privacysavvy: PCI SSC Perspective: Insights for the Payments Community

Attend the PCI SSC North America Community Meeting
Join us at the 2026 PCI SSC North America Community Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. This three‑day Community Meeting brings together our global community for connection, insight, and celebration as we mark the Council’s 20th Anniversary.

Don’t miss these great opportunities to enhance and plan for your time in Vancouver:

Register to attend and secure your spot at a pre-conference workshop - Don't wait, limited capacity!
Peek at agenda highlights and see what you don't want to miss this year!
Hear from our keynote speaker on our Coffee with the Council podcast
Take advantage of excellent networking opportunities built into the agenda!
Book your hotel soon to receive special attendee pricing
Take a training class with the PCI SSC experts
Reserve your booth in the Vendor Showcase to meet prospects and expand your network as an exhibitor
Become an event sponsor and reach your audience with our exclusive event sponsorship opportunities

The conversations that shape payment security happen at our Community Meetings. Join the conversations in Vancouver, Edinburgh or Kuala Lumpur!

> Register here

The AI Exchange: Innovators in Payment Security
Have you seen the PCI Security Standards Council’s blog series, The AI Exchange: Innovators in Payment Security? This special, ongoing feature of our PCI Perspectives blog offers a resource for payment security industry stakeholders to exchange information about how they are adopting and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into their organizations.

Catch up on our latest blog posts on the AI Exchange:

> More on AI on the blog
> Subscribe to the blog

Mapping PCI DSS v4.0.1 to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
We published a document which maps the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) v4.0.1 to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0. With both organizations sharing the common goal to enhance data security, this document provides a resource for stakeholders to use in understanding how to align security efforts to meet objectives in both PCI DSS and the NIST CSF.

On the blog, we interviewed Chelsea Lopez, Client Engagement Operations Director at PCI SSC, to discuss how meeting PCI DSS requirements can help toward achieving NIST CSF outcomes for secure payment environments.

> More information

Have you Listened to our Award Winning Podcast?
Coffee with the Council is an ongoing podcast series produced by the PCI Security Standards Council. The podcast series seeks to engage the payment industry by communicating Council news and updates; sharing interviews, panel discussions or case studies from third-parties; offering coverage from Council events; and much more.

In a recent episode of Coffee with the Council, a panel of current Principal Participating Organizations, or PPOs joined Mark Meissner for a discussion on the value of participating with PCI SSC . The Principal PO program is one of three levels of participation with the Council and defined as a strategic level of leadership and influence with the Council. PPOs get access to exclusive strategy sessions with the Executive Committee, with PCI Council staff, and stakeholders to discuss standards direction, drive technical discussions, and have direct input into Council initiatives.

> Listen to the podcast or read the blog

Meet the Council’s New Head of Business Operations and Risk Management
The PCI Security Standards Council is pleased to welcome its newest team member, Ed O’Neill, Head of Business Operations and Risk Management. In this new role, Ed will be responsible for business operations, enterprise risk management, governance, compliance, and quality oversight. 

In this Q&A, we will learn more about Ed and his path to joining the Council.

> Read more on the blog

Don't Miss Your Chance for 2026 PCI SSC Expert‑Led Training
Whether you’re looking to deepen your own knowledge or elevate the skills of your entire team, our instructor-led courses offer direct access to the experts who shape PCI Security Standards. These sessions are designed to help you stay ahead of evolving requirements, sharpen your technical understanding, and build the confidence needed to support your organization’s compliance and security goals.

We offer in-person training around the globe. Don't miss your opportunity to take a training at a Community Meeting. Be sure to check out our full training class schedule.

Registration for all 2026 courses is limited, and classes are filling quickly!

> More information

Final Chances to Save $200 on PCIP In-Person Training
You can now save $200 on your in‑person Payment Card Industry Professional (PCIP) training registration for 2026.

In‑Person Training Opportunities – Take $200 Off Your Registration*

14 September: 09:00 - 17:30 (local time) - Vancouver, CA*
6 November: 09:00 - 17:30 (local time) - Reston, VA*

Registration information can be found here or for more information about enrolling, please contact us at: coordinator@pcisecuritystandards.org

*Use code MINUS200 on your in-person PCIP training class registration. Offer only valid on a 2026 PCIP training and must be an in-person class to receive the discount.

> More information

Connect With Industry Leaders at the 2026 Community Meetings
Mark your calendars and join us at a PCI SSC Community Meeting in 2026. You won't want to miss these exciting opportunities to learn about the latest updates and technologies in the payment industry, network with industry colleagues, visit the vendor showcase, ask questions, and provide feedback:

Registration Now Open:

15-17 September: North America Community Meeting in Vancouver, Canada
20-22 October: Europe Community Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland
11-12 November: Asia-Pacific Community Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

These events are open to all in the payments industry.

> More Information

Get Involved with PCI SSC: Become a Participating Organization
Shape the future of payment security by becoming a Participating Organization. We offer three levels of participation to choose from: Principal, Associate and Individual. Participation in the PCI Security Standards Council is open globally to those afﬁliated with the payment card industry, including merchants, banks, processors, hardware and software developers, and point-of-sale vendors.

Some Associate Level Benefits Include:

Complimentary tickets to our Community Meetings
Exclusive webcast access
Training discounts
And more!

> More information

PCI SSC 20th Anniversary – Take a Trip Down Memory Lane
In celebration of PCI SSC’s 20th anniversary, we’re inviting our community to share a favorite PCI SSC Memory! This could be a meaningful moment, a lasting collaboration, or an unforgettable experience from your time as part of the PCI SSC community over the past 20 years. Select submissions may be featured on the PCI SSC website or highlighted at a future PCI SSC event.

Take a peek at the memories in the gallery and submit yours soon!

> Submit a memory here

See the PCI SSC Team Speak at an Event Near You
The team at PCI SSC travels the globe to speak at industry events. Check out our upcoming speaking engagements around the world:

Upcoming speaking engagements:

7 August: Nitin Bhatnagar speaking at GRC India Conclave in New Delhi, India
25 August: Nitin Bhatnagar speaking at Payment Security Summit – South Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa
2 September: Yew Kuann Cheng speaking at Payment Security Summit – Australia in Sydney, Australia
8 September: Úna Dillon speaking at LVMH PCI Workshop in Paris, France
24 September: Úna Dillon speaking at SISA Round Table – AI in Payments in London, England

> View all events

Be a Sponsor or Exhibitor at a Community Meeting
Don’t miss your chance to join the excitement at this year’s highly anticipated PCI SSC Community Meetings in Vancouver, BC, Canada; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Secure sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities to connect with payment security leaders, network with peers, and meet prospective customers—all while celebrating PCI SSC’s 20th anniversary with the global payments community.

A Sample of Some of the Standout Sponsorship Opportunities:

PCI SSC Café (Available in North America & Europe)
Payment Pursuit
Coffee on Us
Workshop Sponsor
And more!

> More Information

Interested in Bringing PCI SSC Training to Your Location?
PCI SSC has launched its Training Venue Host Program, creating a new way for organizations with suitable training facilities to support payment security education while bringing industry training directly to their teams. Through the program, organizations can apply to serve as volunteer training locations (“Hosts”) for PCI SSC training events. PCI SSC manages the planning, marketing, registration, and delivery of each class, while Host venues provide the training space and related amenities.

> Learn more on the blog

Corporate Group Training brings the PCI SSC experts to you to get your team trained together! We are pleased to offer all our PCI training programs in-person or via eLearning with remote exam for organizations wishing to train their teams remotely.

> More information