PCI DSS Compliance Guide: How to Align Your Organization, Secure Cardholder Data, and Stay Audit-Ready with RACI

Introduction: Why PCI DSS Compliance Is More Than Just a Checkbox

Achieving PCI DSS compliance is not just a regulatory obligation — it’s a business imperative. In a world where cyberattacks are relentless and customer trust is easily lost, protecting payment card data is foundational to maintaining credibility, securing transactions, and reducing legal and financial exposure.

Despite this urgency, organizations routinely struggle to comply with PCI DSS. According to Verizon’s 2023 Payment Security Report, only 43% of companies were fully PCI DSS compliant at the time of their interim assessment. The reasons for failure vary, but they typically include:

• Lack of ownership over compliance requirements

• Inconsistent testing and remediation workflows

• Unclear communication across departments

• Incomplete documentation and audit trails

This guide breaks down the PCI DSS requirements and shows how leveraging a living, flexible RACI matrix — especially with a tool like ezRACI — can keep cross-functional teams aligned, transparent, and accountable.

Chapter 1: Understanding PCI DSS — And Why It Matters

The PCI DSS framework was established by the PCI Security Standards Council to protect credit and debit card data throughout the payment ecosystem. Any business that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data — including merchants, software developers, and third-party service providers — must comply.

Non-compliance can result in serious consequences:

• Fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per month

• Damage to brand reputation

• Costly forensic investigations and remediation

Even more damaging is the loss of customer trust. In a world of instant feedback and widespread data breach coverage, trust is currency.

Chapter 2: Breaking Down the 12 Requirements of PCI DSS

PCI DSS includes 12 high-level requirements that serve as the foundation for a robust security strategy. These include:

1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration

2. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for passwords

3. Protect stored cardholder data

4. Encrypt transmission of cardholder data

5. Use and regularly update antivirus software

6. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications

7. Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know

8. Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access

9. Restrict physical access to cardholder data

10. Track and monitor all access to network resources

11. Regularly test security systems and processes

12. Maintain an information security policy

Each requirement contains multiple controls and sub-controls. Tracking ownership and implementation across these moving pieces is where many organizations fall short.

Chapter 3: Requirement 6 — The Security Testing Mandate

Requirement 6 focuses specifically on secure software development practices. Key components include:

• Secure SDLC practices

• Code reviews

• Use of SAST (Static Application Security Testing)

• Use of DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)

• Application-layer penetration testing annually or after any major change

Verizon’s Payment Security Report noted that Requirement 6 is one of the most frequently missed areas during assessments. Why? Because organizations either:

• Lack formalized testing processes

• Fail to integrate SAST/DAST tools into development pipelines

• Can’t demonstrate remediation timelines

The issue often comes down to coordination — between developers, security analysts, compliance officers, and product teams. This is where a live RACI matrix becomes invaluable.

Chapter 4: Common PCI DSS Pitfalls to Avoid

Failure to achieve PCI compliance is rarely due to ignorance — it’s due to misalignment and poor execution. Common pitfalls include:

• Ownership confusion (Who remediates? Who documents? Who validates?)

• Missed remediation deadlines due to lack of task tracking

• Conflicting priorities across development and compliance teams

• Evidence gaps during audit prep

Many of these issues can be solved by implementing a clear RACI matrix — one that doesn’t live in a static Excel sheet on SharePoint, but is active, collaborative, and visible to everyone involved.

Chapter 5: The Case for a RACI Matrix in PCI Compliance

A RACI matrix — Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed — brings structure to complexity.

For example:

• Security runs SAST and DAST scans (Responsible)

• Engineering leads remediate code issues (Accountable)

• Compliance reviews remediation evidence (Consulted)

• Leadership is kept aware of audit readiness (Informed)

By making roles explicit, you:

• Avoid duplication of effort

• Reduce dropped handoffs

• Increase audit confidence

And when implemented using ezRACI, your RACI becomes a living system — one that evolves with your team structure, environment, and compliance maturity.

Chapter 6: Building Your PCI DSS RACI with ezRACI

ezRACI makes it easy to manage PCI DSS obligations by offering:

• Pre-built PCI DSS RACI templates mapped to v4.0

• Drag-and-drop matrix, Gantt, or Kanban board views

• Assignable roles for each task or sub-control

• Time tracking and audit trails for all activities

You can:

• Invite developers, security leads, DevOps engineers, compliance staff

• Comment and collaborate in real time

• Track ownership and completion status

It’s PCI compliance made collaborative — not chaotic.

Chapter 7: Integrating Your Security Tool Stack

According to SANS Institute, automated testing tools are key to PCI DSS compliance, but integration remains a challenge.

With ezRACI’s RESTful API, you can connect:

• SAST tools like Checkmarx, Veracode, SonarQube

• DAST tools like ZAP, Burp Suite, Invicti

• SCA tools like Snyk, Mend, WhiteSource

• Ticketing platforms like Jira, ServiceNow

This allows you to:

• Ingest security findings into a matrix task

• Assign remediation deadlines

• Track resolution and comments

• Automatically update stakeholders

Chapter 8: Preparing for the PCI DSS Audit

Audits are stressful when you're disorganized. Many organizations scramble weeks before:

• Searching for documentation

• Filling in gaps from memory

• Guessing who did what

With ezRACI:

• Every control is mapped

• Every task has a timestamp

• Every update is logged

• Every stakeholder is accountable

Auditors don’t just see your policy — they see your proof.

Chapter 9: Maintaining Compliance Year-Round

Compliance isn’t a once-a-year sprint. Requirements like pen testing, risk assessments, and secure code reviews must happen on a rolling basis.

ezRACI helps teams:

• Set recurring tasks

• Rotate roles and responsibilities

• Track regression and follow-ups

• Update matrices as teams and tech stacks evolve

This level of agility is what keeps compliance strong in the face of change.

Chapter 10: Getting Started with ezRACI for PCI Compliance

Whether you’re starting your first PCI project or trying to improve existing compliance operations, ezRACI gives you the structure, visibility, and collaboration your teams need.

Start now by:

• Visiting ezraci.com

• Signing up for a free trial

• Selecting the PCI DSS template from our compliance library

• Assigning roles, inviting teams, and tracking your progress

Let RACI bring clarity to compliance — and let ezRACI make it effortless.

Disclaimer:

This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Organizations are responsible for conducting their own assessments, consulting with compliance professionals, and following the official PCI DSS documentation provided by the PCI Security Standards Council. ezRACI makes no warranties or guarantees regarding compliance outcomes.