What is PCI DSS and how does it apply to merchant?

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. The Payment Card Industry, established by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, and Discover, developed a data security standard consisting of 12 detailed demands to ensure payment card holders remain protected when their data is transferred, stored, and processed in the informational infrastructure of organisations. Compliance to these measures demonstrates commitment to ensuring informational security.