Who is responsible for forensic investigations in the event of account data compromise?

The responsibility for forensic investigations in the event of account data compromise primarily rests with the payment brands. Payment brands, like Visa or Mastercard, have established protocols and teams dedicated to investigating breaches that affect their networks. They possess not only the authority but also the technical expertise to trace and mitigate the impact of a data compromise.

In the scenario of a data breach, payment brands need to ensure that proper investigations are conducted to assess the scope of the compromise, identify affected parties, and take necessary actions to protect cardholders and maintain trust in their systems. They work closely with merchants and law enforcement where necessary, but their role is central due to their overarching responsibility for the integrity of the payment ecosystem.

Merchants, while they have a significant role in securing their payment systems and reporting breaches, are typically not equipped to conduct comprehensive forensic investigations on the scale required by the payment brands. Cardholders may be affected by breaches, but they do not have the responsibility or capability to handle forensic investigations. Law enforcement agencies may become involved during or after an investigation, often in a supportive capacity, but the primary responsibility lies with the payment brands.