Payment terminal with a credit card inserted on a desk, overlaid with 'PCI DSS Compliance' text (informing security compliance in payments).

What Is PCI DSS Compliance and How It Actually Works

PCI DSS is the payment card industry's mandatory data security standard, and as of 2026 the active version is v4.0.1, which carries 51 future-dated requirements that became enforceable on March 31, 2025. Compliance means maintaining the required security controls all year, not checking a box once before an annual assessment. A Plano dental office may…