What is the primary purpose of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard?

The primary purpose of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is to protect card payments from data breaches. This standard is a set of security guidelines designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. By establishing a framework of best practices, the PCI DSS aims to safeguard sensitive cardholder data from theft and misuse, thereby enhancing trust in electronic payment systems. Compliance with these standards helps organizations mitigate the risk of data breaches, protecting not only their customers but also their own reputation and financial security.