PCI-DSS Network Segmentation

PCI-COMPLIANT
NETWORK SETUP

If you take cards, PCI-DSS expects your payment systems walled off from everything else. We build the segmented network it requires — isolated POS VLANs, a real firewall, guest Wi-Fi that can't touch your card data — and document it for your assessment.

Isolated POS VLAN
Guest Network Separation
Assessment Documentation
Get a Free Assessment (629) 280-2800

Why It Matters

Segmentation Shrinks Your PCI Scope

PCI-DSS applies to every system that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data — your cardholder data environment. On a flat network, that's everything: POS, guest Wi-Fi, staff laptops, cameras, the thermostat.

Put the payment systems on their own isolated VLAN behind a firewall and the scope collapses down to just those devices. Less in scope means a simpler assessment and far fewer ways to fall out of compliance.

It's also the most common gap we find. When we audit an existing restaurant or shop network, the guest Wi-Fi and the card terminals are usually sitting on the same flat network — one bad link away from each other.

What We Build

  • Dedicated VLAN for POS and payment devices
  • Firewall with rules limiting traffic in and out of the CDE
  • Guest Wi-Fi fully isolated on its own network
  • Separate staff / back-office segment
  • Hardwired POS connections where possible
  • Network diagram and config documentation for your assessor

Who This Is For

Any Business That Takes Cards

Restaurants running Toast POS, retail shops with card terminals, and hotels and venues all fall under PCI-DSS the moment they accept payment cards. The bigger your transaction volume, the more your acquiring bank scrutinizes how your network is built.

We handle the network design and segmentation across Nashville and Middle Tennessee — new builds and retrofits of existing flat networks alike. Pair it with surveillance and access control on their own isolated segments for a clean, defensible setup.

This Isn't Theory

We manage the network for a Nashville restaurant on an ongoing basis — keeping its POS environment segmented and isolated from guest and staff traffic so it stays PCI-aligned month after month, not just on install day. That's the difference between a one-time setup and a network that actually holds up at your next assessment.

ICTAlly designs and documents PCI-DSS-aligned network segmentation. We are not a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and do not issue PCI certifications — your assessment or Self-Assessment Questionnaire is completed by you or your QSA. We build and document the network requirements so that process goes smoothly.

Service Areas

Network Infrastructure Across Middle Tennessee

We serve businesses throughout the Nashville metro and Middle Tennessee. Click a city to learn more about our services in your area. Need more than one trade? Our low voltage installers handle cameras, cabling, access control, and networks on a single contract.

Nashville, TNFranklin, TNBrentwood, TNMurfreesboro, TNClarksville, TNLebanon, TNHendersonville, TNGallatin, TNMt. Juliet, TNSpring Hill, TNColumbia, TNSmyrna, TNLa Vergne, TNNolensville, TNGoodlettsville, TNMadison, TN

FAQ

PCI Network Questions

Does ICTAlly make my business PCI compliant?
We build the network infrastructure that PCI-DSS requires — segmented VLANs, a properly configured firewall, and isolation between your card-processing systems and everything else. That handles a large part of the technical requirements, but full PCI compliance also covers policies, staff training, and your payment processor's rules. We build and document the network side; your SAQ or QSA assessment covers the rest. We're happy to work alongside your assessor.
How does network segmentation reduce my PCI scope?
PCI-DSS applies to every system that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data — your "cardholder data environment" (CDE). If your POS terminals share a flat network with guest Wi-Fi, staff laptops, and cameras, all of it falls in scope. By putting your POS on its own isolated VLAN behind a firewall, we shrink the CDE down to just the payment systems. Smaller scope means a simpler assessment and far less that can put you out of compliance.
Can you isolate guest Wi-Fi from our payment systems?
Yes — that's a core part of every install. Your guest network is fully separated from your POS and back-office systems on its own VLAN, so a customer on your Wi-Fi has no path to your payment environment. This is exactly what PCI-DSS Requirement 1 is about, and it's the single most common gap we find when we audit an existing restaurant or retail network.
We run Toast POS — can you segment that network?
Yes. We do this constantly for Nashville restaurants. Toast terminals, kitchen display systems, and payment devices go on a dedicated POS VLAN, hardwired where possible, isolated from guest and staff traffic. See our <a href="/services/small-business-network">small business network</a> and <a href="/industries/restaurants">restaurant networking</a> pages for how we build it.
Do you provide documentation for our PCI assessment?
Yes. We hand off network diagrams showing your segmentation, VLAN and firewall configuration details, and a description of how the cardholder data environment is isolated. That documentation gives your assessor or your Self-Assessment Questionnaire the evidence it needs for the network requirements.

Is Your POS on the Same Network as Guest Wi-Fi?

Free on-site network audit. We map your segmentation gaps and build a PCI-aligned setup.

Get a Free Quote (629) 280-2800