What does PCI DSS stand for?

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. This standard was established to create a baseline for securing cardholder data and protecting payment card transactions across the globe. It is designed for organizations that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information to ensure that they maintain a secure and compliant environment to protect against cardholder data breaches.

The emphasis on "Payment Card Industry" highlights its specific focus on the security requirements around payment cards such as credit and debit cards. The term "Data Security Standard" indicates that it comprises a set of guidelines established to safeguard sensitive information.

The other options provided do not accurately reflect the established nomenclature or purpose of PCI DSS, as they introduce terms that either do not exist or do not pertain to the payment card industry standard widely recognized in the financial and retail sectors.