Explore the best practices for protecting payment card data in cloud environments. Learn which solution offers optimal security against unauthorized disclosure for PCI DSS compliance.
Table of Contents
Question
A company would like to move its payment card data to a cloud provider. Which of the following solutions will best protect account numbers from unauthorized disclosure?
A. Storing the data in an encoded file
B. Implementing database encryption at rest
C. Only storing tokenized card data
D. Implementing data field masking
Answer
The best solution to protect account numbers from unauthorized disclosure when moving payment card data to a cloud provider is:
C. Only storing tokenized card data
Explanation
Tokenization is the most secure method for protecting payment card data in cloud environments. Here’s why:
- Data substitution: Tokenization replaces sensitive card data with a unique, randomly generated token. This token has no mathematical relationship to the original data, making it virtually impossible to reverse-engineer.
- Reduced risk: Since the actual card numbers are not stored in the cloud, the risk of data breach is significantly minimized. Even if the tokens are compromised, they are useless to attackers.
- PCI DSS compliance: Tokenization can greatly reduce the scope of PCI DSS compliance requirements, as the cloud environment no longer stores actual card data.
- Flexibility: Tokens can be used for recurring transactions or analytics while maintaining security.
- Original data protection: The actual card numbers are stored securely in a separate, highly protected token vault, usually kept on-premises or in a specialized secure environment.
Comparison with other options:
A. Storing the data in an encoded file: Encoding is not encryption and can be easily reversed, offering minimal protection.
B. Implementing database encryption at rest: While this offers some protection, the data is still vulnerable when in use or in transit. It also doesn’t reduce PCI DSS scope as effectively as tokenization.
D. Implementing data field masking: This technique only hides parts of the data visually but doesn’t protect the underlying information if the database is compromised.
Tokenization provides the highest level of security for payment card data in cloud environments, effectively protecting against unauthorized disclosure while maintaining functionality and easing compliance burdens.
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