PCI DSS applies to which entities?

PCI DSS applies to which entities?

• A. Merchants only
• B. Any entity that stores, processes, or transmits payment card account data
• C. Merchants and third party processors (TPPs) only
• D. Service Providers Only

Answer: (B)

Scope of PCI DSS is about who must comply: any entity that stores, processes, or transmits payment card data, or that can impact the security of the cardholder data environment. This means not just merchants, but service providers, processors, acquirers, and issuers—essentially any organization that handles cardholder data or could affect how that data is secured. That breadth is why the best answer is the one that describes any entity that stores, processes, or transmits payment card account data. It captures all the groups involved, including merchants and third-party processors and others who have access to or influence the data environment. Why the other descriptions don’t fit: focusing only on merchants misses third-party providers that handle card data on behalf of merchants; limiting to merchants and third-party processors excludes other entities like service providers or issuers that also handle or influence the data. Service providers alone omits merchants, which are a major part of PCI DSS participants.

Scope of PCI DSS is about who must comply: any entity that stores, processes, or transmits payment card data, or that can impact the security of the cardholder data environment. This means not just merchants, but service providers, processors, acquirers, and issuers—essentially any organization that handles cardholder data or could affect how that data is secured. That breadth is why the best answer is the one that describes any entity that stores, processes, or transmits payment card account data. It captures all the groups involved, including merchants and third-party processors and others who have access to or influence the data environment.

Why the other descriptions don’t fit: focusing only on merchants misses third-party providers that handle card data on behalf of merchants; limiting to merchants and third-party processors excludes other entities like service providers or issuers that also handle or influence the data. Service providers alone omits merchants, which are a major part of PCI DSS participants.