The March 31, 2025 deadline for mandatory PCI DSS 4.0 compliance is just days away. If your organization processes credit or debit card transactions, you must ensure full compliance now to avoid security risks, penalties, or even losing the ability to process payments.
This major update brings stricter security requirements to keep up with today’s advanced cyber threats—especially in areas like API security, client-side protection, and web application firewalls (WAFs). If these critical protections—WAF, API security, and client-side defenses—aren’t in place or top of mind, time is running out. Here’s what you need to know to secure your payment environment and stay compliant.
Key Changes in PCI DSS 4.0 and Best Practices for Compliance
1. Web Application Security: WAF Is No Longer Optional
PCI DSS 4.0 makes Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) mandatory, requiring organizations to actively detect and prevent attacks against payment applications.
Best Practice:
- Deploy a comprehensive WAF that provides real-time protection against known and unknown threats.
- Automate security policy updates to keep up with evolving attack methods.
- Implement AI-driven threat detection to block zero-day exploits and sophisticated bots.
2. API Protection: Defending Against Business Logic Attacks (BLA)
APIs are now a major attack surface for cybercriminals. PCI DSS 4.0 introduces strict API security controls to prevent Business Logic Attacks (BLAs) that manipulate payment flows.
Best Practice:
- Maintain a full inventory of API endpoints and continuously monitor for suspicious behavior.
- Implement real-time anomaly detection to stop unauthorized API transactions.
- Use AI-based security solutions to protect business logic without disrupting legitimate activity.
3. Client-Side Security: Protecting Payment Pages from Attacks
PCI DSS 4.0 mandates client-side security to defend against Magecart, formjacking, and script injection attacks that compromise customer payment data.
Best Practice:
- Monitor all third-party scripts running on payment pages.
- Ensure script integrity controls (Section 6.4.3) prevent unauthorized modifications.
- Deploy tamper-detection mechanisms (Section 11.6.1) to receive real-time alerts on suspicious script changes.
4. Automated Compliance Reporting
PCI DSS 4.0 requires continuous security monitoring and detailed compliance reporting to prove adherence.
Best Practice:
- Use automated compliance reporting to generate audit-ready security reports.
- Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
- Maintain a centralized compliance dashboard for real-time visibility into security status.
How Radware Can Help You Achieve PCI DSS 4.0 Compliance
With the compliance deadline just days away, Radware offers a complete security solution to help businesses achieve and maintain PCI DSS 4.0 compliance.
Radware’s PCI DSS Compliance Offering Includes:
- Web Application Firewall (WAF) – AI-driven threat prevention for web apps
- API Security – Real-time protection against Business Logic Attacks
- Client-Side Protection – Monitors third-party scripts to prevent formjacking
- Automated PCI DSS Reports – Simplifies compliance with real-time audit reports
Learn More
Ensure your business is PCI DSS 4.0 compliant today. Download the Radware PCI DSS Compliance Solution Brief to see how Radware can help.