan.
- 📊 SIEM/SOAR destinations; evidence format; assessor timeline; SAQ vs ROC route.
🔄 Where PCI Fits (Recursive View)
1) Grammar — card flows ride /connectivity & the /networks-and-data-centers fabric.
2) Syntax — delivered via /cloud stacks and segmented CDEs with /waf at the edge.
3) Semantics — /cybersecurity preserves truth; keys/logs/backups prove it.
4) Pragmatics — /solveforce-ai assists runbooks and citations under guardrails.