CompTIA PenTest+ Practice Test

What service might an organization use as a workaround to process credit card transactions without directly dealing with card issuers?

1. Transaction ledger

2. Payment processor

3. Merchant account

4. Transaction audit

The correct answer is: Payment processor

A payment processor is a vital service for organizations looking to handle credit card transactions without directly interacting with card issuers. Payment processors serve as intermediaries that manage the transaction process, ensuring that credit card information is securely transmitted to the bank or card issuer for authorization. When customers make a purchase, the payment processor securely captures the cardholder's details, encrypts the information to keep it safe, and forwards it to the bank for verification. Once the bank approves or denies the transaction, the processor conveys that information back to the merchant and the customer, allowing the merchant to complete the sale without ever needing to manage sensitive cardholder data themselves. This setup not only simplifies the transaction process but also enhances security by minimizing the merchant's exposure to sensitive financial information. Additionally, the use of a payment processor helps organizations maintain compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), which are designed to protect cardholder data during and after a financial transaction. In contrast, a transaction ledger is primarily used for record-keeping, and a merchant account is the type of account that allows a business to accept credit card payments, but it still requires a payment processor to handle the actual transactions. A transaction audit involves reviewing past transactions for accuracy and compliance, which does not facilitate