PCI DSS & Payment Security
PCI & Payment Security Gap Assessments
PCI DSS, PCI PIN Security, PCI 3DS Core, PCI SSF, and PCI P2PE are distinct PCI programs, and not every organization needs all of them. Which ones apply depends on your role, payment flows, systems, and contractual or assessor requirements. Each is scoped as its own advisory-first gap assessment.
Separate programs
Choose the PCI program that applies
- PCI DSSFor merchants and service providers that store, process, or transmit account data, or can affect its security.PCI DSS gap assessment →
- PCI PIN SecurityFor acquirers, processors, and key-management entities handling PIN data, cryptographic keys, and HSMs.PCI PIN Security gap assessment →
- PCI 3DS CoreFor organizations operating an ACS, Directory Server, or 3DS Server in the 3-D Secure flow.PCI 3DS Core gap assessment →
- PCI SSFFor payment software vendors assessing products or development lifecycles against the Secure Software Framework.PCI SSF gap assessment →
- PCI P2PEFor solution providers and component providers building or operating point-to-point encryption solutions.PCI P2PE gap assessment →
Why teams engage us
Common reasons teams come to us
- A customer, acquirer, or card brand asked for a current PCI DSS v4 AoC or ROC.
- Legacy PA-DSS payment software needs to transition to PCI SSF (Secure Software Standard and Secure SLC).
- A PCI 3DS obligation landed on the team — issuer, acquirer, 3DS Server, ACS, or DS — and scope is unclear.
- Cardholder data environment scope has grown quietly and needs re-segmentation before validation.
- PCI PIN or P2PE obligations landed on the team and no one has owned the requirements yet.
- A previous assessment surfaced gaps and engineering needs a prioritized, realistic remediation plan.
- Sales is losing payments-heavy deals without a defensible PCI narrative and evidence.
Who it's for
- SaaS platforms handling or adjacent to cardholder data
- Fintech and payments companies preparing for PCI DSS v4 validation
- Payment processors, acquirers, and issuers with PCI 3DS or PIN obligations
- Health-tech and regulated B2B teams whose products touch payment flows
- Payment software vendors moving from legacy PA-DSS to PCI SSF
- Engineering teams scoping cardholder data environments and reducing scope
What a gap assessment delivers
- Applicability and scope confirmation for the selected program
- Gap findings mapped to that program's requirements
- Evidence checklist for validation
- Prioritized remediation roadmap with owners and target dates
- Handoff preparation for the appropriately qualified assessor
If more than one PCI program applies, each is scoped and agreed separately; there is no default bundled assessment.
Benefits
- Enter assessments with scope, controls, and evidence already aligned
- Reduce surprises, rework, and timeline slippage during validation
- Modernize legacy PA-DSS software onto the current PCI SSF framework
- Strengthen payment security as a product differentiator, not just a checkbox
Typical outputs
- Scope and segmentation diagram
- Gap assessment mapped to the applicable PCI program
- Remediation roadmap with owners and target dates
- Evidence library plan ready for the assigned assessor
Process
Four steps from scope to action
- 01
Define the scope
Confirm payment flows, system boundaries, roles, and applicable PCI programs.
- 02
Assess the environment
Review the environment, controls, and evidence against the selected requirements.
- 03
Prioritize the findings
Rank gaps by payment risk, validation impact, and remediation effort.
- 04
Deliver the action plan
Provide the remediation, evidence, and qualified-assessor handoff plan.
FAQ
Questions we hear most
Related services
Choose a focused PCI gap assessment
- PCI DSS Gap Assessment →Scope, control, evidence, and remediation readiness for merchants and service providers.
- PCI SSF Gap Assessment →Focused preparation for payment software and secure development lifecycle requirements.
- PCI 3DS Core Gap Assessment →Readiness for ACS, Directory Server, and 3DS Server environments.