What is required when storing cardholder data for business purposes?

When storing cardholder data for business purposes, it is essential to have both justification and security measures in place. This reflects the PCI DSS requirement for businesses to have a legitimate need for storing sensitive data, ensuring they can articulate the reason for doing so. Additionally, appropriate security measures must be implemented to protect this sensitive data from unauthorized access and breaches, which aligns with the overarching goal of protecting cardholder information.

The justification aspect emphasizes the importance of having a valid purpose for retaining the data rather than storing it indiscriminately. Security measures could include encryption, access controls, or any other protocols necessary to mitigate potential risks associated with data storage.

In contrast, while strict employee access is important, it is just one aspect of a broader security framework. Encryption, while essential for protecting data in transit and at rest, does not encompass the complete range of requirements for storing cardholder data. Similarly, complete deletion after a month may not be practical or necessary for all business cases, especially if the data is legitimately needed for longer periods; therefore, such a blanket rule wouldn’t address the need for justification in data storage decisions.