PCI DSS on AWS: Shared Responsibility and Compliant Architecture

Shared Responsibility in Practice

• Download the current AOC and Responsibility Summary from AWS Artifact
• Confirm your architecture uses PCI DSS in-scope AWS services (see AWS Services in Scope by Compliance Program)
• There is no separate "PCI-only" region API - in-scope services run on the validated infrastructure
• Map Requirements 1-12 to controls you configure (security groups, IAM, KMS, CloudTrail, Config, and related services)

Architecture Cues

Define customer PCI DSS scope; maintain network and data-flow diagrams and inventories; segment CDE VPCs or accounts; and treat AWS's validation as coverage of the AWS layer only. Prefer the live Artifact documents over third-party summaries when preparing for a QSA.

How CyberSilo Helps

• ThreatHawk SIEM ingestion of CloudTrail and VPC flow evidence
• CSA evidence packs for customer-owned controls
• Gap scans of AWS CDEs before ROC or SAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deploying on AWS make us PCI compliant?

No. AWS's validation covers AWS's scope. You remain responsible for your CDE configuration, applications, and validation.

Must our QSA tour AWS data centers?

Per AWS FAQ guidance, the AOC covers physical security assessment of AWS data centers; a merchant QSA generally need not re-verify AWS data center physical security.

Is every AWS service PCI DSS in scope?

No. Check the current Services in Scope list and design the CDE only on validated services for the controls you intend to inherit.

Related PCI Resources

CDE scoping · Scope reduction · PCI on Azure · Requirement 10 · Requirement 11 · Merchants vs service providers