To maintain PCI compliance, businesses are encouraged to use secure methods for handling credit card information, such as encrypted online payment gateways or tokenization systems. These methods reduce the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and non-compliance with PCI DSS requirements.

Your paper credit card authorization form can potentially be out of PCI compliance for several reasons: 

• Storage of Sensitive Information: Storing sensitive credit card information on paper forms can pose a security risk. If these forms are not stored securely or are accessible to unauthorized individuals, it increases the likelihood of credit card fraud or data breaches. 
• Transmission of Information: Transmitting paper forms with credit card details via fax, mail, or email is not secure. This method can be intercepted, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive credit card information. 
• Retention Period: PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) specifies guidelines for the retention and storage of credit card information. Paper forms may not comply with these guidelines if they are kept for longer than necessary or are not securely disposed of after use. 
• Manual Processing Errors: Manual processing of paper forms can lead to errors, such as misplacing or mishandling the forms, resulting in potential security breaches or incorrect charges.