Don't drift out of PCI DSS compliance. A few simple steps can help you track when you've changed, or about to change, compliance levels.

Navigating the various levels of PCI DSS compliance was pretty confusing to me. Working with Element helped me understand what I needed to do to stay compliant. That gives me a lot of peace of mind"

– Mark Sturman, Massage Envy Franchise Owner

Your PCI compliance level is determined both by your total sales and whether those sales were made from a physical location or over the Internet. Let's say your online sales rise more quickly than do sales through your physical locations. Your revenue may not rise dramatically, but the number of online transactions you're conducting will, which could tip you into another compliance level with additional requirements.

Your card level is based on the number of transactions per card brand – Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. You're probably already tracking the number of credit card vs. debit card transactions you're conducting, but not the card brands.

Let's say that all the large banks in your area suddenly shift their credit card accounts from MasterCard to Visa. Within six months to a year, without your overall revenue or the number of your overall transactions changing, you could change merchant levels and be held to a higher compliance standards.

Learn more about your PCI DSS Compliance Levels or download our PCI Compliance Guide.