Frequently Asked questions (FAQ)

El PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) es un estándar internacional de seguridad que protege la información de tarjetas de pago.

Aplica a cualquier empresa que procese, transmita o almacene datos de tarjetas, incluyendo e-commerce, fintech, retail y negocios en Colombia o a nivel global.

Su objetivo es reducir el riesgo de fraude y filtraciones de datos mediante controles en áreas clave como:

• 🔐 Protección de datos de tarjetas
• 🔐 Seguridad de redes
• 🔐 Control de accesos
• 🔐 Monitoreo de sistemas
• 🔐 Pruebas de seguridad

Cumplir con PCI DSS no solo mejora la seguridad de tu operación, sino que también fortalece la confianza de tus clientes y evita riesgos legales y financieros.

Certificarse en PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) no significa solo pasar una auditoría, sino demostrar que tu empresa protege adecuadamente los datos de tarjetas dentro de su infraestructura tecnológica.

Este estándar internacional define controles de seguridad que deben implementarse en áreas clave como:

• 🔐 Seguridad de redes y firewalls
• 🔐 Protección de datos de tarjetas
• 🔐 Control de accesos
• 🔐 Monitoreo continuo de sistemas
• 🔐 Pruebas de seguridad y vulnerabilidades

El proceso de cumplimiento PCI DSS varía según el volumen de transacciones de tu empresa (niveles de comerciante) y puede validarse mediante:

• ✔ Cuestionario de autoevaluación (SAQ – Self-Assessment Questionnaire)
• ✔ Auditoría realizada por un Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)

Muchas empresas en Colombia y América Latina, especialmente e-commerce, fintech y pasarelas de pago, no tienen claro por dónde iniciar este proceso.

Por eso, el primer paso suele ser realizar un diagnóstico de brechas (gap analysis) frente a los requisitos definidos por el PCI Security Standards Council, para luego implementar un plan de cumplimiento adaptado a su operación.

El costo de una auditoría PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) es una de las dudas más comunes en empresas que manejan pagos digitales. Sin embargo, no existe un precio único, ya que depende de múltiples factores.

Entre los principales elementos que influyen en el costo del cumplimiento PCI DSS están:

• 💰 Tamaño de la organización
• 💰 Volumen de transacciones con tarjetas
• 💰 Complejidad de la infraestructura tecnológica
• 💰 Número de sistemas que procesan, almacenan o transmiten datos de tarjetas

Dependiendo del nivel de la empresa, el cumplimiento puede realizarse mediante:

• ✔ Cuestionario de autoevaluación (SAQ – Self-Assessment Questionnaire)
• ✔ Auditoría formal realizada por un Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)

En empresas con operaciones más complejas —como e-commerce, fintech o pasarelas de pago en Colombia y América Latina— es más común requerir una auditoría completa.

Es importante tener en cuenta que el costo no se limita a la auditoría. También incluye:

• 🔐 Implementación de controles de seguridad
• 🔐 Adecuación de infraestructura
• 🔐 Monitoreo y mantenimiento continuo
• 🔐 Pruebas de seguridad y cumplimiento

Por eso, más que ver la auditoría como un gasto, debe entenderse como una inversión en seguridad, confianza del cliente y protección frente a fraudes, alineada con los lineamientos del PCI Security Standards Council.

No cumplir con estándares de seguridad de la información como PCI DSS, PCI PIN o ISO/IEC 27001 puede exponer a tu organización a riesgos críticos que afectan tanto la operación como la reputación.

En empresas de pagos digitales, e-commerce, fintech y sectores regulados en Colombia y América Latina, el incumplimiento puede generar:

• 🚨 Brechas de seguridad que comprometen datos sensibles, especialmente información de tarjetas
• ⚠️ Sanciones regulatorias, contractuales o exigidas por adquirentes y aliados
• 🛑 Restricciones operativas o incluso la pérdida de certificaciones clave
• 📉 Deterioro de la confianza de clientes, socios comerciales y entidades financieras
• 💰 Altos costos legales, reputacionales y operativos derivados de incidentes de seguridad

Estos estándares, definidos por organismos como el PCI Security Standards Council, establecen las mejores prácticas para proteger la información y garantizar la continuidad del negocio.

Adoptarlos no es solo una obligación técnica o de cumplimiento normativo: es una decisión estratégica que fortalece la seguridad, la credibilidad y la sostenibilidad de tu empresa en el entorno digital actual.

IQ Information Quality is a signature colombian specialty exclusively on security in digital paymentswith more than 17 years of experience in Latin america and the Caribbean.
We are certified by the PCI SSC as:

✅ QSA (Qualified Security Assessor)

✅ QPA (Qualified PIN Assessor)

Us apart:

🧭 Unbiased approach: we do not sell technology or licenses

🌎 Regional experience: presence in multiple countries and regulatory environments

👥 Team internationally certified: QSA, QPA, CISA, CISSP, CISM

📢 Direct communication, and custom tracking

🔄 Tailored solutions the size, maturity and role of each customer

We accompany organizations in the standards compliance, PCI DSS and PCI PIN, with strategies adjusted to the operational context of each actor in the ecosystem of payments.

🔐 PCI DSS – the Protection of card data

We validate your controls to protect transactions face-to-face and non-face-to-face, in accordance with the requirements of the standard.

