PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance levels categorize businesses based on the level of card transactions they process annually. You will find four main levels, each having its own pair of requirements and validation procedures. Level 1 comprises businesses that process over six million card transactions each year, including major bank card issuers and global merchants. These entities must undergo an annual onsite assessment conducted by way of a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and submit an Attestation of Compliance (AOC) to show adherence to PCI DSS (Data Security Standard) requirements.

Level 2 encompasses businesses that process between one and six million card transactions annually. Including smaller merchants and service providers. They're required to complete an annual Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and may also be susceptible to quarterly network scans to validate compliance. Additionally, they should submit an AOC with their acquiring bank.

Level 3 contains businesses processing 20,000 to one million e-commerce transactions annually. These entities are also required to accomplish an annual SAQ and may need to conduct quarterly network scans. Although Level 3 merchants have lower transaction volumes in comparison to Level 2, they still handle significant cardholder data and must maintain robust security PCI compliance levels .

Each PCI compliance level is related to specific validation requirements to ensure the security of cardholder data. These requirements are outlined in the PCI DSS, some security standards designed to safeguard payment card data. The PCI DSS encompasses various security measures, including network security, access control, encryption, and vulnerability management.

Regardless of their PCI compliance level, businesses must prioritize security and adopt a comprehensive way of protecting payment card data. This includes implementing strong access controls, encrypting sensitive data, regularly updating security measures, and conducting regular security assessments and audits. By prioritizing security and compliance, businesses can mitigate risks, build trust with customers, and safeguard their reputation in the marketplace.