Handling PAN securely
- Always convert PANs to masked strings in test data
- Store only token references that can be traced later
- Mimic format-preserving encryption to match production length
PCI DSS Test Data
Design PCI-DSS ready payment data
Validate card flows without real PANs
Learn how to mask PANs, model tokenization, and retain audit logs so QA teams can rehearse PCI-DSS scenarios safely across staging, integration, and monitoring environments.
Compliance disclaimer
These samples do not guarantee PCI-DSS certification. Coordinate with your QSA and security teams to enforce access controls, logging, and retention policies.
PCI-DSS test-data fundamentals
Focus on PCI-DSS requirements 3, 6, and 10. DataGen Pro keeps PANs out of scope while still reproducing realistic approval, decline, and settlement signals for downstream systems.
Audit-ready logging
- Standardize event type, timestamp, user ID, and result code
- Pair generation logs with destruction logs for evidence
- Apply the one-year retention rule even in QA
Threat modeling
- Simulate fraud detection and chargeback scenarios
- Include high-risk flows such as multi-currency transactions
- Generate attack logs (SQLi, bots) to exercise monitoring
- Use the locale option to flip multi-currency scenarios (ja-JP defaults to JPY, en-US to USD)
Sample payment log schema
| Field | Description | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| transaction_id | Payment transaction ID (GUID) | PCI DSS 10.3 – log identifiers |
| masked_pan | Masked PAN (e.g., 4111-****-****-1111) | PCI DSS 3.3 – PAN display controls |
| token_reference | Reference key from the tokenization service | PCI DSS 3.4 – PAN substitutes |
| auth_result | Authorization result (APPROVED/DECLINED) | PCI DSS 6.4 – test case management |
| pos_entry_mode | POS entry mode (ECOM/MOTO/CHIP) | PCI DSS 3.2.2 – transaction channel identification |
| log_retention_days | Log retention window in days | PCI DSS 10.7 – log retention |
Mirror the production log format—even in QA—to rehearse forensic analysis. DataGen Pro's API can be scripted into CI/CD runs.
Implementation checklist
1
Confirm zoning
Map the boundaries between CDE and non-CDE networks to prevent leakage of test data.
2
Classify data
Label datasets as masked, tokenized, or anonymized logs, and define handling rules for each.
3
Control access
Avoid storing test data in Git or shared storage; grant access only to essential team members.
4
Retire & audit
Delete data immediately after testing and retain deletion logs to satisfy PCI-DSS 10.x.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is the test environment in PCI scope?
A. If it connects to the CDE, yes. To move it out of scope, isolate the environment, mask sensitive data, and apply least-privilege access.
Q. How do we simulate fraud scenarios?
A. Combine BIN ranges, merchant categories, and device attributes to create high-risk events. Log chargeback codes and velocity metrics to tune detection rules.
Q. Does this align with SOC audits?
A. Maintaining generation, distribution, and destruction logs gives SOC 1/2 auditors the evidence they expect. Share the checklist with your audit office to stay aligned.
Start secure payment testing today
PCI-inspired schemas and sample logs are open source—drop them into automated tests and QA runbooks with minimal configuration.