PCI-DSS Readiness
Find the gaps before your QSA does.
Prepare for PCI compliance by identifying gaps in cardholder data protection before your QSA arrives.
Overview
PCI-DSS compliance is mandatory for any organization that processes, stores, or transmits payment card data. Our readiness assessment identifies gaps in your cardholder data environment before your Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) arrives for the official audit. We're not a QSA and don't perform official PCI assessments—but we find the issues that will fail you, giving you time to fix them.
What We Test
Our pci-dss readiness engagements cover these key areas:
Cardholder Data Environment
Scope definition, network segmentation, and data flow documentation reviewed.
Network Security
Firewall configurations, segmentation controls, and wireless security evaluated.
Access Control
User access management, authentication mechanisms, and physical access controls assessed.
Data Protection
Encryption at rest and in transit, key management, and data retention reviewed.
Monitoring & Testing
Logging, monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing programs evaluated.
Policies & Procedures
Information security policy and supporting procedures reviewed for completeness.
Our Approach
We review your environment against all applicable PCI-DSS requirements, simulating what a QSA will evaluate during your official assessment.
Scope Validation
We verify your cardholder data environment boundaries and identify any scope creep.
Requirement Review
Each PCI-DSS requirement is evaluated for implementation status and evidence availability.
Gap Documentation
Non-compliant items are documented with specific remediation steps.
Audit Preparation
We help prepare evidence packages and documentation for your QSA.
Common Findings
These are issues we frequently discover during pci-dss readiness engagements:
Scope Creep
CriticalCardholder data present in systems believed to be out of scope, expanding compliance requirements.
Weak Segmentation
HighNetwork segmentation insufficient to isolate the cardholder data environment.
Missing Vulnerability Scans
HighQuarterly internal and external vulnerability scans not performed or documented.
Insufficient Logging
MediumAudit logs not capturing all required events or not retained for one year.
Common Questions
Can you certify us for PCI compliance?
No—only a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) can perform official PCI assessments. Our readiness assessment finds the gaps before your QSA does, so you can remediate issues and pass your official audit with confidence.
When should we do a readiness assessment?
Ideally 3-6 months before your official PCI assessment. This gives you time to remediate findings. We can also help throughout the year to maintain continuous compliance.
Other Gap Assessment Options
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Assess your organization against the NIST CSF 2.0 six core functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
CIS Critical Security Controls
Evaluate implementation of the CIS Critical Security Controls for effective, prioritized cyber defense.
ISO 27001 Readiness
Assess readiness for ISO 27001 certification with comprehensive control mapping and evidence review.
HIPAA Security Assessment
Evaluate your safeguards against HIPAA Security Rule requirements for protected health information.
SOC 2 Readiness
Prepare for SOC 2 Type I or Type II examination with gap identification across Trust Service Criteria.
Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses?
Schedule a free consultation with our security experts to discuss your organization's needs.
Or call us directly at (445) 273-2873