How do I ensure my timed-entry ticket sales with a checkout platform are PCI compliant?

To keep timed-entry ticket sales PCI compliant when using a checkout platform, the key principle is: don’t let card data touch your systems if you can avoid it.

Here’s a practical checklist:

1) Use a PCI-compliant payment processor / hosted checkout

Choose a checkout platform or payment gateway that:

• is PCI DSS validated,
• provides hosted payment pages or embedded secure fields,
• and handles card data directly on their side.

This keeps your business out of the highest PCI scope.

2) Avoid storing or processing card data yourself

Do not:

• collect card numbers through your own forms,
• log card data in your app, email, or CRM,
• store CVV/CVC codes,
• save raw PANs (full card numbers).

If you must store a payment token, use the processor’s tokenization system only.

3) Keep your integration scope small

For timed-entry ticketing, your website or app should ideally:

• send the customer to a hosted checkout or use secure payment fields,
• receive only a token / payment confirmation back,
• and use that token to complete the order.

This usually qualifies for a lower PCI burden, but you still need to validate your own environment.

4) Complete the correct PCI validation

Depending on your setup, you may need to complete:

• a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), often SAQ A or SAQ A-EP for e-commerce,
• and possibly quarterly vulnerability scans if your environment is in scope.

Your payment provider or acquirer can help determine which SAQ applies.

5) Secure your website and ticketing flow

Even if the checkout is hosted, your site should be:

• served over HTTPS/TLS,
• kept patched and monitored,
• protected against script injection and tampering,
• restricted with least-privilege access,
• and regularly reviewed for malware or unauthorized changes.

6) Use strong operational controls

Have policies for:

• employee access to order data,
• vendor management,
• incident response,
• logging and monitoring,
• and secure handling of refunds and customer service interactions.

7) Confirm your platform’s PCI responsibility model

Ask your checkout provider:

• Are they PCI DSS certified?
• Which parts of the payment flow are covered by them?
• Which PCI requirements remain your responsibility?
• Do they provide an Attestation of Compliance (AOC)?
• Which SAQ do they recommend for your integration?

8) Be careful with “ticket reservation” and “payment later” workflows

If you take payment details to hold seats or charge later, PCI risk increases. Use:

• immediate payment capture,
• or a processor-managed token vault, rather than storing card details yourself.

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Simple rule of thumb

If your timed-entry ticket sales use a hosted PCI-compliant checkout and your site never sees raw card data, your PCI obligations are usually much lighter.

If you want, I can help you determine whether your setup likely falls under SAQ A vs SAQ A-EP based on how your checkout is implemented.