Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards Practice Test

Which component can be sampled during a PCI DSS assessment for testing?

1. PCI DSS requirements and testing procedures

2. Compensating controls

3. Business facilities and system components

4. Security policies and procedures

The correct answer is: Business facilities and system components

The selection of business facilities and system components as the component that can be sampled during a PCI DSS assessment for testing is grounded in the practical application of the standards outlined in PCI DSS. The assessment primarily focuses on verifying that all systems, applications, and environments that store, process, or transmit cardholder data are compliant with PCI requirements. During the assessment, testers will often examine specific parts of the business's infrastructure, looking at physical facilities, network systems, and application components. This could involve sampling specific servers, network devices, or segments of the facility that directly relate to cardholder data handling. Testing these components helps ensure that they are effectively secured and that all relevant PCI DSS requirements are met in practice. In contrast, while PCI DSS requirements and testing procedures establish the framework and methodology for the assessment, they themselves are not sampled. Compensating controls may be tested for effectiveness, but they are typically considered as part of mitigating other findings rather than as standalone components. Similarly, security policies and procedures provide guidance and structure for compliance but do not represent specific system components that can be physically sampled during an assessment. Thus, business facilities and system components are the key focal points for practical assessment and testing within the PCI DSS framework.