GCP PCI Data Detection
Learn how to detect PCI data in Google Cloud Platform environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for PCI DSS compliance.
Why It Matters
The core goal is to identify every location where payment card information is stored within your Google Cloud Platform environment, so you can remediate unintended exposures before they become breaches. Scanning for PCI data in GCP is a priority for organizations subject to PCI DSS compliance, as it helps you prove you've discovered and accounted for all sensitive cardholder data—mitigating the risk of data exposure and unauthorized access.
A thorough scan delivers immediate visibility, laying the foundation for automated policy enforcement and ongoing compliance.
Prerequisites
Permissions & Roles
- GCP project owner or security admin
- BigQuery Data Viewer and Cloud Storage Viewer roles
- DLP API Administrator permissions
External Tools
- Google Cloud CLI (gcloud)
- Cyera DSPM account
- Service account credentials
Prior Setup
- GCP project configured
- DLP API enabled
- Service account authenticated
- Network access configured
Introducing Cyera
Cyera is a modern Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) platform that discovers, classifies, and continuously monitors your sensitive data across cloud services. By leveraging advanced AI and Named Entity Recognition (NER) models, Cyera automatically identifies PCI data patterns in your GCP environment—from credit card numbers to cardholder names—ensuring you stay ahead of accidental exposures and meet PCI DSS audit requirements in real time.
Step-by-Step Guide
Enable the necessary APIs including DLP API and create a service account with the minimum required privileges for data discovery across BigQuery, Cloud Storage, and other data services.
In the Cyera portal, navigate to Integrations → DSPM → Add new. Select Google Cloud, provide your project ID and service account details, then define the scan scope across BigQuery datasets, Cloud Storage buckets, and Cloud SQL instances.
Configure webhooks or streaming exports to push scan results into your SIEM or Google Security Command Center. Link findings to existing ticketing systems like Jira or ServiceNow for remediation workflows.
Review the initial detection report, prioritize datasets with large volumes of PCI data, and adjust detection rules to reduce false positives. Schedule recurring scans to maintain continuous visibility and compliance.
Architecture & Workflow
GCP Data Services
BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL as data sources
Cyera Connector
Pulls metadata and samples data for PCI classification
Cyera AI Engine
Applies NER models and PCI detection algorithms
Reporting & Remediation
Dashboards, alerts, and compliance playbooks
Data Flow Summary
Best Practices & Tips
Performance Considerations
- Start with incremental scans on high-priority datasets
- Use intelligent sampling for large BigQuery tables
- Optimize scan schedules during off-peak hours
Tuning Detection Rules
- Maintain allowlists for test card numbers
- Adjust confidence thresholds for PCI patterns
- Configure context-aware detection rules
Common Pitfalls
- Missing Cloud Storage buckets with nested folders
- Over-scanning development or test environments
- Neglecting to rotate service account keys regularly