What is the relationship between being compliant and documenting compliance?

The relationship between being compliant and documenting compliance is that compliance must be actively documented, and procedures must be established to ensure that compliance is not only achieved but also maintained. Organizations that handle payment card information need to adhere to the PCI DSS requirements, which emphasize not just meeting criteria but also being able to demonstrate and prove compliance through proper documentation.

Documentation serves several vital functions; it helps in tracking adherence to the standards over time, provides evidence during audits, and ensures that employees follow established security measures. Without documentation, an organization may be compliant in practice, but without the ability to demonstrate this through well-maintained records and procedures, they risk non-compliance status when assessed or audited.

In contrast, the other options misrepresent the nature of compliance. For instance, equating being compliant solely with documentation disregards the active measures necessary to meet requirements. Suggesting that compliance requires no documentation undermines the importance of evidence in the operational processes. Lastly, claiming compliance documentation is optional fails to recognize that having thorough records is a critical part of maintaining and demonstrating compliance with PCI DSS standards.