Evaluating Hosting Providers that Protect Payment Card Data While Meeting Industry Security Standards
Organizations accepting credit card payments face critical hosting decisions directly impacting PCI DSS compliance-the security standard mandated by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Beyond regulatory requirements for PCI-compliant hosting, payment data breaches cost businesses millions in forensic investigations, legal fees, and damaged customer trust, with three in five small businesses closing within six months of being hacked.
Hosting providers approach PCI compliance differently. Some build entire infrastructures around payment security requirements with compliance integrated from inception. Others offer compliance capabilities within broader platforms requiring careful configuration. This fundamental difference affects initial setup complexity, ongoing audit preparation, and security maintenance requirements.
Below, we examine five leading PCI-compliant hosting providers to identify which best serves your payment processing needs.
Key Points:
- Five hosting providers deliver PCI-compliant infrastructure through specialized security platforms and configurable enterprise environments
- Compliance-focused providers offer pre-configured security controls reducing technical complexity for e-commerce businesses
- Non-compliant hosting exposes businesses to fines from $5,000 to $100,000 monthly, plus potential loss of payment processing capabilities
Table of contents
1. Atlantic.Net
Atlantic.Net operates as a specialized compliance hosting provider with over 30 years securing sensitive data for regulated industries. The company’s PCI-compliant infrastructure is built specifically to help businesses meet all 12 core PCI DSS requirements while maintaining high-performance environments.
Compliance foundation: Atlantic.Net’s platform holds SOC 2 Type II and SOC 3 Type II certifications with infrastructure independently audited by qualified third-party assessors. Security controls are engineered into every infrastructure layer rather than configured as add-ons. Data centers undergo routine inspections maintaining certifications exceeding basic hosting requirements.
Security infrastructure: Comprehensive managed security services include managed firewalls with custom configurations, encrypted VPN access, multi-factor authentication, intrusion detection and prevention systems, anti-malware protection, web application firewalls, DDoS protection, and biweekly vulnerability scans.
Managed compliance: Atlantic.Net provides expert guidance throughout the compliance journey including initial environment setup, ongoing security configuration management, audit preparation and documentation, quarterly compliance scans, and risk assessment processes. This consultative approach reduces technical burden while ensuring environments maintain compliance as standards evolve.
Infrastructure options: Both cloud VPS and dedicated servers within PCI-compliant frameworks. Cloud hosting provides scalable resources with flexible billing, while dedicated servers deliver maximum isolation for high-transaction environments. All solutions include 100% uptime SLA guarantees.
Best for: E-commerce retailers processing online payments, subscription businesses requiring recurring payment processing, mobile payment applications, and any organization requiring turnkey PCI compliance with minimal internal security expertise. Atlantic.Net particularly benefits businesses preferring compliance built into infrastructure rather than self-configured environments.
2. Amazon Web Services
AWS operates as the world’s largest cloud infrastructure provider offering PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider certification. The company appears on both Visa Global Registry and Mastercard’s service provider list validating their compliance credentials.
Compliance framework: AWS provides PCI-eligible services under shared responsibility model where AWS secures underlying infrastructure while customers secure applications including proper service selection, encryption implementation, access control configuration, comprehensive audit logging, and backup procedures.
Platform advantages: Extensive catalog of cloud services enabling sophisticated payment environments, global infrastructure supporting international payment processing, advanced security tools and monitoring capabilities, scalability supporting high transaction volumes, and integration with major e-commerce platforms.
Service validation: Major companies including Netflix, Capital One, and Airbnb rely on AWS’s PCI-compliant infrastructure for payment processing, demonstrating platform capabilities at enterprise scale.
Best for: Technology companies with dedicated DevOps expertise, large retailers requiring global payment processing capabilities, fintech platforms building sophisticated payment solutions, and enterprises needing advanced analytics on transaction data.
Technical requirement: Achieving PCI compliance on AWS demands substantial internal expertise or investment in professional cloud architects. Configuration complexity exceeds specialized PCI hosting providers. The shared responsibility model means improper configuration creates compliance gaps despite AWS’s certified infrastructure.
3. Rackspace Technology
Rackspace Technology delivers enterprise-grade managed hosting with extensive PCI compliance expertise. The company’s infrastructure supports businesses requiring sophisticated security controls and white-glove service throughout their compliance journey.
Compliance credentials: Rackspace maintains HITRUST CSF certification, a framework for security-sensitive industries. PCI-compliant offerings include signed Business Associate Agreements, regular third-party audits, comprehensive compliance documentation, and dedicated compliance teams.
Service model: Consultative support through customized infrastructure design matching specific payment workflows, implementation assistance for complex environments, ongoing compliance reviews, continuous security monitoring and threat detection, and comprehensive network administration.
