What does the acronym "PAN" stand for?

The acronym "PAN" stands for Primary Account Number. This term is critical in the context of payment card transactions and is commonly used in discussions related to payment card data security, particularly under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

The Primary Account Number is the unique identifier assigned to an account that is associated with a payment card. It is used to identify the cardholder’s account during transactions and is typically encoded on the magnetic stripe of the card. Proper handling and protection of the PAN is essential to prevent fraud and data breaches, which is why PCI DSS has specific requirements regarding the storage, processing, and transmission of PAN.

Understanding what the PAN is helps organizations implement the right security measures to protect sensitive information and comply with regulations.