Which safeguards should be in place to protect credit card data at the counter?

• A. PCI-DSS compliance, encrypted transmissions, secure card readers, restricted access to card data, and periodic security reviews.
• B. PCI-DSS compliance only.
• C. Encrypted transmissions only.
• D. Secure card readers only.

Answer: (A)

Layered protection of credit card data at the counter involves multiple controls that address the data as it moves from the card reader to the payment processor and beyond. PCI-DSS compliance provides the security baseline merchants must meet, setting rules for protecting card data and maintaining security practices. Encrypted transmissions ensure that card details stay unreadable while in transit, so even if data is intercepted, it isn’t usable. Secure card readers help prevent tampering and skimming at the point of sale, and they support protections like tamper-resistant devices and, where possible, point-to-point encryption. Restricting access to card data means only authorized personnel can view or handle sensitive information, applying need-to-know principles and minimizing exposure. Periodic security reviews keep controls up to date by identifying new vulnerabilities and verifying that safeguards remain effective. Together, these elements create comprehensive protection at the counter. Relying on any single measure—such as encryption alone or compliance alone—leaves gaps in governance, in-transit protection, or ongoing evaluation.