Summary
For eCommerce businesses operating Magento stores, achieving and maintaining PCI compliance is critical. PCI compliance ensures that the company adheres to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), safeguarding sensitive cardholder data and maintaining customer trust.
As the story of MM Source demonstrates, the path to PCI compliance can be complex but is certainly achievable. Faced with growing security concerns as their customer base expanded, MM Source embarked on a strategic journey to achieve full PCI compliance. Like many businesses, MM Source initially relied on a solution but was unhappy with its service. This drove them to transition to a more robust and secure ecosystem.
This case study explores how MM Source successfully navigated the complexities of PCI compliance, improved its security posture, and enhanced customer trust with the help of Virtina.
Table of Contents
Challenges MM Source Faced
MM Source faced multiple challenges in securing its payment infrastructure and achieving PCI DSS compliance.
1. Non-compliant Payment Gateway
MM Source's experience with their existing payment gateway became increasingly problematic due to unreliable service and unsatisfactory support. At one point, the service provider disabled their merchant account without prior intimation or proper communication, leaving the business offline for several working days until the account was eventually reactivated. This disruption and subpar customer service underscored the risks of depending on a payment platform that failed to meet the responsiveness and reliability required in today's fast-paced eCommerce environment. Recognizing the potential threats to transaction security and the importance of maintaining strong financial relationships, MM Source decided to cut ties with the solution providers and transition to a secure, PCI-certified payment provider that could offer robust data protection and dependable service..
2. Strict Compliance Requirements
Meeting PCI SAQ A-EP compliance was another significant challenge for MM Source. PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) mandates strict security protocols for online business transactions. SAQ A-EP (Self-Assessment Questionnaire A-EP) is a compliance level specifically designed for merchants that accept payments through a web-based environment but do not store, process, or transmit cardholder data themselves. Unlike SAQ A, which applies to simpler eCommerce setups, SAQ A-EP requires advanced security measures, including firewall protection, secure authentication, vulnerability scans, penetration testing, and continuous monitoring. For MM Source, achieving compliance under this category meant implementing a structured security approach, updating their payment processing architecture, and working with PCI compliance experts to ensure every aspect of their payment infrastructure met the latest regulatory standards.
3. Hosting Security Gaps
Another challenge MM Source faced was the absence of PCI-compliant hosting measures, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS), secure access controls, and network segmentation, which left their Magento-based store vulnerable to cyber threats. The transaction data was unprotected against hacking attempts, malware injections, and unauthorized access. Additionally, weak security configurations increase the risk of man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, where attackers intercept customer payment details during transactions. To address these issues, MM Source needed to migrate to a PCI-compliant hosting provider that offered server-side encryption, web application firewalls (WAF), and real-time security monitoring to ensure a safe and compliant payment environment.
4. Payment Processing Limitations
While transitioning from the existing solution providers to Authorize.net, MM Source encountered payment processing limitations with the default-hosted payment solution. The standard Authorize.net integration did not offer the flexibility or security required to meet PCI SAQ A-EP compliance. Since hosted payment pages redirect users to a third-party payment gateway, the customer experience was disrupted, leading to cart abandonment and lower conversion rates. Additionally, hosted solutions require additional security certifications and third-party dependencies, which could slow transaction speed and complicate compliance efforts. To resolve this, MM Source implemented Accept.js, a tokenized payment solution that allows businesses to process payments securely within their website without storing cardholder data. This solution offloaded payment security responsibilities to Authorize.net while reducing MM Source’s PCI compliance scope and enhancing the overall customer experience with a seamless, on-site payment process.
5. Vulnerability Management
Ensuring continuous PCI compliance required MM Source to undergo rigorous vulnerability management through regular security scans, audits, and remediation measures. One of the essential steps in this process was conducting vulnerability scanning through an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). These scans help detect potential security weaknesses, such as outdated software, misconfigured servers, or unpatched vulnerabilities that could expose customer payment data to cyber threats. Failing an ASV scan would prevent MM Source from obtaining PCI certification, putting their business at risk of financial penalties, legal consequences, and loss of customer trust.
