Who must ensure that service providers comply with PCI DSS?

The responsibility for ensuring that service providers comply with PCI DSS lies primarily with the entities that utilize those service providers. This is because these entities, often referred to as merchants, have an obligation to ensure that any third-party service providers they engage with are compliant with PCI DSS standards.

When merchants process, store, or transmit credit card information, they must demonstrate due diligence in managing their relationships with service providers, which includes validating that these providers maintain the required security measures outlined in PCI DSS. This relationship extends not only to the compliance status of the service provider but also to the risk management framework that the merchant is required to adhere to.

While service providers are responsible for their own compliance, it ultimately falls on the merchants to ensure that they are using compliant vendors, as any non-compliance on the part of a service provider can directly impact the security and compliance posture of the merchants who rely on their services. This creates a ripple effect where the accountability for compliance is shared, but the primary responsibility rests with the entity utilizing the service.