PCI Data Discovery: Strategies and Tools for Compliance

Payment card data moves constantly across modern enterprises. It flows through cloud applications, on-premises databases, endpoints and third-party services. For security and compliance leaders, the challenge is not only protecting this data but knowing exactly where it resides, how it is used and who can access it.

PCI data discovery is the process of identifying, locating and classifying cardholder data across structured and unstructured data sources. When executed correctly, it gives organizations the visibility required to reduce risk, limit exposure and meet the requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). When handled poorly, it leaves blind spots that increase the likelihood of breaches, audit failures and financial penalties.

This article explains what qualifies as PCI data, why discovery is essential for compliance, how it maps to PCI DSS requirements and which tools can help operationalize the process at scale.

Understanding PCI DSS Data and Related Regulations

PCI DSS is an industry security standard developed by major payment card brands to protect cardholder data. It applies to any organization that stores, processes or transmits payment card information regardless of size or industry.

What does PCI stand for in data?

PCI stands for Payment Card Industry. In the context of data security, PCI data refers to cardholder data and sensitive authentication data defined under the PCI DSS framework.

What is considered PCI data?

PCI data includes information that can be used to identify or authenticate a payment card transaction, such as:

Primary account numbers

Cardholder names

Expiration dates

Service codes

Sensitive authentication data including CVV numbers and PINs

This data often appears outside expected systems such as file shares, cloud storage, logs, backups, analytics platforms and collaboration tools. That sprawl makes discovery a foundational control rather than a one-time compliance task.

Is PCI compliance mandatory in the US?

PCI compliance is mandatory for organizations that handle payment card data in the United States. While PCI DSS is not a government regulation, payment brands enforce it contractually. Noncompliance can result in fines, increased transaction fees, reputational damage or loss of card processing privileges.

Industry risk and compliance challenges

Industries face different PCI data discovery challenges based on how they collect, process and store payment information.

Retail organizations often struggle with limited visibility across point-of-sale systems, ecommerce platforms and third-party integrations. PCI data may surface in unexpected locations such as customer service tools or marketing systems.

Financial services organizations manage complex data flows across internal platforms, partners and cloud environments. Without continuous discovery, sensitive data can persist in unsecured repositories long after its original purpose has expired.

In both cases, incomplete discovery increases exposure and complicates audits. Limited visibility into data movement also reduces the effectiveness of controls such as encryption, monitoring and data loss prevention.

Using Data Discovery to Meet PCI DSS Requirements

PCI DSS includes 12 core requirements designed to protect cardholder data. Data discovery directly supports each requirement by establishing where sensitive data exists and how it should be handled.

Requirement 1: Install and maintain network security controls

In practice, this requirement focuses on segmenting and protecting systems that handle PCI data.

• Identifies where cardholder data resides so controls apply to the correct environments
• Prevents over-scoping by limiting PCI zones to systems that actually store or process data
• Supports network segmentation validation

Example: An organization discovers PCI data stored in a cloud file repository and updates firewall rules to restrict access.

Requirement 2: Apply secure configurations to all system components

Secure configuration depends on knowing which systems handle PCI data.

• Maps PCI data locations to system inventories
• Highlights misconfigured storage containing sensitive data
• Reduces configuration drift across PCI-scoped assets

Example: Discovery reveals PCI data in a test environment that was not hardened to production standards.

Requirement 3: Protect stored account data

This requirement governs how PCI data is stored.

• Identifies unencrypted or improperly stored cardholder data
• Enables enforcement of retention and masking policies
• Supports encryption and tokenization initiatives

Example: Discovery finds unmasked primary account numbers in archived files, triggering remediation.

Requirement 4: Protect cardholder data during transmission

Discovery clarifies where PCI data moves.

• Maps data flows across applications and services
• Identifies insecure transmission paths
• Supports encryption enforcement

Example: PCI data is detected moving through an unsecured API endpoint.

