Unusual Questions About PCI DSS
In this episode of InfoSec Insider, Alastair Stewart and Tibor Laczko, both Senior Consultants and Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) with URM, answer the niche and unusual questions they encounter around the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Alastair and Tibor leverage nearly 30 years’ combined experience with the PCI DSS to discuss:
- The strangest misconceptions they have heard about PCI DSS and cardholder data security
- What PCI DSS would look like if it were invented today, and what would be left out entirely
- The simple PCI DSS controls that people routinely misunderstand
- The most unusual systems or devices they have seen brought into scope
- Whether something can be both technically compliant and completely insecure at the same time, and whether there is such a thing as ‘too compliant’
- Finer technical details of the Standard, such as Kubernetes network policies, how to evidence a control that never triggers, corporate VPNs that impact segmentation, and more.
Your questions matter
If there’s a PCI DSS related issue you’d like us to explore, share it with us below. We’ll use listener questions to guide future discussions and ensure our episodes tackle the challenges that matter most to businesses like yours.
About the InfoSec Insider
The InfoSec Insider podcast brings you weekly interviews with practicing senior consultants, who draw upon their extensive experience to provide detailed and practical guidance on all things information and cyber security, data protection compliance, risk management, and more. In each episode, one of our experts takes a deep-dive into a particular aspect of their area of specialism, whether that be certifying to ISO 27001, outlining some top tips for GDPR compliance, making the case for alternative approaches to pen testing, or discussing how to conduct an effective business impact analysis (BIA). Enhance your understanding and professional skillset with the InfoSec Insider podcast, brought to you by URM, the UK’s leading provider of cyber security and governance, risk management and compliance consultancy.
Contact the InfoSec Experts Today
Having assisted over 450 organisations to implement an ISMS and then achieve ISO 27001 certification since the Standard was first published in 2005, we at URM are the ideal partners to help you certify. With our fully-tailored approach, our specialists can support you through each stage of the ISO 27001 management system lifecycle, offering guidance specific to your organisation’s unique requirements.
Get in touch with our information security experts today to find out more.

InfoSec Solutions & Products
One the key requirements of ISO 27001 is the need for a robust risk assessment process which can produce repeatable and comparable results. With its proven, best practice methodology, URM’s information security risk management software, Abriska 27001, enables you to meet this requirement. We can also assist you to raise and maintain awareness among your staff with our expertly designed and engaging learning management system (LMS), Alurna.

InfoSec Training Courses
Our information security and risk management training courses can help you learn how to effectively manage information security. Our Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP) and Practitioner Certificate in Information Risk Management (PCIRM) training courses will prepare you to take the BCS (Chartered Institute for IT) administered exams, enabling you to gain industry-recognised qualifications.
Webinars & Events
URM has gained a reputation as the preeminent UK provider of live webinars, aimed at delivering valuable and practical insights to organisations looking to improve their information security, risk management, data protection etc. The webinars are delivered by our senior consultants who share hints and tips on topics such as certifying to ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials, complying with the GDPR. All of our webinars are completely free to attend, and include an opportunity to ask questions at the end.
A comprehensive breakdown of ISO 42001, why it matters, and what it involves, and practical guidance on how to successfully implement and certify to Standard
As a licensed DCC certification body URM explains how the scheme works and what it means for defence suppliers.
Learn how to achieve ISO 27001 certification with guidance from URM and BSI. Understand key steps, benefits, and pitfalls in implementing an effective ISMS.

Information Security FAQs
What are 4 types of information security?
If we look to guidance from Annex A of ISO 27001, then the answer is organisational, people, physical and technological. The International Standard groups information security into these 4 categories. The ‘organisational’ category requires the creation of policies, roles and responsibilities and day-to-day business activities. The ‘people’ category ensures that the most appropriate staff are employed, and that they understand what is expected of them in relation to the business’ approach to infosec. ‘Physical’ controls relate to the security of business premises, clear desk policies etc, whilst, ‘technological’ controls relate to measures that may be adopted by organisations to assist in securing information through the use of technology such as capacity management, configuration management, change management, network security, firewalls, cryptography etc.
What are the 3 principles of information security?
The three aspects that information security (infosec) seeks to protect are ‘confidentiality’, ‘integrity’ and ‘availability’. Confidentiality ensures that information is not made available or disclosed to unauthorised entities. Integrity protects the accuracy and completeness of assets, whilst Availability ensures that information is accessible and usable on demand by authorised individuals.tc.
What are information security examples?
Examples of information security include encryption, firewalls, antivirus software, multi-factor authentication (MFA), vetting of individuals, controlling access to premises / information and providing staff awareness training.
What are 5 information security policies?
Policies provide direction on your organisation’s approach to different aspects of information security management. Policies may relate to the classification of data, password management, acceptable use of assets, authentication procedures and incident response - these are five examples, but your organisation may choose to formulate a policy relating to any aspect of information security (infosec) management.

