TL;DR:

• SharePoint can store PCI data with caution and adherence to PCI DSS requirements.
• Data leakage risks in SharePoint can be mitigated with strict access controls and DLP solutions.
• New PCI 4.0 requirements for SharePoint include restrictions on PAN copying/relocation and unreadable storage.

Can You Store PCI Data in SharePoint?

Yes, you can store PCI data in SharePoint, but with significant caution and strict adherence to PCI DSS requirements.

SharePoint can be configured to meet the security measures necessary for handling sensitive cardholder data. The platform supports robust access controls, data encryption both at rest and in transit, and comprehensive audit logging capabilities.

However, it is the organization's responsibility to configure these settings correctly and maintain compliance with ongoing risk assessments and audits.

Can PCI Data be Leaked from SharePoint?

Like any digital platform, there is a potential risk for data leakage in SharePoint.

The common vulnerabilities include misconfigured permissions, inadequate access controls, and failure to apply encryption adequately.

To mitigate these risks, organizations should enforce strict access controls, regular audits of user activities and permissions, and implement strong data governance policies.

Employing a dedicated DLP solution can further enhance the protection of sensitive data by monitoring, alerting, and blocking unauthorized data access or transmissions.

What are the New PCI 4.0 Requirements for PCI Data in SharePoint?

With the introduction of PCI DSS 4.0, several enhanced requirements affect the storage and handling of PCI data in cloud and collaborative platforms like SharePoint. Here's a breakdown of these new stipulations:

1. No Unauthorized Copy/Relocation of PAN

Requirement 3.4.2 underscores the necessity to shield the Primary Account Number (PAN) from unauthorized copying or relocation. SharePoint users must enforce strict technical controls to limit these activities to authorized personnel who have legitimate business needs, ensuring data integrity in a dispersed digital environment.

2. PAN Must Be Unreadable

Requirement 3.5.1.1 mandates that PAN should be unreadable when stored, applicable to all SharePoint databases, files, and logs. The regulation emphasizes the use of keyed cryptographic hashes, backed by strong key management practices.

This encryption protects PAN against unauthorized access, a critical consideration in SharePoint’s scalable and remotely accessible platform.

3. Incident Response for PAN Data Leaks

Requirement 12.10.7 requires proactive incident response strategies for unauthorized PAN detections.

SharePoint environments must be equipped with tools to rapidly identify, retrieve, and secure PAN data, necessitating agile incident response capabilities that can adapt to the platform's dynamic data handling scenarios.

4. Protecting Payment Information on SharePoint

To ensure PCI compliance, organizations should limit the storage of cardholder data in SharePoint and maintain stringent physical and digital security measures.

This includes securing physical servers, enforcing robust access controls, and ensuring that all cardholder data is masked or truncated to prevent unauthorized access and exposure.

To maintain compliance with the more stringent PCI DSS 4.0, SharePoint administrators need to regularly audit configurations and practices, focusing on encryption standards, access controls, and log management to align with the updated compliance requirements.

How Can Strac Prevent Data Leaks from SharePoint?

Strac, a premier SaaS/Cloud DLP and Endpoint DLP solution, offers state-of-the-art features tailored to safeguard sensitive data across platforms, including SharePoint:

• Built-In & Custom Detectors: Strac's DLP capabilities cover all sensitive data types, including PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, and more. Strac uniquely supports detection and redaction of images and deep content inspection of documents. Discover more in Strac’s catalog of sensitive data elements.
• Compliance Across the Board: Strac assists in meeting compliance standards for SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO-27001, CCPA, GDPR, and NIST. These frameworks ensure that organizations can safeguard their sensitive data efficiently.
• Ease of Integration: Integrating Strac into your systems takes less than 10 minutes, allowing immediate access to DLP features, live scanning, and redaction across SaaS applications.
• Accurate Detection and Redaction: Powered by custom machine learning models, Strac provides high precision in detecting sensitive data with minimal false positives and negatives, crucial for effective data protection.
• Extensive SaaS Integrations: Strac offers a broad range of SaaS and Cloud integrations, essential for comprehensive data protection strategies. Learn more about all Strac integrations.
• AI and API Capabilities: Strac not only integrates with various SaaS, Cloud, and Endpoint platforms but also supports integration with AI and LLM APIs, enhancing its capabilities to protect sensitive information within AI applications. For more details, see the Strac Developer Documentation.
• Endpoint DLP: Strac’s solutions extend to endpoint devices, providing thorough protection irrespective of the data’s location. Explore the benefits of Endpoint DLP.
• Inline Redaction: Strac can dynamically redact sensitive text within any attachment, ensuring that sensitive information is secured even when in transit.
• Customizable Configurations: With ready-to-use compliance templates and customizable settings, Strac tailors data protection measures to meet specific organizational needs and industry regulations.

Strac’s SharePoint DLP integration ensures that your SharePoint deployments remain compliant with industry standards, including PCI. For a comprehensive look at how Strac enables PCI DSS compliance, visit our complete guide to PCI Compliance.

To explore these capabilities firsthand, schedule a free 30-minute demo with Strac and see how it can transform your organization’s data protection strategy.