A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering PCI DSS for Premium Managers in CPG
Build auditable, defensible payment security practices rooted in real-world execution and framework precision.
$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.
Losing influence when compliance teams question your campaign setup?
The situation this course is for
Premium initiatives often collide with payment security reviews. Without a clear, example-backed rationale tied to actual PCI DSS requirements, even well-designed launches get delayed or reshaped by risk teams who don’t fully grasp your model.
Who this is for
Senior Premium Managers in CPG with direct responsibility for customer-facing campaigns that involve payment collection or stored card data, operating at companies with multi-channel sales models.
Who this is not for
Entry-level marketers, consultants without CPG experience, or practitioners outside premium brand or direct-to-consumer roles.
What you walk away with
- Articulate the rationale behind scoping decisions using official PCI DSS control language and real segmentation examples
- Present network architecture choices backed by documented precedents from similar CPG implementations
- Defend tokenization strategy with clear mappings to Requirement 3 and Appendix A1
- Preempt auditor questions with annotated data flow diagrams tied to control objectives
- Navigate compromise decisions between customer experience and Requirement 4 (encryption) using published retailer patterns
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding PCI DSS in the CPG Context
Learn how the framework applies specifically to premium brand operations with direct payment capture, including exemptions and common misinterpretations in retail-linked campaigns.
12 chapters in this module
- What PCI DSS regulates in CPG
- Merchant levels explained
- Common myths about scope
- Cardholder data in CRM systems
- Embedded payments in campaigns
- My company sells beer, why does PCI apply?
- Role of the acquiring bank
- Self-assessment questionnaires overview
- SAQ A vs SAQ D differences
- When to involve a QSA
- Data flow basics
- How digital coupons affect scope
Module 2. Scoping and Segmentation Strategy
Master techniques to minimize compliance footprint while maintaining customer experience, using real segmentation patterns from beverage and consumer brands.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining the CDE clearly
- Network segmentation essentials
- Firewall configuration examples
- VLANs and air gaps compared
- Proxy pattern for web forms
- Tokenization upstream benefits
- Third-party processor boundaries
- Shared environment risks
- Wireless segmentation exceptions
- Legacy system containment
- Documentation for assessor review
- Common scope creep triggers
Module 3. Requirement 1: Firewall Configuration
Implement and justify firewall rules that protect cardholder environments, with examples from distributed retail deployments.
12 chapters in this module
- Standard rule sets for CPG
- Default deny principles
- Admin access control
- Change management logs
- Router vs firewall roles
- Rule documentation format
- Time-bound access examples
- Cloud provider firewall limits
- Hybrid network models
- Remote support controls
- Rule review cycles
- Exception tracking
Module 4. Requirement 2: System Configuration
Apply secure baselines to servers and devices handling payment data, aligned with CIS Benchmarks and vendor guidance.
12 chapters in this module
- Default accounts removal
- Vendor-supplied passwords
- System hardening checklist
- Unnecessary services disable
- Secure configuration templates
- CMDB integration
- Patch management rhythm
- Baseline drift detection
- Automated scanning tools
- Central logging setup
- Role-based access model
- Audit log retention
Module 5. Requirement 3: Protecting Stored Data
Evaluate data retention needs and apply proven redaction and encryption patterns that align with both marketing goals and compliance.
12 chapters in this module
- Do you need PAN at all?
- Tokenization architecture
- Masking in POS systems
- Database encryption options
- Key management models
- PAN truncation rules
- Legacy archive exposure
- Data retention policies
- Legal hold conflicts
- Encryption in transit details
- Token vault ownership
- Reversibility risks
Module 6. Requirement 4: Encrypted Transmission
Implement TLS correctly across customer touchpoints, with configuration examples for web and mobile checkout.
12 chapters in this module
- TLS 1.2 vs 1.3
- Certificate lifecycle
- SSL decapitation model
- Load balancer setup
- Mobile app certificate pinning
- Public Wi-Fi risks
- Expired cert response
- OCSP stapling
- HSTS implementation
- Cipher suite selection
- TLS on internal links
- Monitoring for fallback
Module 7. Requirement 5: Malware Protection
Deploy endpoint controls that satisfy assessor expectations while supporting diverse user environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Antivirus policy design
- Signature update frequency
- Behavioral detection
- Whitelist vs blacklist
- Endpoint detection tools
- BYOD policy integration
- Mobile device management
- Zero-day response plan
- False positive tuning
- Logs from AV systems
- Automatic quarantine
- Incident escalation
Module 8. Requirement 6: Secure Development
Apply secure coding practices to in-house tools and campaigns that handle card data, with retailer-specific guardrails.
12 chapters in this module
- Code review requirements
- Penetration testing frequency
- OWASP Top 10 relevance
- Input validation techniques
- Error handling safely
- Custom app scope
- Third-party library risks
- SDLC integration
- DevOps pipeline controls
- API security basics
- No self-signed in prod
- Change approval trail
Module 9. Requirement 7: Access Control
Design role-based access models that enforce least privilege while enabling campaign agility.
12 chapters in this module
- Role definition process
- Least privilege examples
- Named user accounts
- Service account rules
- Access review logs
- Emergency access process
- Temporary access expiry
- Segregation of duties
- Marketing ops boundaries
- Audit trail completeness
- Remote access controls
- Break-glass procedures
Module 10. Requirement 8: Authentication
Strengthen multi-factor adoption and password policies in ways that work for distributed teams and field staff.
12 chapters in this module
- MFA for admin access
- Password complexity rules
- Single sign-on integration
- Biometric use cases
- Password vaults allowed
- Session timeout standards
- Failed login lockout
- Brute force detection
- Phishing-resistant MFA
- Physical badge systems
- Remote worker access
- Audit of authentication logs
Module 11. Requirement 9: Physical Security
Apply controls to physical locations that process or store card data, with examples from retail and distribution centers.
12 chapters in this module
- Locked room requirements
- Data center access logs
- Visitor sign-in process
- Camera coverage standards
- Shipping and receiving
- POS terminal security
- Dumpster policy
- Device disposal process
- Beverage truck security
- Warehouse access tiers
- Tamper-evident seals
- Physical audit walkthrough
Module 12. Validation and Maintenance
Prepare for successful audits with documented processes, internal scans, and continuous monitoring tailored to CPG timelines.
12 chapters in this module
- Internal quarterly scans
- External ASV scans
- ROV documentation
- Attestation of Compliance
- SAQ completion
- Penetration test reports
- Change impact review
- Ongoing monitoring tools
- Compliance calendar
- Executive reporting format
- Vendor compliance checks
- Sustaining defensible position
How this maps to your situation
- When launching a new direct-to-consumer campaign
- Before engaging a QSA for audit
- After a security review raises scope questions
- During annual compliance refresh
Before vs. after
Before
Campaigns face delays when payment security questions arise, and decisions lack documented rationale tied to PCI DSS.
After
Every design choice is backed by control-specific reasoning, clear examples, and implementation playbooks that hold up under review.
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: Approximately 2.5 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active campaign cycles.
If nothing changes
Without a defensible interpretation of PCI DSS, your team may default to over-scoping, increase costs unnecessarily, or lose decision authority to external assessors.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic PCI DSS overviews, this course focuses exclusively on CPG-specific applications, real segmentation patterns from beverage brands, and practical trade-offs between customer experience and compliance.
Frequently asked
How is this different from a standard PCI DSS training?
This course is built specifically for Premium Managers in CPG who need to defend design and scoping decisions, not for IT staff preparing for an audit. It emphasizes rationale, real examples, and cross-functional credibility.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this help me pass an audit?
While not a guarantee, the course equips you with defensible reasoning and documented patterns that align with assessor expectations and reduce friction during review.
$199 one-time. Approximately 2.5 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active campaign cycles..
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