Are you prepared for PCI DSS 4.0.1 security standard updates?

This update includes protocols for merchants to validate JavaScript loaded on their pages using subresource integrity (SRI) to help ensure only authorized scripts are loaded and verify their integrity. The standard sets comprehensive requirements aimed at ensuring the security of cardholder data, including SRI to ensure external resources loaded by web apps are secure.

SRI is a modern security feature that helps web developers ensure the integrity of external resources like JavaScript or CSS files. By specifying a cryptographic hash in the HTML or

While PCI DSS 4.0.1 introduces updates to enhance data security and provides recommendations for SRI to protect against manipulation of external resources, three main focuses stand out for why you should implement them:

1. Enhanced security for web applications
2. Protection against supply chain attacks
3. Compliance and best practices
    

By implementing SRI, you can help prevent attackers from injecting malicious codes into your web pages, reducing the risk of data breaches. Additionally, SRI can mitigate third-party attacks on resources by helping ensure only verified, untampered resources load, protecting the integrity of the supply chain. Lastly, while PCI DSS 4.0.1 doesn’t mandate the use of SRI, it strongly encourages adopting best practices to enhance security. Implementing SRI aligns with these best practices and demonstrates a proactive approach to securing your web applications.

To implement SRI effectively within the scope of PCI DSS 4.0.1, follow these four recommended steps:

1. Generate hashes for resources on all external resources your web application relies on. Tools like OpenSSL can generate these hashes
2. Update HTML tags that reference external resources to ensure the browser will verify the integrity of the resources before loading them
3. Regularly update hashes whenever an external resource is updated so your SRI implementation remains effective
4. Monitor and audit your SRI implementation for an integrity check and to verify that no unauthorized changes have been made to your resources or their hashes
    

Subresource integrity is a powerful tool to help ensure the integrity of external resources loaded by web applications. Implementing SRI with PCI DSS 4.0.1 helps enhance web app security, protects against supply chain attacks, and aligns with best practices for data security. By embracing SRI and adhering to the PCI DSS 4.0.1 guidelines, you can enhance cardholder data protection and boost security.

While compliance changes can shake up the market, they don’t need to affect your business. With the right fraud and data strategies, your business can be prepared for any changes that come your way. With Visa Acceptance Solutions, you’ll be at the forefront of security and credit card solutions. And in preparation for these changes, we are enhancing our card acceptance product Microform V2 to ensure adherence with PCI DSS 4.0.1 standards requirements so you are protected in the best way possible.