Understanding how to meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is necessary for any business that handles customer card data, and a PCI Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) is an important part of that process. A QSA is a certified expert who evaluates whether your business meets PCI DSS requirements and helps you close any security gaps. QSAs help clarify a process that often feels opaque. They guide you through assessments, reports, and remediation steps so you can protect cardholder data and maintain compliance with confidence.

In 2024, there were more than 3,100 data compromise events in the US. QSAs help businesses mitigate the risks associated with breaches by protecting card data properly. Below, we’ll explain what a PCI QSA does, why your business might need one, and how a QSA-led assessment works.

What’s in this article?

• What is a PCI Qualified Security Assessor?
  
• Why does your business need a QSA for PCI DSS compliance?
  
• How does a PCI QSA assessment work?
  
• What qualifications are required to become a PCI QSA?
  
• What should you expect from your QSA’s deliverables?
  
• How can a QSA help with PCI compliance?
  
• How Stripe Payments can help
  

What is a PCI Qualified Security Assessor?

A PCI Qualified Security Assessor is a person or organization authorized by the PCI Security Standards Council to evaluate whether businesses abide by the PCI DSS. The QSA checks whether your systems, networks, and practices are keeping cardholder data safe.

QSAs understand everything from encryption and access control to how your organization stores, processes, and transmits payment data. Their role is to verify your compliance and point out any security gaps. They help you understand how to close those gaps effectively.

Certified QSA companies have been vetted by the PCI council for independence, technical competence, and professional integrity. These companies have to stay current on every version of the PCI DSS and be requalified annually. When updates introduce new requirements, QSAs are trained to assess against them.

Why does your business need a QSA for PCI DSS compliance?

If your business processes more than 6 million Visa or Mastercard transactions annually, a PCI DSS assessment by a QSA is required each year. Many businesses find that working with a QSA makes PCI compliance easier and more reliable, and they choose to work with one even if that isn’t required.

Here’s why:

• It clarifies a complex standard: The PCI DSS is detailed, with hundreds of controls that cover every part of how you handle card data. A QSA interprets these requirements in the context of your business and technology stack and helps you focus on what really matters.

• It adds credibility and assurance: A QSA’s independent validation can build trust with banks, partners, and customers. Even if you complete a self-assessment, having a QSA review adds weight and credibility to your results.

• It saves time and avoids rework: QSAs help you find gaps early, before you invest in ineffectual fixes. They guide your team through evidence gathering and control testing so you’re prepared well before the audit deadline.

How does a PCI QSA assessment work?

A good QSA engagement is basically a guided security tune-up.

A PCI QSA assessment typically involves the following:

• Scoping and preparation: The QSA works with you to define which systems, networks, and processes fall within your cardholder data environment (CDE). The CDE includes anything that stores, processes, or transmits card data. At this stage, your QSA might ask for network diagrams, data flow maps, inventories of related systems, and relevant policies. Many companies also choose to do a gap analysis first so they can identify weak spots before the formal audit begins.

• On-site or remote assessment: The QSA reviews configurations, policies, and logs, interviews staff, and observes processes in action. They collect evidence such as screenshots, configurations, and reports to confirm that controls are working as intended. During this phase, QSAs often provide real-time feedback so you can start addressing any issues right away instead of waiting until the final report.

• Remediation and validation: If the QSA identifies areas of noncompliance, you’ll fix them and provide updated evidence. This might involve adding multifactor authentication, updating firewall rules, or improving encryption settings. The QSA verifies that the fixes are implemented and effective.

• Reporting and deliverables: Once the assessment is complete, the QSA compiles two main documents: the Report on Compliance (ROC), a detailed record of controls for PCI DSS requirements, and the Attestation of Compliance (AOC), a formal declaration of your compliance status. The QSA walks you through these reports to ensure you understand the results, what they mean for your organization, and any next steps.

• Ongoing partnership: The best QSAs act as long-term partners who help you maintain compliance between annual assessments, interpret new PCI versions, and keep your controls effective as your business develops.

What qualifications are required to become a PCI QSA?

QSAs are deeply vetted professionals whose experience and training allow them to evaluate others’ security programs. The PCI Security Standards Council sets strict requirements for anyone who pursues QSA certification. Becoming a PCI QSA is an investment in technical skill, ethical standards, and continuous education.

Requirements include the following:

• Professional experience: Employees of QSA companies must have at least one year of experience in application security, network security, and information system security. They need to understand how real systems work, not just theory.

• Industry-recognized certifications: They must possess at least one accredited, professional certification, such as ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) or Certified ISO 27001 Lead Implementer. These certifications demonstrate validated expertise in security and auditing.

• Background checks: QSAs must pass background checks. Felonies automatically disqualify a candidate.

• PCI-specific training and exams: After they meet baseline qualifications, candidates must complete PCI council training and pass multiple exams that cover every aspect of PCI DSS testing, reporting, and ethics.

What should you expect from your QSA’s deliverables?

When a QSA completes your PCI DSS assessment, you’ll receive formal documentation that details your compliance status.

Here’s what that documentation will include:

• ROC: This is the full technical report that outlines your environment, scope, and results for every PCI DSS requirement. It explains how each control was tested, whether it’s in place, and what evidence was reviewed. If something isn’t compliant, the ROC identifies what failed and why.

• AOC: The AOC is a concise, standardized summary of your compliance status. It’s what you’ll share with banks, card networks, or partners as proof that your business is PCI compliant.

• Supporting materials: Many QSAs also provide an executive summary or a findings presentation. These help you communicate results internally and track any remediation steps.

Together, these deliverables are proof that your controls were independently tested, verified, and aligned with industry security standards.

How can a QSA help with PCI compliance?

Working with a Qualified Security Assessor can make PCI compliance faster, easier, and more sustainable.

Here’s what a QSA can help you do:

• Rightsize your scope: The QSA helps define which systems fall inside your CDE. By isolating what’s absolutely necessary through methods such as network segmentation, tokenization, and encryption, you minimize the amount of infrastructure that needs to meet PCI controls. That means fewer systems to secure, test, and document.

• Keep you focused: QSAs know where organizations usually struggle and help you prioritize what matters most. They’ll steer you towards practical fixes and proven tools instead of letting you burn time on requirements that don’t apply to your setup.

• Avoid rework and wasted effort: With early input from a QSA, you can design solutions that meet PCI expectations the first time. That helps you save money and avoid surprises when it’s time for evidence collection or testing.

• Maintain ongoing compliance: The best QSAs help you embed PCI tasks such as recurring access reviews, log monitoring, and policy updates into your regular operations. That makes compliance an ongoing process rather than an annual scramble.

A QSA is both a technical guide and a partner. They can help your team spend less time working through PCI bureaucracy and more time strengthening your overall security posture.

How Stripe Payments can help

Stripe Payments provides a unified, global payment solution that helps any business—from scaling startups to global enterprises—accept payments online, in person, and around the world.

Payments can help you:

• Optimize your checkout experience: Create a frictionless customer experience and save thousands of engineering hours with prebuilt payment UIs, access to 125+ payment methods, and Link, a wallet built by Stripe.

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Learn more about how Stripe Payments can power your online and in-person payments, or get started today.