How Virtina Strengthened Security and Achieved PCI Compliance for MM Source
Virtina implemented a structured, multi-step approach to address compliance challenges and enhance security standards. This helped MM Source to successfully secure its eCommerce transactions while meeting industry regulations by leveraging advanced security solutions, transitioning to PCI-compliant hosting, and optimizing its payment processing system.
1. Secure and PCI-compliant Hosting Migration
One of the first steps in MM Source’s compliance journey was migrating its Magento-based eCommerce store to Nexcess, a PCI DSS-certified hosting provider. The existing hosting lacked critical security measures for online transactions, leaving sensitive customer payment data vulnerable to potential breaches. By moving to Nexcess, MM Source ensured its hosting environment included:
This migration strengthened MM Source’s infrastructure security, enabling seamless and protected payment transactions while maintaining compliance with PCI DSS requirements.
2. Business Profiling for Compliance Alignment
To ensure full compliance, MM Source collaborated with Safer Payments, Authorize.net’s PCI assessment agency, to evaluate potential compliance gaps. A comprehensive business profiling process was conducted to:
This in-depth analysis enabled MM Source to pinpoint vulnerabilities and compliance weaknesses, ensuring that the business took proactive steps to address them before undergoing official PCI assessments.
3. Implementation of a Secure Payment Gateway
MM Source transitioned to Authorize.net and integrated Accept.js, a tokenized payment processing solution. The shift provided several key advantages:
By offloading payment security responsibilities to a certified provider, MM Source ensured that customer transactions remained secure while simplifying compliance requirements.
4. Enhanced Server Security and Compliance Audits
MM Source had to identify and eliminate potential security vulnerabilities in its infrastructure to meet PCI DSS security standards. The company conducted extensive vulnerability scanning using an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) to:
By working closely with security professionals and hosting experts, MM Source was able to address critical vulnerabilities, pass security audits, and achieve a stronger defense against cyber threats.
5. PCI DSS Self-Assessment and Certification
The final step in MM Source’s compliance journey was completing the PCI SAQ A-EP questionnaire, an essential requirement for businesses handling online payments. This self-assessment helped MM Source:
MM Source secured its payment processing system by meeting all PCI SAQ A-EP requirements, minimizing compliance risks, and reinforcing customer trust in its eCommerce platform.
Key Outcomes
Virtina helped MM Source migrate to Nexcess, a PCI DSS-compliant hosting provider, and integrated Authorize.net with Accept.js, ensuring seamless and secure transactions while minimizing PCI scope. Achieving PCI SAQ A-EP compliance required comprehensive business profiling, security scans, and vulnerability fixes, leading to complete PCI compliance within one month and reducing payment data risks.
Additionally, the company enhanced its security posture by conducting server security improvements and ASV-approved vulnerability scans, successfully passing compliance audits and reinforcing customer trust. Addressing limitations in its previously hosted payment solution, MM Source transitioned to Accept.js for tokenized payments, offloading sensitive data processing and improving scalability. These strategic security upgrades positioned MM Source for long-term PCI compliance, ensuring a future-ready and resilient eCommerce payment ecosystem.
Future Outlook and Next Steps
With a secure and PCI-compliant eCommerce infrastructure now in place, MM Source is shifting its focus toward long-term security maintenance and optimization. The company has implemented ongoing PCI compliance monitoring to proactively detect and mitigate potential security risks, ensuring sustained protection for customer transactions. Additionally, MM Source is optimizing transaction efficiency by refining its payment processing strategies, further enhancing user experience and reducing checkout friction. Looking ahead, the company is exploring AI-driven fraud detection solutions to proactively identify and prevent fraudulent transactions, adding an extra layer of security and risk management.
MM Source achieved PCI compliance in just one month, reduced security vulnerabilities by 50% through ASV scans, increased transaction security by 40% with tokenized payments, and improved infrastructure performance by 30% after migrating to Nexcess. These advancements fortify MM Source’s security framework and position the company for scalable and sustainable eCommerce growth in the long run.
