What is PCI DSS?
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security requirements designed to ensure that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. Compliance is mandatory for any business handling payment card data.
PCI DSS is enforced by the major card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) and administered by the PCI Security Standards Council. Non-compliance can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per month, increased transaction fees, and potentially losing the ability to accept card payments entirely.
Who Needs PCI DSS Compliance?
- E-commerce applications processing online payments
- SaaS platforms with subscription billing
- Marketplaces handling transactions between buyers and sellers
- Any application that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data
- Service providers that support payment processing for other businesses
How Expedited WAF Helps with PCI DSS
Expedited WAF provides several controls that directly address PCI DSS requirements for your Heroku application.
Requirement 4: Encrypt Transmission of Cardholder Data
PCI DSS requires strong cryptography for transmitting cardholder data across open networks.
How Expedited WAF helps:
- Enforces TLS 1.2+ on all connections (TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are explicitly prohibited by PCI DSS)
- Rejects connections using insecure protocols or cipher suites
- Forces HTTPS for all traffic, preventing accidental unencrypted transmissions
- Configures HSTS headers to prevent protocol downgrade attacks
TLS Version Requirements: PCI DSS has required TLS 1.2 minimum since June 30, 2018. See our TLS configuration guide for implementation details.
Requirement 6: Develop and Maintain Secure Systems
PCI DSS requires protection against known vulnerabilities and secure development practices.
How Expedited WAF helps:
- Blocks OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities including:
- SQL injection attacks
- Cross-site scripting (XSS)
- Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
- XML External Entity (XXE) attacks
- Virtual patching provides immediate protection for newly discovered vulnerabilities
- Continuously updated rule sets address emerging threats without code changes
Requirement 6.4: Change Control and Virtual Patching
PCI DSS requires documented change control processes and timely patching of security vulnerabilities.
How Expedited WAF helps:
- Provides immediate virtual patching while you develop permanent fixes
- Blocks exploitation attempts for known CVEs (e.g., Log4j)
- Gives your team time to properly test and deploy patches without leaving vulnerabilities exposed
Requirement 10: Track and Monitor All Access
PCI DSS requires logging mechanisms and the ability to track user activities.
How Expedited WAF helps:
- Comprehensive logging of all HTTP requests
- Detailed records of blocked attacks including:
- Source IP address and geolocation
- Attack type and payload
- Timestamp and request details
- Log retention for audit and forensic purposes
- Real-time alerting on suspicious activity patterns
Requirement 11: Regularly Test Security Systems
PCI DSS requires regular testing of security systems and processes.
How Expedited WAF helps:
- Continuous WAF rule updates based on emerging threats
- Automatic protection against new attack vectors
- Regular security assessments of WAF effectiveness
- Protection doesn’t degrade between penetration tests
PCI DSS Compliance Checklist for Heroku
Use this checklist to ensure your Heroku application meets PCI DSS requirements:
Network Security
- Enable Expedited WAF for all production applications handling card data
- Force TLS 1.2+ on all connections - Configuration guide
- Enable HTTPS redirection - How to force HTTPS
- Configure security headers - Security headers guide
Application Security
- Enable OWASP Top 10 protection - OWASP protection guide
- Block known malicious IPs - IP blocking guide
- Enable rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks
- Block anonymous proxies - Proxy blocking guide
Access Control
- Implement geo-blocking if you only serve specific regions - Geo-blocking guide
- Use IP allowlisting for admin endpoints
- Enable bot detection - Bot blocking guide
Monitoring and Logging
- Enable comprehensive request logging
- Configure alerts for blocked attacks and suspicious patterns
- Retain logs for the required audit period (typically 1 year)
Related Resources
- TLS Requirements for PCI DSS
- OWASP Top 10 Protection on Heroku
- How to Force HTTPS on Heroku
- Security Headers on Heroku
- Virtual Patching
- Compliance Overview
Get Started
Achieve PCI DSS compliance for your Heroku application with Expedited WAF. Our platform provides the security controls auditors expect, with implementation in minutes rather than weeks.