SFTP Can Make PCI DSS Compliance Easier
Since pretty much every company uses some form of card payment and, therefore, stores payment card data on their servers, just about everyone needs to be PCI DSS compliant. There are plenty of ways to meet this requirement, but Secure File Transfer Protocol can be the easier solution for your organization.
Plenty of organizations already use FTP for their compliance and security needs. However, SFTP also can be PCI compliant. It can meet PCI DSS requirements if certain protocols are implemented to protect credit card data being transferred.
When your business uses customer data internally for any reason, you must still abide by PCI DSS standards. Typically, businesses use PCI compliant file sharing solutions like SFTP.
SFTP can be part of a PCI-compliant solution because it provides the necessary controls, including encryption; server data logging and audits; restricted access to data; and standardized connections between machines.
Many solutions offer SFTP and File Transfer Protocol Secure (FTPS) as part of an encryption package. Both are described as secure FTP protocols, and they have plenty of similarities. However, there are some key differences, as well.
FTPS, for example, is FTP with Secure Socket Layers (SSL) technology added. This means you’re using FTP over a secure connection with everything that entails, including multiple separate socket connections and required passwords and certificates. It also means FTPS might not coexist with a customized firewall.
SFTP uses Secure Shell (SSH) technology for encryption. This means SFTP is an entirely separate method of secure file transfer beyond FTP. This includes the ability to transfer data over a single connection, making adoption simple and integration with complex security systems with firewalls easier.
Both protocols will keep you compliant with PCI DSS. However, when working with multiple security needs and compliance requirements, SFTP can simplify how your organization secures your applications and integrates them into your system.
The difficulty of a regulation or the complexity of its nuances do not give your company a pass from compliance. Don’t ignore your regulatory needs due to challenges you encounter. Instead, partner with a cybersecurity expert like 2W Tech. We have a comprehensive Cybersecurity Compliance Program that will maintain your compliance with PCI DSS and other industry regulations you must adhere to. Contact us today to get started.
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