Good question — this is an important compliance topic for anyone handling card payments.
Short answer:
Yes, PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance is required for all entities that store, process, or transmit cardholder data — including eCommerce websites that integrate card payments.
However, the level of responsibility and effort required depends on how the integration is done.
1. If your eCommerce website processes or stores card data directly
You are directly subject to PCI DSS and must achieve certification (either through self-assessment or a third-party audit, depending on your transaction volume and payment brand rules).
That means:
- Your servers see or handle card numbers, CVVs, or expiry dates.
- You collect payment info through your own forms.
- You use APIs that send card data through your infrastructure.
In this case, you’ll need comprehensive PCI DSS controls: network security, encryption, access control, logging, vulnerability management, etc.
2. If your website uses a hosted payment page or redirect
If, for example, you redirect customers to a PCI‑compliant gateway such as Stripe Checkout, PayPal, or Adyen Hosted Payment Page, and card data never touches your servers, your PCI obligations are much lighter.
You still need to be PCI DSS compliant, but you might only need to complete a short Self‑Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ‑A) — a simplified attestation covering limited requirements, since the gateway manages card data handling.
3. If you use a client-side integration (e.g., Stripe Elements, Braintree Drop-in)
These solutions keep sensitive data within the payment provider’s environment, though your site can still influence card data capture (e.g., via embedded iFrames or JavaScript).
In this case, you typically file an SAQ A‑EP, which has more requirements than SAQ‑A but still less than full PCI DSS scope.
4. Summary
| Integration Type | What You Handle | PCI Level | Typical Compliance Task |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full card data collection (own checkout) | Card data processed/stored by you | Full PCI DSS | Annual on-site audit (or SAQ D) |
| Redirect/hosted payment page | None (redirected to provider) | SAQ A | Simple annual attestation |
| Embedded fields (Elements, iFrame, etc.) | Limited exposure | SAQ A‑EP | Intermediate attestation |
Key point
You cannot completely “avoid” PCI DSS, but you can minimize your scope and rely on your payment provider’s certification to reduce your burden.
In summary:
- Every site that takes card payments must be PCI DSS compliant to some degree.
- Whether you need full certification or a simplified attestation depends on your payment integration model.
If you’re setting up payments, work with your payment gateway — they can tell you exactly which SAQ type applies and what to submit to your acquiring bank.
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