• GAP PCI DSS – We evaluate your current situation with priority focus in front of the PCI requirements
• Pre-assessment– Evaluate your situation in front of the PCI requirements applicable
• SAQ A PCI DSS – Support in the selection and completion of the SAQ right (SAQ/AOC), based on validation of evidence.
• Reduction of scope of PCI – Strategies to limit the exposure of data
• Validation in third – Evaluation to suppliers that process data card
• Tokenization: We evaluate or suggest ways to remove the BREAD from the environment
•  3D Secure – Solutions to protect data and authenticate users in digital payments, reducing risk and improving compliance

🔑 PCI PIN – Protection of data of PIN

We help to meet the technical requirements of safety PIN, both physical and digital.

• GAP-PCI PIN – Preliminary assessment
• Evaluation officer PCI PIN – Validation complete with technical approach
• Implementation (Phase I, II, III) – Accompaniment controls complexes
• Third-party validation – Evaluation of providers that handle PIN
• Action plans – Closure of findings subsequent to the audit

We offer a complete portfolio of services that strengthen the digital safety of our customers, beyond regulatory compliance.

⚙️ Vulnerability Management

We identify, validate and mitigate risks before they become incidents.

• Ethical Hacking – Simulation of controlled attacks
• Penetration testing (internal and external) – Technical verification of actual exposure
• Vulnerability scanning – Automation and continuous analysis
• Social engineering – Simulations of phishing, vishing attacks and face-to-face

🛡️ Application security

We validate the safety of your applications from the code to the execution.

• Secure code review – Identification of errors and vulnerabilities
• Web Scan – Automated scanning of web applications
• Penetration testing in apps – Logical evaluation and technical security

🔒 Information security

Strengthen your ISMS according to the main international standards.

• GAP ISO 27001 – Diagnosis compared to the standard
• Risk assessment – Identification and prioritization of threats
• Implementing ISO 27001 – Design, documentation and deployment of the ISMS
• Internal audit ISO – Check prior to the certification
• Personal data – Compliance with Habeas Data, GDPR and other regulations
• Transition to ISO 27001:2022 – Support migration from previous versions

🎓 Technical training and Executive

We train your teams to operate safely and comply with standards.

• Ongoing PCI DSS v4.0.1 – Training in technical compliance and documentary
• Course ISO 27001 – Implementation and maintenance of the ISMS

Course Development Software assurance – Good practice for devs and QA

We work with all the actors that are part of the ecosystem of digital payments, understanding your role, risks and regulatory obligations.

💼 Segments we serve:

• Financial: banks, issuers, acquirers, processors
• Technology: fintechs, data center, SOCs, payment gateways, call centers
• Trade and consumption: e-commerce platforms, insurance companies, loyalty programs
• Emerging payments: private cards, money orders, instant payments, payments, P2P, open banking, BNPL (Buy now, pay later”)

🧩 Each type of organization has unique challenges. Our approach is tailored to ensure compliance without slowing your operation.

• ✅ We are the only signing colombian certified as a QSA and QPA by the PCI SSC
• 💧 We have more than 17 years of experience security of payments in Latin america and the Caribbean
• 🧠 Our team has global certification in security and compliance digital
• ⚖️ We provide a impartial approach and strategic
• 📋 We integrate timelines, tracking, and direct support in all the process

🔒 Rather than comply, we ensure that safety accompanies your growth.

• The authentication resistant to phishing replaces the exclusive use of passwords with more secure methods such as passkeys, biometrics or physical keys security. These systems are designed to prevent an attacker can capture or reuse credentials, even if the user is tricked with a fake site.

  What are the advantages?

  • Better security: The cryptographic keys are unique and can not be intercepted.
  • Phishing prevention: The credentials do not work outside of the authoritative domain.
  • Better user experience: No need to remember passwords.
  • Lower operating costs: Reduced tickets for forgotten passwords.
  • Regulatory compliance: Technologies such as FIDO2 facilitate compliance with frameworks such as PCI-DSS.

  What to have in mind to implement it?

  • To assess the current infrastructure.
  • Adopt technologies such as FIDO2/WebAuthn.
  • Design a progressive strategy of adoption.
  • Train users and technical teams.
  • To ensure interoperability between devices and browsers.

  It is not just to change passwords for other tool. It is a transformation in the architecture of authentication. From IQ Information Quality help you to implement these solutions securely and in line with the objectives of the business.

Traders can guarantee the security of your payment page in two main ways:

1. Implementing protection techniques

To protect your site against attacks of scripts, traders should take the following measures:

• To comply with the requirements of PCI DSS: Implementing the practices outlined in the requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1 of the PCI DSS, including protection against unauthorised modifications to the source code and the detection of suspicious changes on the site.
• Use a Content Security Policy (CSP): Configure a security policy content that restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and prevent the loading of malicious code.
• Implement Subresource Integrity (SRI): Ensure that the external scripts are not manipulated by validating their digital signatures.
• Monitor and scan the site regularly: Use monitoring tools and scan to detect any unexpected changes in the code or the inclusion of scripts suspects.

These measures can be applied by the trader or by a third party specializing in cyber security.

2. Obtaining confirmation of the TPSP or payment processor

Another way to ensure the security of the payment page is to verify that the payment service provider implements techniques of protection against attacks of scripts. To do this, merchants should:

• • Confirm with the TPSP that your payment solution embedded is protected against attacks of scripts.
  • Strictly follow the instructions of the vendor for the correct implementation of the iframe payment.
  • Request documentation demonstrating compliance with PCI DSS the payment solution offered.