Platform flexibility: Multiple deployment models including dedicated servers, private cloud, hybrid configurations connecting on-premises and cloud systems, and managed public cloud environments on AWS, Azure, or GCP with PCI compliance overlay.
Best for: Large retailers undertaking digital transformation initiatives, enterprises migrating legacy payment systems to compliant cloud infrastructure, multi-channel businesses requiring integrated payment processing across platforms, and organizations valuing strategic partnerships over transactional vendor relationships.
4. Liquid Web
Liquid Web positions itself as a premium managed hosting provider offering full PCI DSS compliance through dedicated servers and private cloud environments. The company holds PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider certification, the highest compliance tier.
Compliance approach: Fully managed PCI-compliant hosting with comprehensive quarterly scans, custom solution design tailored to specific business requirements, dedicated compliance team providing expert consultation, and complete infrastructure management. Their approach emphasizes turnkey solutions where Liquid Web handles most technical compliance requirements.
Infrastructure capabilities: High-performance dedicated servers in company-owned data centers, private cloud environments providing isolated hosting, managed firewall configurations, extensive backup solutions with encryption, and Fanatical Support with 59-second response guarantees available 24/7/365.
Pricing structure: PCI compliance bundles start at $249 monthly, reflecting premium managed services approach. While more expensive than standard hosting, pricing includes comprehensive compliance support, quarterly scanning, and expert guidance that can prove cost-effective compared to hiring internal security specialists.
Best for: E-commerce businesses running resource-intensive platforms like Magento or WooCommerce, high-traffic online retailers requiring dedicated computing resources, businesses seeking completely managed compliance solutions, and organizations prioritizing premium support over cost optimization.
5. Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure provides PCI-compliant infrastructure with strong integration into existing Microsoft ecosystems. The platform holds PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider certification and maintains compliance documentation supporting various deployment scenarios.
Compliance capabilities: Azure offers PCI-eligible services under shared responsibility model similar to AWS. The platform includes built-in compliance controls through Azure Policy, extensive security tools and monitoring, hybrid cloud capabilities for organizations maintaining on-premises systems, and comprehensive encryption throughout data lifecycle.
Integration strength: Azure’s advantage lies in seamless connectivity with Microsoft 365, Active Directory, and other Microsoft tools commonly used in business environments. This native integration reduces complexity for organizations already invested in Microsoft infrastructure.
Service breadth: Comprehensive cloud services support everything from basic payment hosting through sophisticated analytics on transaction data. Azure’s global infrastructure enables international payment processing while maintaining regional compliance requirements.
Configuration responsibility: Like AWS, Azure requires proper service selection and configuration to achieve compliance. Organizations must understand which services fall within PCI scope and implement appropriate safeguards, encryption, and access controls.
Best for: Businesses already invested in Microsoft infrastructure, organizations requiring hybrid deployments spanning cloud and on-premises systems, enterprises prioritizing integration with existing Microsoft tools, and companies with technical teams familiar with Azure gaining advantages through ecosystem familiarity.
Technical considerations: Azure demands significant technical expertise to configure and maintain compliance properly. Organizations without experienced cloud teams should evaluate whether they possess necessary skills or budget for professional implementation services.
Evaluating Your PCI Hosting Requirements
Selecting appropriate PCI-compliant hosting requires careful evaluation of technical capabilities, compliance requirements, and budget parameters. Atlantic.Net leads through specialized compliance infrastructure where payment security is engineered into the platform foundation. Their managed security services, expert compliance guidance, and 30+ years of experience make them ideal for businesses prioritizing turnkey compliance over self-management.
Rackspace Technology and Liquid Web provide comprehensive managed services valuable for organizations seeking extensive compliance support. Rackspace serves enterprises undertaking complex payment infrastructure projects, while Liquid Web excels with dedicated server environments for high-performance e-commerce.
Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure offer flexibility and global scale for technology-forward organizations with mature DevOps capabilities. These platforms suit companies building sophisticated payment solutions requiring extensive customization and willing to invest in technical expertise.
Remember that selecting PCI-compliant hosting establishes your foundation but doesn’t complete compliance obligations. Businesses remain responsible for implementing secure coding practices, maintaining software updates, training employees on security protocols, managing user access appropriately, monitoring for security threats, conducting regular security assessments, and maintaining comprehensive documentation.
Non-compliance carries severe consequences beyond regulatory penalties. Payment processors can suspend your ability to accept credit cards, effectively shutting down online sales. Data breaches damage customer trust, often permanently. Forensic investigations following breaches cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Choose your PCI-compliant hosting provider carefully-this decision protects your business, your customers, and your reputation.
