A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering PCI DSS for Cloud & Application Security Architects
Build defensible, repeatable compliance across distributed application environments
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Scattered PCI DSS implementation slows cloud velocity and increases audit risk
The situation this course is for
Teams apply controls inconsistently, leading to rework during audits and gaps in cross-cloud payment processing environments.
Who this is for
Senior security architect in a global tech or services firm, responsible for consistent security control application across cloud platforms and dev teams
Who this is not for
Junior compliance staff, auditors, or non-technical managers looking for policy templates without implementation depth
What you walk away with
- Consistent PCI DSS control mapping across AWS, Azure, and GCP payment-integrated workloads
- Authority to define standardized implementation patterns accepted across dev teams
- Reduced audit preparation time through reusable evidence collection workflows
- Cross-functional alignment on scoping decisions for payment channels
- Defensible control narratives that hold up under regulator follow-up
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. PCI DSS scoping in modern cloud architectures
Define clear boundaries for payment data flows across containerized and serverless environments, avoiding over-scope and control drift.
12 chapters in this module
- Cloud payment data flow mapping
- Logical versus physical segmentation
- Service boundary ownership
- Microservices scoping rules
- Third-party processor inclusion
- Data tokenization impact on scope
- API gateway boundary controls
- Hybrid environment scoping
- Scopedepth assessment template
- Scope validation checklist
- Scope change governance
- Scope sign-off workflow
Module 2. Secure system configuration for cloud payment environments
Implement standardized baselines for VMs, containers, and serverless runtimes handling cardholder data.
12 chapters in this module
- Hardened image pipelines
- CIS Benchmarks adaptation
- Runtime configuration drift
- Secrets management integration
- OS-level logging standards
- Just-in-time access model
- Immutable host patterns
- Host integrity monitoring
- Container image scanning
- Serverless permission policies
- Auto-remediation rules
- Configuration audit trail
Module 3. Protecting cardholder data in transit and at rest
Apply consistent encryption standards across cloud-native storage and messaging systems.
12 chapters in this module
- TLS 1.2+ enforcement strategy
- Certificate lifecycle management
- End-to-end encryption patterns
- KMS key usage policies
- Customer-managed versus cloud keys
- Data encryption in serverless
- Tokenization gateway integration
- Data masking in non-prod
- Session encryption standards
- Key rotation automation
- Data flow encryption audit
- Encryption exception tracking
Module 4. Vulnerability management in payment systems
Integrate scanning and patching into CI/CD pipelines without delaying release velocity.
12 chapters in this module
- Dynamic scan timing rules
- Static analysis integration
- Critical patch SLAs
- False positive reduction
- Scan coverage validation
- Container vulnerability policy
- Serverless scan limitations
- Pen testing coordination
- Remediation ownership model
- Scan result centralization
- Risk acceptance workflow
- Patch impact analysis
Module 5. Identity and access control for payment environments
Enforce least privilege and segregation of duties across cloud platforms handling card data.
12 chapters in this module
- IAM role scoping
- Privileged access review rhythm
- Justified access exceptions
- MFA enforcement standards
- Break-glass account controls
- Federated identity mapping
- Service account hardening
- Access logging standards
- Role-based access templates
- Access review automation
- Segregation of duties rules
- Access revocation triggers
Module 6. Logging and monitoring for audit readiness
Ensure complete, immutable logs are collected and available for compliance verification.
12 chapters in this module
- Log source inventory
- Critical event list
- Log retention policies
- Immutable storage setup
- SIEM correlation rules
- Log access controls
- Centralized log architecture
- Log integrity validation
- Event timestamp standards
- Log review procedures
- Incident linkage to logs
- Audit log extraction tool
Module 7. Change management for PCI-compliant systems
Standardize approval and documentation processes for changes to cardholder environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Change advisory board setup
- Emergency change rules
- Backout procedure standards
- Change impact assessment
- Automated change tracking
- Peer review requirements
- Documentation templates
- Change freeze policies
- Vendor change handling
- Cloud-native change control
- Rollback testing
- Change audit trail
Module 8. PKI and certificate management for payment flows
Operationalize certificate lifecycle management across distributed APIs and services.
12 chapters in this module
- Certificate inventory process
- Automated issuance
- Wildcard certificate policy
- Certificate expiration alerts
- Internal PKI use cases
- Certificate transparency
- Revocation checking
- Short-lived certificate use
- Multi-cloud CA strategy
- Certificate audit readiness
- FIPS-compliant usage
- Certificate ownership model
Module 9. Third-party risk in payment ecosystems
Assess and monitor compliance posture of vendors processing or storing card data.
12 chapters in this module
- Vendor risk scoring
- Compliance evidence collection
- Contractual control obligations
- Subservice provider oversight
- Third-party audit rights
- Continuous monitoring tools
- Risk tiering model
- Vendor onboarding checklist
- Offshore processing risks
- Shared responsibility model
- Vendor incident response
- Exit planning
Module 10. Application security in PCI environments
Integrate secure coding standards and testing into development workflows.
12 chapters in this module
- Secure coding standards
- SAST integration
- DAST timing rules
- Code review checklists
- Open source risk policy
- API security testing
- Web application firewall rules
- Input validation standards
- Error handling
- Session management
- Business logic flaws
- DevSecOps metrics
Module 11. Compensating controls and documentation
Justify and maintain documented alternatives where standard controls can't be applied.
12 chapters in this module
- Compensating control criteria
- Documentation standards
- Risk justification
- Internal review process
- Compensating control audit
- Control equivalence assessment
- Temporary versus permanent
- Management sign-off
- Evidence collection
- Review frequency
- Control interaction
- Control sunset policy
Module 12. Audit preparation and evidence delivery
Streamline evidence collection and reduce back-and-forth during compliance assessments.
12 chapters in this module
- Evidence request tracking
- Document naming standards
- Audit interview prep
- Evidence version control
- Automated evidence collection
- Gap identification process
- Pre-audit walkthrough
- Response ownership
- Finding classification
- Remediation tracking
- Audit follow-up
- Audit closure checklist
How this maps to your situation
- Application onboarding with payment capability
- Cloud migration of cardholder systems
- Preparation for QSA assessment
- Cross-region compliance alignment
Before vs. after
Before
Manual, inconsistent PCI DSS implementation across teams leads to audit findings and rework.
After
Standardized, reusable control application across cloud environments with clear ownership and audit readiness.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: 90 minutes per module, 18-24 hours total for full course completion
If nothing changes
Continued patchwork compliance increases audit risk, slows cloud migration, and fragments security authority.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic PCI DSS overviews, this course focuses on architectural decision patterns, control implementation trade-offs, and cross-team coordination unique to senior cloud security roles.
Frequently asked
Is this course technical or policy-focused?
It's technical and implementation-focused, designed for architects who define patterns and review designs, not for auditors or compliance staff.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Does this cover cloud-native payment processing?
Yes, every module includes patterns for AWS, Azure, and GCP with containerized and serverless workloads.
$199 one-time. 90 minutes per module, 18-24 hours total for full course completion.
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours