A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering PCI DSS for Senior Solutions Architects
Build compliant, scalable payment systems with confidence and consistency
$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.
Frustration from reworking architecture due to late-stage compliance gaps
The situation this course is for
Solutions Architects often deliver technically sound designs only to face delays when compliance teams identify PCI DSS misalignments late in the cycle. This creates rework, erodes trust, and limits influence beyond the immediate project.
Who this is for
Senior Solutions Architect in a regulated financial institution designing payment-adjacent systems, responsible for balancing innovation, integration, and compliance
Who this is not for
Junior compliance staff, auditors, or developers implementing narrow components without system-wide design authority
What you walk away with
- Architect payment systems with embedded PCI DSS controls from day one
- Reduce rework cycles by aligning security and compliance stakeholders early
- Standardize reusable architecture patterns across regions and business units
- Become the go-to reference for PCI DSS implications across solution domains
- Deliver implementation-ready SoA and control summaries that accelerate approvals
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. PCI DSS Scope in Modern Payment Architectures
Define scope accurately across cloud, hybrid, and third-party environments using current NIST-aligned patterns.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping cardholder data flow in distributed systems
- Identifying in-scope systems and services
- Boundary definition with service mesh and API gateways
- Shared responsibility in cloud payment processing
- Tokenization zones and scope reduction
- Virtualization and container considerations
- Legacy integration without scope creep
- Third-party vendor inclusion criteria
- Data segmentation techniques
- Encryption boundary identification
- Network segmentation for PCI compliance
- Scope validation checklist
Module 2. Building Secure Network Architectures
Design networks that meet Requirement 1 with real-world resilience and integration flexibility.
12 chapters in this module
- Firewall rule design for payment zones
- Default-deny principles in microservices
- Zone-to-zone communication controls
- Router ACL management
- Cloud-native firewall patterns
- VPC peering compliance checks
- DMZ architecture for payment gateways
- Wireless network exclusion strategies
- Out-of-band management networks
- Network diagram documentation standards
- Change control for network policies
- Automated network compliance validation
Module 3. Role-Based Access Control Design
Implement least privilege access across platforms while maintaining operational efficiency.
12 chapters in this module
- User role definitions for payment systems
- Privileged access management integration
- Multi-factor authentication enforcement
- Session timeout configuration
- Access review automation
- Emergency account protocols
- Job rotation considerations
- Service account hardening
- Cloud IAM policies for PCI
- Directory synchronization security
- Access revocation triggers
- Logging access changes
Module 4. Encryption and Data Protection Strategies
Apply strong cryptography across data at rest and in transit using current industry benchmarks.
12 chapters in this module
- TLS version requirements and configuration
- Certificate lifecycle management
- Key management best practices
- HSM integration patterns
- Data encryption at rest
- Database encryption methods
- File-level encryption standards
- Cardholder data masking techniques
- Cryptography key rotation
- Key storage compliance
- End-to-end encryption design
- Secure key distribution
Module 5. Vulnerability Management Integration
Embed continuous scanning and patching into architectural lifecycle.
12 chapters in this module
- Quarterly scanning cadence integration
- Internal and external scan coordination
- False positive resolution process
- Critical patch deployment SLAs
- Automated vulnerability ingestion
- Risk acceptance documentation
- Compensating controls for unpatched systems
- Scanner placement in network zones
- Cloud asset discovery for scanning
- Container vulnerability workflows
- Zero-day response integration
- Remediation tracking systems
Module 6. Secure System Configuration
Enforce hardened baselines across platforms and environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Minimum baseline standards
- Vendor default removal
- Standard OS builds for PCI zones
- Host-based firewall rules
- Logging configuration
- File integrity monitoring
- Malware protection requirements
- System configuration automation
- Container image hardening
- Server role segregation
- Unnecessary service disablement
- Configuration drift detection
Module 7. Authentication and Session Management
Architect robust identity flows that meet requirement six and prevent abuse.
12 chapters in this module
- Password policy enforcement
- Multi-factor authentication design
- Session timeout architecture
- Credential storage safeguards
- Account lockout mechanisms
- Password recovery security
- API key lifecycle
- OAuth scope definition
- SSO integration compliance
- Biometric authentication use cases
- Token expiration policies
- Authentication logging
Module 8. Logging and Monitoring Architecture
Design monitoring systems that satisfy audit requirements and operational needs.
12 chapters in this module
- Event logging requirements
- Log retention architecture
- Centralized log management
- Log encryption and protection
- Time synchronization design
- Log review automation
- Event correlation strategies
- SIEM integration patterns
- Cloud-native logging solutions
- Alerting thresholds
- Incident response integration
- Log integrity validation
Module 9. Change and Patch Management Flow
Integrate compliance into continuous delivery pipelines.
12 chapters in this module
- Formal change control process
- Change approval workflows
- Backout planning
- Patch testing environment
- Production deployment controls
- Emergency change procedures
- Vendor-supplied security patches
- Automated patching limits
- Change documentation
- Post-change validation
- Configuration management database
- DevSecOps integration
Module 10. Architecting for Third-Party Compliance
Design integrations that ensure compliance across vendor ecosystem.
12 chapters in this module
- Third-party risk assessment
- Vendor due diligence process
- Contractual compliance obligations
- Service provider segmentation
- Downstream compliance verification
- Subservice provider oversight
- Vendor audit rights
- Cloud provider attestation
- Managed service monitoring
- Co-sourcing control boundaries
- Vendor incident response
- Compliance scorecard integration
Module 11. Policy and Documentation Frameworks
Create architecture-aligned documentation that supports audit success.
12 chapters in this module
- Information security policy design
- Data retention policies
- Incident response plan integration
- Business continuity for payment systems
- Compliance reporting templates
- Control mapping documentation
- Scope justification writing
- Responsibility matrices
- Data flow diagrams
- Network diagrams
- Audit trail documentation
- Architecture decision records
Module 12. Scaling PCI Knowledge Across the Enterprise
Extend influence beyond immediate projects to shape organization-wide practices.
12 chapters in this module
- Internal consultation frameworks
- Cross-team training programs
- Compliance pattern libraries
- Architecture review board participation
- Mentorship of junior architects
- Lessons learned documentation
- Enterprise architecture alignment
- Influence on procurement decisions
- Standard design pattern adoption
- Knowledge transfer protocols
- Metrics for compliance maturity
- Scaling impact without direct authority
How this maps to your situation
- Designing new payment-integrated systems
- Modernizing legacy payment infrastructure
- Integrating third-party payment processors
- Responding to internal or external audit findings
Before vs. after
Before
Designs face rework when compliance teams flag PCI DSS gaps late in the cycle.
After
Architecture decisions embed compliance from the start, reducing rework and expanding influence across units.
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 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active projects.
If nothing changes
Continuing with current practices risks repeated rework, delayed launches, and missed opportunities to scale your impact beyond immediate projects.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic PCI DSS overviews, this course focuses specifically on architecture decisions, system integration, and cross-unit influence, tailored for senior practitioners shaping complex payment environments.
Frequently asked
Is this course technical enough for solutions architects?
Yes. It focuses on system design, integration patterns, and control implementation, written for practitioners leading complex technical environments.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Does this cover cloud environments like AWS and Azure?
Yes. Each module includes specific guidance for cloud-native and hybrid deployment patterns aligned with PCI DSS requirements.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active projects..
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