Here’s a harsh truth- your customers’ card transactions are not as secure as you might think. Even though card payments have opened up new avenues in the business world, there exists a problem! This payment method puts your customers at risk of credit card theft and jeopardizes the credibility of your business.
Given the current situation of identity thefts and card scams being more rampant than ever, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has made it mandatory for organizations that process payments to authenticate their domains with DMARC by 2025.
This new update is a major step in preventing email spoofing, phishing, and other cyberattacks.
Would you want your customers to be one of the 426 thousand people who reported card theft in 2023? No, right? Then check out this article to know everything about the latest PCI DSS V4.0 update that requires you to implement DMARC.
Let us take a look at why things are changing and what does it mean for your business.
What is PCI DSS?
The payment card industry was once extremely prone to rampant security breaches, data theft, and fraud. This was until 2004, when all the major players in the industry, like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, came forward to form a global organization responsible for ensuring safe and secure payments. This was called the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). To achieve this goal, the council introduced the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Basically, PCI DSS is a set of security standards that provides a baseline of technical and operational requirements designed to protect cardholders’ data. Since its inception, these standards have been revamped numerous times to adapt to the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, with the latest one being PCI DSS v4.0.
What is PCI DSS v4.0 All About?
On March 31, 2022, PCI SSC released the latest iteration of its security standards for the payment card industry— PCI DSS v4.0. It is a major update that brought about several critical changes listed below:
Following a Customized Approach
The PCI DSS v4.0 offers flexibility to organizations to implement tailored solutions instead of strictly adhering to prescribed methods, as long as they meet security standards. The aim of this approach is to encourage more and more organizations to innovate while maintaining a secure environment for cardholders.
Robust Authentication Methods
This update prioritizes data protection through enhanced authentication protocols and encryption methods. This change aims to strengthen the security of a cardholder’s data during transactions and when the card information is stored.
Emphasis on Continuous Security
The PCI DSS v4.0 requires more than simply ticking the checkboxes; it emphasizes the importance of security as an ongoing endeavor. This enables a mindset shift in the organizations and encourages them to practice continuous monitoring and regular updates.
Making Room for New Technologies
PCI DSS v4.0 does not overlook the importance of incorporating cutting-edge technologies to stay up-to-date with the industry and offer better security and efficiency. In an effort to promote the security of cardholders’ data, the new standard allows businesses to adopt innovative solutions as long as they meet or exceed the established security requirements.
Ongoing Reporting and Accountability
The new update also focuses on governance and accountability when managing compliance with PCI DSS. Instead of keeping the process haphazard, it requires the companies to maintain clear structures and processes.
Dynamic Risk Assessment and Management
The updated regulations stress following a risk-based approach to security, which requires organizations to conduct regular and thorough risk assessments to tailor their security measures effectively. This is done to ensure that the defenses are well-aligned with the threats and vulnerabilities an organization might face.

Should You Be Bothered About PCI DSS v4.0?
The new standards by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council are meant for all organizations, including merchants, processors, acquirers, issuers, and service providers. Other entities that are a part of the cardholder data environment (CDE) and are required to follow PCI DSS v4.0 include:
- Companies, people, or system components that store, process, and transmit cardholders’ data.
- Entities, people, and processes that have a direct or indirect impact on the security of the CDE.
- System components that do not directly handle cardholder data (CHD) or sensitive authentication data (SAD) but are somehow connected to components that store, process, or transmit CHD/SAD.
What is the Relevance of Email Authentication in PCI DSS v4.0?
Since the primary focus of PCI DSS v4.0 is fraud prevention and email security, it only makes sense for email authentication to be a critical aspect of this framework. The reason we say this is because email authentication serves as a first line of defense against one of the most common vectors for security breaches and fraud, that is email-based attacks. No wonder PCI DSS v4.0 prioritizes robust email security measures to protect your customers’ sensitive card details.
Here are some of the measures that are central to the new requirements aimed at bolstering email security:
Strong Access Controls for Email Systems
The fourth version of the Data Security Standard (DSS) requires organizations to enforce robust measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), complex passwords, and regular review of their email ecosystem. This approach is important to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate the risk of email-based attacks.
Safeguarding Stored Card Details in the Email System
According to the new standards, if cardholders’ data is ever stored in an email system, it must be appropriately encrypted, with appropriate access control measures in place. So, even if a system is breached, the data will remain protected from unauthorized users.

Monitoring and Responding to Email-Related Security Alerts
Another important aspect of PCI DSS v4.0 is properly monitoring and responding to security alerts. This involves regularly reviewing the system logs for suspicious activities.
Apart from these requirements, one of the most significant updates that PCI DSS v4.0 brings to the forefront is the implementation of DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) to combat email spoofing and impersonation.
What are the Benefits of Implementing DMARC for PCI DSS Compliance?
Protection from Phishing Attacks
DMARC offers a strong layer of protection against grave cyberattacks like phishing by ensuring that only authorized senders can use your organization’s domain to send emails. This is especially useful if your organization processes payments, as it significantly reduces the risk of threat actors sending emails on your behalf and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive payment information.
Enhanced Email Deliverability
Besides being a critical security measure that defends against phishing and spoofing attacks, DMARC also improves the deliverability of your emails. While this is not a direct benefit of the email authentication protocol, it is crucial for maintaining effective communication with your clients, especially when it comes to important financial communications.
Regulatory Compliance
After Google and Yahoo, PCI has now made it mandatory to implement DMARC by 2025 as an effort to enhance cybersecurity standards within the payment card industry. Keeping up with these requirements not only reflects your commitment to security but also reassures that your organization remains compliant with industry regulations.
Reduced Risk of Financial Loss
DMARC can reduce the financial risks of data breaches in numerous ways, such as fines by regulators, legal liabilities, and damage to reputation. This simple yet effective move can help you reduce the financial implications of cyberattacks and data breaches by strengthening your company’s email defenses.
How Can AutoSPF Help You Comply With PCI DSS v4.0?
Although you have time until March 2025 to comply with the latest PCI SSC standards and implement DMARC, it’s never too soon when the threat landscape looks like it does today. If you haven’t already, now is the right time to implement DMARC, as it offers you the bandwidth to gradually progress your DMARC policy.

But before you go on to implement DMARC, make sure that you have the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) protocol properly set up and configured. If you’re struggling with SPF authentication, our team of experts at AutoSPF is here to help you with every step of the process, right from implementation to SPF record management and SPF record flattening. By following the right approach, you can ensure that all emails sent from your domain are authenticated and legitimate, reducing the risk of spoofing and phishing attacks that could compromise sensitive cardholders’ data.
With AutoSPF by your side, you not only ensure that your SPF setup is correct and effective but also lay a strong foundation for DMARC implementation, which means seamless compliance with PCI DSS v4.0. Are you ready to take the next steps in bolstering your email security and achieving compliance? Let us help you create a secure digital environment for your business and enhance your reputation as a trusted entity in the payment processing world.
Get in touch with our tea, or book your demo today!