PCI DSS Consultancy and Assessments

LRQA is a globally recognised Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) company, authorised by the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) to assess and validate an organisation’s compliance with the PCI DSS. Our QSA services are designed to guide businesses through every phase of their PCI DSS compliance journey, from initial gap analysis to final certification. We work closely with your team to map out cardholder data flows, identify vulnerabilities, and develop strategic roadmaps for achieving and maintaining compliance. We are ideally positioned to support organisations with global operations, providing consistent, high-quality service tailored to businesses of all sizes.

In addition to our core QSA services, we offer specialised support such as card discovery services to locate and secure all instances of card data within your systems. Our pre-audit services are particularly valuable, allowing organisations to identify and address potential compliance issues before the final audit, reducing the risk of non-conformance. Each client is assigned both a primary and secondary QSA to ensure continuity and depth of understanding throughout the engagement, ensuring a smooth and successful compliance process.

Our ongoing support services provide clients with continuous access to our expert team, keeping you informed about the latest PCI DSS developments and offering timely advice as new challenges arise. 

LRQA is a certified PCI Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), authorised to conduct external vulnerability scans under the PCI DSS. These quarterly scans are essential for organisations that store, process, or transmit cardholder data, helping to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities such as malware attacks. Our ASV services ensure your organisation meets PCI DSS requirements, providing the necessary assurance to protect your payment systems.

Entities requiring PCI ASV scans include certain merchants and service providers, particularly those with internet-facing payment systems or those specified by their acquirer. LRQA's ASV scanning services cater to a wide range of needs, offering both managed service options, where our experts handle the scanning and remediation process, and self-service options through a user-friendly portal. 

By partnering with LRQA for your PCI ASV scanning, you ensure continuous monitoring of your network, maintain PCI DSS compliance, and receive actionable insights that can enhance other aspects of your security program, such as change management and patch management.

As a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) company, LRQA is authorised by the PCI SSC to conduct PCI DSS audits and certification services for organisations worldwide.

Our PCI Audit services assess both service providers and merchants, ensuring that they meet all PCI DSS requirements and maintain compliance year after year. Through detailed on-site assessments, our QSAs gather evidence, review documentation, and observe systems and processes to produce a Report on Compliance (ROC) and an Attestation of Compliance (AOC), which are essential for demonstrating compliance to acquiring banks and customers.

PCI DSS assessments, commonly referred to as audits, are crucial for organisations that process, store, or transmit cardholder data. Depending on the volume of transactions, different levels of assessment are required, ranging from annual self-assessment questionnaires to full on-site audits by a QSA. LRQA’s QSAs work closely with your team to navigate these requirements, providing expert guidance tailored to your specific compliance needs.

A critical component of PCI DSS compliance is the development and implementation of robust policies and procedures. While many organisations may already have working practices that align with PCI DSS, these processes are often informal and not consistently documented or communicated across the organisation. To achieve and maintain PCI DSS compliance, it is essential to thoroughly document working processes, security technologies, and card data flows, and to ensure these are effectively communicated to all relevant staff members.

We offer a bespoke approach, working closely with your team to create tailored policies and procedures that not only meet PCI DSS requirements but also strengthen your overall cyber security maturity.

Whether you need to document existing practices or create new policies from scratch, we provide the expertise needed to ensure your PCI DSS policies and procedures are both effective and efficient.

LRQA simplifies this process of becoming PCI DSS compliant with our Gap Assessment, offering a clear, tailored roadmap to help your business achieve and maintain compliance.

Our service enhances your understanding of PCI DSS requirements, aligns the compliance process with your business strategy, and supports cost-effective decision-making.

Our experts mentor your team, conducting a thorough review of your payment card operations, from front-end processes to back-end systems. We identify key elements such as card data flows, assets, and applicable controls, providing a comprehensive analysis of your current state.

The outcome is a detailed roadmap to compliance, complete with actionable objectives tailored to your business. 

Our PCI DSS compliance health check service ensures your organisation maintains continuous compliance, preventing costly issues during your annual assessment. Treating PCI DSS as a once-a-year project can lead to lapses in required processes, resulting in non-compliance, financial penalties, and increased risk of data breaches.

Our proactive health checks help you identify and address vulnerabilities throughout the year, reducing the risk of non-compliance and costly remediation. By maintaining ongoing compliance, you avoid fines, protect your brand, and ensure your security measures are effective. Regular health checks with LRQA help keep your organisation PCI DSS compliant and secure all year round.