Securing servers that store payment card data is essential for any UK business that handles customer payments, especially if you want to meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This standard sets out specific technical and operational requirements to protect cardholder data from theft or unauthorised access. Simply put, it's about making sure your servers are locked down so criminals cannot steal payment information, which could lead to fines, reputational damage, and costly downtime.

Why securing payment data matters for your business

If your servers holding payment data are not properly secured, you risk data breaches that can disrupt your operations, cause loss of customer trust, and invite regulatory scrutiny from bodies like the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). For a typical UK SME with 10 to 200 staff, a breach could mean a forced shutdown of payment processing while you investigate and remediate the issue. This downtime impacts sales and staff productivity, not to mention the potential fines under UK GDPR and PCI DSS non-compliance penalties.

Imagine a mid-sized retail business that processes card payments both online and in-store. Without strong controls on their payment servers, an attacker exploits weak remote access credentials and installs malware to skim card data. The business only discovers the breach after customers report fraudulent charges. A trusted IT partner would have prevented this by enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA), regular patching, and continuous monitoring, plus helping the business respond quickly to contain the incident.

Key steps to secure your payment data servers

• Access control: Ensure only authorised staff can access payment servers. Use role-based permissions and enforce strong, unique passwords combined with MFA.
• Network segmentation: Separate payment servers from other parts of your network to limit exposure if another system is compromised.
• Regular updates and patching: Keep your server operating systems and payment applications up to date with security patches to close known vulnerabilities.
• Encryption: Use strong encryption for stored payment data and during transmission to protect data confidentiality.
• Logging and monitoring: Maintain detailed logs of access and changes to payment servers and review them regularly for suspicious activity.
• Backup and recovery: Have secure, tested backups of payment data and system configurations to restore operations quickly after an incident.
• Vendor and supplier management: Verify that any third-party providers involved in payment processing meet PCI DSS requirements and include this in your contracts and audits.
• Ask your IT provider: How do they implement PCI DSS controls on your servers? Can they provide evidence of compliance and regular vulnerability assessments?
• Internal checks: Review your access lists, confirm MFA is enabled, and verify that backups are stored securely offsite or in a compliant cloud environment.

Working with your IT partner

A knowledgeable managed IT service provider can help you implement and maintain these controls, tailor security measures to your business size and risk profile, and prepare for PCI DSS audits. They can also assist with incident response planning and staff training to reduce human error risks. Regular reviews and updates are essential as threats evolve and your business changes.

Given the complexity and importance of securing payment data, it's wise to discuss your current setup with a trusted IT advisor or managed service provider who understands PCI DSS and UK-specific requirements. They can help you identify gaps, prioritise improvements, and support compliance efforts without overwhelming your internal team.