Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards Practice Test

What is the minimum encryption standard recommended by PCI DSS?

1. Triple DES

2. AES-128

3. AES-256

4. RC4

The correct answer is: AES-128

The minimum encryption standard recommended by PCI DSS is AES-128. This standard is recognized for providing a strong level of security that is suitable for protecting cardholder data during transmission and storage. AES, or Advanced Encryption Standard, has been widely adopted due to its robustness and efficiency in encrypting sensitive data. While AES-256 offers a higher level of security with its longer key length, PCI DSS specifically designates AES-128 as the minimum requirement to ensure a baseline level of encryption for protecting cardholder information. This is significant in implementing effective security measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. Triple DES, though it provides a level of security, is considered outdated and not as efficient as AES. RC4 is also not recommended due to known vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Therefore, the guideline set forth by PCI DSS clearly identifies AES-128 as the starting point for encryption practices in protecting payment card information, making it the correct choice in this context.