During a PCI DSS assessment, which area is NOT directly related to cardholder data?

The area that is not directly related to cardholder data is public relations. In the context of PCI DSS, cardholder data encompasses information such as card numbers, expiration dates, and card verification codes, which are essential for processing payment transactions securely.

Web servers, kiosks, and authorization servers are all components of systems that interact with or process cardholder data. Web servers might host e-commerce sites where transactions occur, kiosks can facilitate the collection of payment information in physical locations, and authorization servers are responsible for approving or declining payment transactions based on cardholder data.

Public relations, however, deals with communication strategies and media relations, focusing on promoting a company’s image and managing its reputation. This function does not involve the handling, processing, or storage of cardholder data, making it the correct choice in this context.