In today’s increasingly digital economy, payment security has become a pressing concern for small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) accepting customer credit and debit card payments. For instance, as cyber threats grow more sophisticated and regulatory expectations continue to evolve, many SMBs find themselves navigating complex security requirements without the benefit of dedicated in-house expertise.
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is the key framework for safeguarding sensitive payment card information—but for SMBs, the standard’s requirements can be both difficult to interpret and resource-intensive to meet.
As a result, PCI DSS compliance is playing an increasingly important role in shaping how certified public accountants (CPAs) support and advise their clients, especially SMBs seeking guidance not only on financial performance but also on risk management, compliance, and operational resilience.
Payment security is no longer a niche concern. As digital transactions continue to grow globally, so does the volume of sensitive data being processed and stored by organizations of all sizes.
According to Verizon’s “2025 Data Breach Investigations Report,” financially motivated attacks account for 89% of breaches involving external threat actors. The report also found that personal data is compromised in 32% of these breaches, with sensitive personal data being exposed in 4% of breaches. At the same time, IBM’s “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025” places the global average cost of a data breach at $4.44 million, highlighting the financial consequences of inadequate safeguards.
For SMBs, the stakes can be even higher: Limited internal resources often make it difficult to maintain robust security controls, increasing reliance on external advisors.
While PCI DSS provides a structured framework for managing risks to sensitive data, compliance requires an understanding of its applicability to business operations, consistent oversight, and process discipline. For CPA’s looking to advise clients in this area, having familiarity with what a PCI compliance assessment covers offers a practical foundation.
As compliance expectations evolve, CPAs are stepping into a broader advisory role that intersects with cybersecurity and risk management.
Many PCI DSS requirements align closely with principles that CPAs and other accounting and finance professionals already understand, including internal controls, audit trails, and risk assessments. This overlap creates an opportunity to support clients in areas that extend past traditional financial reporting.
For example, CPA firms can help clients:
This is particularly valuable for SMB clients, where internal expertise may be limited. In these environments, CPAs often serve as trusted advisors across multiple areas of the business.
Rather than treating PCI DSS compliance as a standalone requirement, many CPA firms are now incorporating it into broader advisory services, aligning it with financial governance and operational risk management.
For CPA firms looking to make PCI DSS compliance part of their advisory offerings, consider these four areas to support clients.
One of the main challenges clients face is interpreting PCI DSS requirements in practical terms. The standard is highly technical, making implementation difficult without guidance.
CPAs can bridge this gap by translating compliance requirements into business impact. For example, weak access controls can expose organizations to fraud, while insufficient monitoring can delay data breach detection. Framing these risks in financial and operational terms can help clients prioritize their actions.
PCI DSS compliance depends on consistent processes and well-documented controls. By aligning PCI DSS requirements with existing internal control frameworks, CPA firms can help clients:
The PCI Security Standards Council emphasizes that compliance is an ongoing process rather than a one-time effort. Needless to say, compliance shouldn’t be treated as a “set it and forget it” aspect of the business—there needs to be continuous monitoring and improvement.
Many organizations rely on third-party providers for payment processing, cloud services, web hosting, and other critical services. Each of these relationships introduces potential risk.
CPA firms can assist clients in evaluating vendor capability and compliance, identifying gaps, and ensuring that third-party providers meet the applicable PCI DSS requirements. This is especially important for SMBs who often depend heavily on external vendors. If third-party payment vendors aren’t properly vetted, documented, and monitored, SMBs can find themselves at greater risk. Importantly, if a vendor’s service affects payment card data security, your client remains fully accountable.
Additionally, global research findings from Verizon highlight third-party risk as a growing cybersecurity challenge, further underscoring the need for structured oversight.
Rather than offering PCI DSS compliance as a standalone service, CPA firms can integrate it into broader engagements, such as:
This approach positions compliance as part of a larger strategy focused on business resilience and sustainable growth.
For CPA firms looking to expand into PCI advisory services, the transition is less about technical specialization and more about applying existing expertise in new ways.
A good place to start is developing a working knowledge of the ecosystem of PCI security standards and PCI DSS requirements to understand how they align with internal control frameworks. From there, firms can begin incorporating PCI considerations into client discussions, particularly during audits, risk assessments, and planning engagements.
Collaboration also plays an important role. Partnering with cybersecurity specialists or PCI qualified security assessors allows CPA firms to provide comprehensive support while maintaining focus on their core strengths.
Most importantly, firms should prioritize clear, actionable guidance. Clients will benefit from recommendations that are realistic, scalable, and aligned with their resources.
As cyber risks continue to evolve and compliance expectations grow, CPA firms are uniquely positioned to help clients navigate this complexity. By integrating PCI DSS compliance into their advisory services, CPA firms can strengthen client relationships while expanding their role in an increasingly risk-focused business environment.
