As Qualified Security Assessors, CyberMaxx has been qualified by the Payment Card Industry Security Council to independently assess compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard.
The Payment Card Industry Qualified Security Assessor (PCI QSA) is an individual or business that has been authorized by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). This certification enables them to determine whether a merchant or service provider is in compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).
The PCI DSS is developed with the purpose of safeguarding cardholder information and reducing or eliminating credit card fraud. Any entity that handles, processes, stores, or transmits payment card data must adhere to these standards. In order to check for compliance, a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) is authorized to do an on-site assessment.
Before an individual can be certified as a QSA, they must complete an intensive training program and pass the appropriate examination set forth by the PCI Security Standards Council. Companies wishing for QSA recognition also have several qualifications they are required to meet, in addition to periodic examinations they must pass in order to remain certified.
A CyberMaxx QSA is qualified to perform a PCI gap analysis to assist an organization getting started in accepting credit cards or a PCI Audit for a Report on Controls (RoC) to submit to their processor or bank and even assistance in completing and attesting to a PCI Self-Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ). CyberMaxx QSAs are available for onsite or remote support during assessments and audits.
Who Should Use Payment Card Industry Qualified Security Assessors (PCI QSA)
Any organization that handles payment card data should consider engaging a Payment Card Industry (PCI) Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) to assist with their compliance efforts.
This includes:
- Merchants
- Service providers
- Any other organization that accepts, processes, stores, or transmits payment card data
Organizations that process payment cards from major card brands such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover must adhere to the requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Those who fail to do so will face potentially hefty repercussions ranging from financial penalties to losing their privilege to accept credit cards.
For organizations with a complex payment card infrastructure, enlisting the services of a PCI QSA may be an especially beneficial resource. Those that span multiple countries, feature many point-of-sale systems, or use third-party service providers often grapple with unique obstacles in meeting and sustaining PCI DSS standards; fortunately, the skillset and understanding of a QSA can provide invaluable assistance in navigating these complexities.
Organizations without prior experience in complying with the PCI DSS can find tremendous value in engaging a QSA. By enlisting a QSA, companies have access to an expert assessment of their payment card environment and identification of any weak spots or potential security risks. Such guidance helps organizations remain compliant more efficiently and prevents the financial penalties associated with non-compliance.
Additional Services Related to PCI
CyberMaxx also offers many of the key independent third-party services including:
- PCI Quarterly Scans
- Annual External Penetration Test
- Annual Internal Penetration Test
- PCI Web Application Test
- PCI Risk Assessment
CyberMaxx can also assist in the development or customization of many of the assorted policies and procedures in PCI DSS requirements.
CyberMaxx can also assist in the development or customization of many of the assorted policies and procedures in PCI DSS requirement 12 CyberMaxx QSA auditors can also prepare EI3PA reports to verify that customers are properly safeguarding Experian credit bureau data.
How a PCI Gap Analysis is Performed
When considering an organization’s adherence to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), the task of assessing their compliance typically falls on the shoulders of someone with the title of PCI Qualified Security Assessor (QSA). This process usually involves several steps, including:
- Scoping: In order to determine what should be covered in a payment card security assessment, QSA and organizational collaboration are required. This assessment includes determining which systems, applications, and processes are involved with the storage, processing, or transmitting of credit/debit card data.
- Assessment: An extensive evaluation of an organization’s payment card framework will be conducted by a QSA. This assessment necessitates both technical and non-technical examinations, including vulnerability scans, penetration testing, and conversations with personnel. Additionally, procedures, policies, systems, and controls will also be scrutinized in detail.
- Gap Analysis: The QSA will review the findings of the assessment and make note of any deviation from standards set by the PCI DSS.
- Remediation: In order to correct any areas of failure revealed in their gap analysis report, it is necessary for this organization to take corrective measures. To ensure that these actions are well-documented and whatever potential risks persist are also handled, a qualified security assessor will work alongside them.
- Final Assessment: After the remediation steps have been successfully completed, a QSA will take it upon themselves to undertake an assessment to make sure the organization adheres to all PCI DSS regulations. The QSA will then provide a final report on compliance (ROC) that outlines the results of their evaluation and confirms that the company is compliant with all PCI DSS standards.
A formalized report, ROC, or SAQ will be delivered as the final deliverable, with any requested follow-up.
Benefits of a PCI Gap Analysis from CyberMaxx
Utilizing a Payment Card Industry (PCI) Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) has many benefits which include:
- Expertise: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) compliance requires specialized knowledge and expertise, which can be found in the form of PCI QSAs. These professionals are trained to recognize unique aspects of payment card security and can detect threats that may otherwise go unnoticed.
- Efficiency: Engaging the services of PCI QSA can prove to be invaluable in terms of making compliance much simpler for organizations. This is because it allows them to identify the relevant requirements that apply to their operations, thereby providing them with clear direction on how to meet those prerequisites effectively.
- Credibility: Having a PCI QSA on board can demonstrate an organization’s dedication to payment card security and compliance. This commitment helps organizations build loyalty among customers, partners, and regulators while strengthening the trust they have with their stakeholders. In other words, enlisting the services of a PCI QSA can have powerful effects when it comes to bolstering an organization’s credibility.
- Objectivity: Engaging the services of a PCI QSA can bring significant value to organizations wishing to ensure their compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
- Risk Management: Having a PCI QSA assess an organization’s payment card environment can be invaluable to ensuring it is safe from any security risks. The QSA will do an in-depth analysis of the setup and can pinpoint weaknesses, as well as give directions on what should be done to remedy them.
- Avoid Penalties: Non-compliance with PCI DSS regulations can result in costly consequences for organizations, ranging from financial penalties to the revocation of their right to accept payments by card. To avoid such unpleasantries, engaging a qualified PCI QSA is recommended since they can help ensure adherence to standards and safeguard against any punitive action.