Which of the following best describes the scope of PCI DSS?

The scope of PCI DSS encompasses all organizations that accept, process, or store credit card information, regardless of their size, geography, or business model. This broad application is essential because any entity that handles credit card transactions is considered to be a part of the payment card ecosystem and is responsible for safeguarding cardholder data. The goal of PCI DSS is to enhance security and reduce the risk of fraud associated with credit card transactions.

By including all organizations, the PCI DSS establishes a standard that ensures a baseline of security measures is followed to protect sensitive payment information. This means that whether a business operates online, in a physical location, or both, it must comply with the standards set forth in PCI DSS to mitigate risks associated with data breaches and to enhance consumer trust.

The other options present more limited or incorrect interpretations of the PCI DSS scope. For instance, stating that it only applies to online sales overlooks the fact that brick-and-mortar establishments and service providers also interact with card data. Similarly, the assertion that it only pertains to large corporations ignores the fact that many smaller businesses also handle card data and must be compliant. Focusing solely on physical security measures discounts the comprehensive nature of PCI DSS, which includes requirements for network security, vulnerability management, access control,