Introduction
PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is not optional; it’s the backbone of trust for businesses handling credit card data. But here’s the catch: most cloud providers disclaim full responsibility for compliance. They provide the tools but you carry the liability.
Let’s unpack why PCI-DSS compliance often fails in the cloud and why hosting your infrastructure on-premise with EXIGENCY protects your customers and your reputation.
Visibility Gaps = Audit Failures
Cloud infrastructure obscures logs, access control, and network architecture. During a PCI audit, gaps in documentation or opaque access chains can result in instant compliance failure. With on-prem systems, you control every log, firewall, and access path. That means no missing records, and no excuses.
Inconsistent Access Control
Many cloud platforms allow role sprawl, users with far more access than they need. That violates PCI-DSS requirements 7 and 8. Worse, misconfigured cloud IAM can expose cardholder data to third parties. EXIGENCY’s zero-trust access policies ensure tight user provisioning, monitored changes, and complete isolation of sensitive data zones.
Cloud Monitoring Costs Extra
Advanced logging and intrusion detection often require costly add-ons or third-party integrations in the cloud. On-prem, these are built into the stack. EXIGENCY deploys real-time monitoring and alerting out of the box and no premium SKU required.
Physical Security Is Ignored in Cloud Compliance
PCI-DSS requires physical access controls to servers holding cardholder data. Cloud vendors can’t guarantee that your data is isolated from other tenants or securely stored in compliant zones. With EXIGENCY, your servers are housed in locked, access-controlled environments and are verified by you, not someone else.
FINAL THOUGHTS: OWN COMPLIANCE, OWN TRUST
When PCI audits come knocking, half-measures won’t cut it. EXIGENCY’s self-hosted, hardened environments are purpose-built to exceed PCI-DSS standards with real-time evidence, physical control, and digital transparency. Don’t risk fines or worse, customer trust. Host it yourself.
No comment