Zain renews compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

08/10/2025 04:33 AST

Zain Kuwait announced the renewal of its compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS Level 1, version 4.0.1) following a comprehensive independent audit by an approved Qualified Security Assessor. This affirms that Zain continues to apply industry-leading information security controls for payments and protection of customer data across its digital and in-store channels.

This step affirms Zain's ongoing implementation of integrated technical and operational controls to safeguard customer data during payment operations across all channels. Measures include end-to-end encryption for data in transit and at rest, segmentation of sensitive networks, round-the-clock proactive monitoring, vulnerability management and timely updates, granular access controls with activity tracking, regular employee awareness programs, and clear governance policies for risk and compliance management.

The certificate was renewed after a full audit conducted by ControlCase, an independent firm accredited by the PCI Security Standards Council to perform the required analyses and tests. The assessment verifies that company systems meet security specifications to prevent breaches, identify vulnerabilities, and review payment-related policies and procedures.

This achievement reflects Zain's commitment to providing a trusted payment experience for individual and enterprise customers while upholding the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity and service availability. It also strengthens the confidence of partners and payment service providers in the company's digital payments ecosystem.

In 2010, Zain became the first telecom provider in the region to receive this recognition from the PCI Security Standards Council, which is adopted by financial institutions, banks and regulators worldwide. Today's renewal continues the company's efforts to deliver the most secure experience to its corporate, institutional, and consumer customer base, the largest in the country.

In April, Zain Kuwait obtained the ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems certification after an independent evaluation, becoming one of the first telecom providers in the region to earn this accreditation. The certification reflects a strong culture of integrity and a comprehensive governance and compliance risk management framework across policies, processes and controls.

In July, Zain maintained the Uptime Institute M&O (Operations and Management) certification for its data center at the Shuwaikh headquarters, continuing its presence among a select group of regional companies that have held this rating since 2019, following a thorough audit covering maintenance, training, safety procedures and operational readiness.

Kuwait Times