Requirement 5: Protect systems from malicious software

Malware protection is more effective when PCI systems are known.

• Defines systems requiring enhanced protections
• Reduces shadow IT blind spots
• Supports risk-based prioritization

Example: Systems storing PCI data receive additional endpoint protections.

Requirement 6: Develop and maintain secure systems and software

Secure development depends on visibility into data usage.

• Identifies applications handling PCI data
• Prevents sensitive data from appearing in code or logs
• Supports secure development lifecycle controls

Example: PCI data is detected in application logs, prompting code changes.

Requirement 7: Restrict access by business need to know

Access controls rely on accurate classification.

• Identifies who can access PCI data
• Highlights excessive permissions
• Supports least-privilege enforcement

Example: Discovery shows PCI data accessible to nonessential users.

Requirement 8: Identify users and authenticate access

Authentication controls must cover all PCI systems.

• Maps PCI data to identity systems
• Supports multi-factor authentication enforcement
• Improves audit readiness

Example: Newly discovered PCI systems are added to stronger authentication policies.

Requirement 9: Restrict physical access to cardholder data

Physical controls depend on knowing where data is stored.

• Identifies on-premises systems containing PCI data
• Supports facility access controls
• Reduces physical exposure

Example: PCI data is discovered on local servers in unsecured locations.

Requirement 10: Log and monitor access

Monitoring requires clarity on data locations.

• Enables targeted logging for PCI systems
• Improves incident detection
• Supports forensic investigations

Example: Logging is enabled for newly identified PCI repositories.

Requirement 11: Test security regularly

Testing efforts depend on accurate scoping.

• Ensures vulnerability scans cover all PCI systems
• Prevents audit gaps
• Improves remediation prioritization

Example: Penetration testing scope expands after discovery identifies new PCI data locations.

Requirement 12: Support security with organizational policies

Governance requires continuous visibility.

• Aligns policies with real data usage
• Supports compliance reporting
• Enables ongoing risk management

Example: Discovery insights inform updated data handling policies.

Valuable Tools for PCI Data Discovery

Modern PCI data discovery requires automation, scale and accuracy.

• Continuous PCI data discovery: Forcepoint Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) enables continuous discovery across cloud and on-premises environments. It provides ongoing visibility rather than point-in-time scans, supporting an effective DSPM strategy focused on reducing risk.
• AI-driven PCI classification: Forcepoint DSPM uses machine learning to classify PCI data accurately across structured and unstructured sources. This aligns with classifying data in Forcepoint and reduces false positives.
• Prebuilt PCI detection policies: Prebuilt policies align discovery with PCI DSS requirements and reduce configuration effort.
• High-speed, large-scale scanning: Forcepoint DSPM supports rapid scanning across large data volumes without disrupting operations.
• Unified PCI data inventory: A centralized inventory provides a single view of PCI data locations, context and risk. DSPM can automate data discovery across environments.
• PCI risk scoring and prioritization: Risk-based scoring helps teams focus remediation efforts on the highest-impact exposures.
• DLP enforcement for PCI data: Discovery integrates with enforcement, enabling consistent controls across endpoints, cloud apps and networks through Forcepoint DSPM features.
• Automated PCI data remediation: Automated workflows trigger actions such as encryption, access restriction or deletion when risky PCI data is identified.

For a practical walkthrough of Focepoint DSPM capabilities, watch this video:

Guarantee PCI Compliance with Forcepoint

Effective PCI data discovery is not a one-time initiative. It is an ongoing capability that supports compliance, reduces risk and improves operational resilience. By combining continuous discovery, AI-driven classification and integrated remediation, Forcepoint enables organizations to manage PCI data proactively.

Forcepoint solutions support PCI data discovery in retail environments and other industries. In another example, a healthcare organization discovered PCI data with Forcepoint, improving visibility and reducing exposure.

For a sample of the discovery capabilities of Forcepoint DSPM, sign up for a free a Data Risk Assessment.