A tailored course, built for your situation
Deeper command of the PCI DSS control mapping
Build audit-ready evidence packages faster with repeatable structure and leadership-aligned rationale
$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.
Spending too much time reworking evidence packages for compliance audits
The situation this course is for
Even seasoned teams waste cycles rebuilding the same artefacts because control mappings lack clarity or traceability. When evidence doesn’t match auditor expectations, it delays sign-off and increases scrutiny on future submissions.
Who this is for
Senior compliance or technical leader responsible for audit readiness, control implementation, or cross-functional governance alignment
Who this is not for
Individuals looking for introductory overviews or non-technical summaries of PCI DSS
What you walk away with
- Produce complete PCI DSS evidence packages in half the review time
- Anticipate auditor follow-up questions before submission
- Use repeatable templates to standardize control mappings across teams
- Reference real-world examples when mapping shared services to requirement 3.4
- Document clear rationale for scoping decisions that survive leadership changes
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding PCI DSS scope in distributed systems
Learn how to define and document scope boundaries in microservices and serverless environments without over-inclusion.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining cardholder data flow
- Mapping data paths to services
- Identifying in-scope systems
- Avoiding scope creep triggers
- Documenting exclusions clearly
- Using network diagrams effectively
- Handling third-party processors
- Validating scope with engineering
- Scope sign-off workflow
- Common missteps in cloud setups
- Case study: social platform
- Template: scope justification doc
Module 2. Control 1 firewall configuration
Build standardized rulesets that auditors accept on first review and engineers can maintain.
12 chapters in this module
- Rule documentation standards
- Default-deny enforcement
- Change management alignment
- Firewall rule review frequency
- Router access control lists
- Cloud-native rule mapping
- Avoiding rule sprawl
- Segregation by function
- Rule ownership model
- Auditor sampling expectations
- Case study: ad platform
- Template: firewall rule log
Module 3. Control 2 secure configuration
Apply baseline configurations across environments without slowing deployment velocity.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining secure baselines
- Using CIS Benchmarks correctly
- Hardening web servers
- Disabling unnecessary services
- Automated config checks
- Container-specific rules
- Deviation tracking process
- Secure default policies
- Cloud image standards
- Vendor device settings
- Case study: payments API
- Template: secure config checklist
Module 4. Control 3 protecting cardholder data
Map data lifecycle stages to encryption and retention requirements with precision.
12 chapters in this module
- Locating stored PAN
- Identifying transmission paths
- Encryption at rest standards
- Key management basics
- Masking in UIs
- Data retention rules
- Secure deletion methods
- Tokenization use cases
- Avoiding data sprawl
- Auditor sampling approach
- Case study: checkout flow
- Template: data handling register
Module 5. Control 4 encrypting transmission
Ensure encrypted transport without introducing latency or breakage.
12 chapters in this module
- TLS version compliance
- Certificate validation process
- End-to-end encryption scope
- Wireless transmission rules
- Mobile app considerations
- API gateway encryption
- Avoiding self-signed certs
- Cryptography standards
- Key rotation schedule
- Audit trail for certs
- Case study: mobile SDK
- Template: encryption matrix
Module 6. Control 5 malware protection
Implement anti-malware solutions that scale across dynamic environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Approved tools list
- Update frequency requirements
- Real-time scanning setup
- Quarantine procedures
- Cloud workload protection
- Serverless considerations
- Endpoint coverage gaps
- Log collection standards
- False positive review
- Exception handling
- Case study: developer laptops
- Template: AV deployment log
Module 7. Control 6 secure system development
Integrate PCI DSS into CI/CD pipelines and code review practices.
12 chapters in this module
- Secure coding standards
- Code review checklists
- Pen testing frequency
- Vulnerability scanning
- Patch management SLA
- Third-party component review
- Secure SDLC phases
- DevSecOps integration
- Release gate criteria
- Bug tracking alignment
- Case study: checkout microservice
- Template: SDLC gate doc
Module 8. Control 7 access restrictions
Enforce least privilege with role-based models that support audit validation.
12 chapters in this module
- Role definition process
- User provisioning workflow
- Separation of duties rules
- Access review frequency
- Privileged account controls
- Emergency access process
- Remote access security
- Password complexity rules
- Session timeout settings
- Audit log requirements
- Case study: internal tools
- Template: access review log
Module 9. Control 8 monitoring and logging
Design logs that satisfy requirement 10 and support incident response.
12 chapters in this module
- Event logging standards
- Log retention duration
- Centralized collection
- Log protection methods
- Time synchronization
- File integrity monitoring
- Alerting thresholds
- Log review procedure
- Incident correlation
- Retention in cloud storage
- Case study: breach detection
- Template: log policy excerpt
Module 10. Control 9 physical security
Document physical safeguards for data centers and office spaces to auditor standards.
12 chapters in this module
- Data center access rules
- Visitor logging process
- Security personnel requirements
- Camera coverage standards
- Media storage security
- Shredding procedures
- Workstation security
- Laptop encryption policy
- Home work guidelines
- Device tracking system
- Case study: regional office
- Template: physical security log
Module 11. Control 10 audit trail management
Create audit logs that withstand sampling and support forensic analysis.
12 chapters in this module
- Event time accuracy
- User identification in logs
- Event type coverage
- Log storage security
- Retrieval process
- Chain of custody rules
- Log review frequency
- Anomaly detection setup
- Log aggregation tools
- Cross-system correlation
- Case study: compliance report
- Template: audit log index
Module 12. Control 11 vulnerability scanning
Run internal and external scans that produce actionable findings, not noise.
12 chapters in this module
- Scan frequency rules
- Approved scanning tools
- Internal scan coverage
- External scan execution
- Result validation process
- False positive triage
- Remediation tracking
- Reporting to leadership
- Service provider oversight
- Documentation standards
- Case study: web application
- Template: scan results summary
How this maps to your situation
- Preparing for annual PCI DSS audit
- Onboarding new engineering teams to compliance requirements
- Responding to auditor follow-up requests
- Standardizing control implementation across business units
Before vs. after
Before
Spending cycles reworking control documentation and reacting to auditor queries
After
Producing first-time-right evidence packages with clear rationale and traceable mapping
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 for completion within 6 weeks with full implementation support.
If nothing changes
Continuing to rebuild artefacts per audit cycle leads to wasted effort, inconsistent compliance posture, and missed opportunities to lead firm-wide initiatives.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic PCI DSS overviews, this course focuses on producing audit-ready artefacts using real-world examples from data-intensive environments like yours.
Frequently asked
Who is this course designed for?
Senior technical leaders responsible for PCI DSS compliance in complex, data-driven organizations.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, upon finishing all modules and submitting a final control mapping exercise.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed for completion within 6 weeks with full implementation support..
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