Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards Practice Test

Which of the following is correct regarding compensating controls?

1. A compensating control is not necessary if all other PCI DSS requirements are in place

2. A compensating control must address the risk associated with not adhering to the PCI DSS requirement

3. An existing PCI DSS requirement can be used as compensating control if it is already implemented

4. A compensating control worksheet is not required if the acquirer approves the compensating control

The correct answer is: A compensating control must address the risk associated with not adhering to the PCI DSS requirement

The concept of compensating controls is pivotal in the context of the PCI Data Security Standards. A compensating control is a security measure that provides an alternative solution to a specific PCI DSS requirement that cannot be fully met. This means that for a compensating control to be valid, it must effectively mitigate the risk resulting from the inability to comply with the original requirement. When addressing the risks associated with non-compliance, it’s essential that the compensating control demonstrates that it sufficiently reduces the level of risk to meet the intent of the original requirement. This may involve implementing additional security measures that can compensate for the specific shortfall in controls. Therefore, stating that a compensating control must address the risk associated with not adhering to the PCI DSS requirement correctly emphasizes the need for these controls to provide an adequate level of security. Other choices may fail to capture the necessity of risk mitigation connected to the lack of compliance or misinterpret the rules regarding the implementation and validation of compensating controls as outlined by the PCI DSS. By focusing on how a compensating control needs to be risk-oriented, it reinforces the framework's integrity and compliance goals.