PCI DSS 4.0 - No More Exceptions for Cloud Security
Starting in 2025, Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) will no longer be exempt from PCI DSS 4.0 when handling payment cardholder data or impacting the security of the cardholder data environment (CDE). This shift signals a fundamental change: cloud security can no longer be an afterthought. To support organizations in evaluating CSP security and compliance, the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) has updated its Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) 4.0, aligning it with PCI DSS 4.0.
Key requirements of PCI DSS 4.0 include:
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No More Cloud/Container Exceptions - Previously, cloud and container environments had flexibility in meeting PCI DSS requirements. Now, CSPs must adhere to the same rigorous security controls as traditional infrastructures, ensuring end-to-end security for payment data.
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Risk-Based Vulnerability Management – Organizations must implement a continuous, risk-based approach to vulnerability management, prioritizing the most critical threats in cloud workloads rather than relying solely on periodic scans.
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Mandatory Runtime Monitoring & File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) – Security must extend beyond static configurations. Real-time monitoring of cloud workloads, including FIM, is now required to detect unauthorized changes and ensure compliance.
With CSA’s CCM 4.0 mapping to PCI DSS 4.0, security teams have a structured framework to enhance cloud security, mitigate risks, and maintain compliance in an era where CSPs are held to the highest security standards.
Read the CSA article to learn more.