The cardholder data environment (CDE) includes all people, processes, and technologies that store, process, or transmit cardholder data or sensitive authentication data, plus all systems connected to or that could affect the security of the CDE. Reducing CDE scope is the single most impactful strategy for reducing PCI compliance cost, complexity, and risk.

We implement scope reduction through network segmentation that isolates the CDE from the rest of your network, tokenization that replaces cardholder data with non-sensitive tokens, point-to-point encryption that removes systems from scope by ensuring they never have access to cleartext card data, payment process redesign that outsources card handling to PCI-compliant third parties, and data flow analysis that identifies and eliminates unnecessary cardholder data storage.

Deliverables include a cardholder data flow diagram, CDE scope documentation, network segmentation architecture, and segmentation testing results. Proper scoping documentation is critical for both SAQ completion and QSA assessment.

Our gap assessment evaluates your organization against all applicable PCI DSS 4.0 requirements, including both current requirements and future-dated requirements that become mandatory. Every requirement is assessed as In Place, Not In Place, Not Applicable, or In Place with Compensating Control. Gaps are documented with specific remediation actions, risk ratings, and implementation recommendations.

Remediation services include firewall and router configuration hardening, secure configuration baselines for all system components, cardholder data storage elimination or encryption, TLS configuration for data in transit, anti-malware deployment and management, secure development practices and code review, access control implementation with MFA, physical security controls for CDE locations, logging and monitoring configuration, and security awareness training program development.

For organizations pursuing the customized validation approach for specific requirements, we develop the documentation, targeted risk analysis, and testing procedures that QSAs require to validate the alternative control meets the requirement's intent.

PCI DSS requires quarterly external vulnerability scans by an Approved Scanning Vendor, quarterly internal vulnerability scans, and annual penetration testing of the CDE and segmentation controls. PCI DSS 4.0 enhanced these requirements with provisions for authenticated internal scanning, web application security testing, and continuous monitoring approaches.

Our vulnerability management program provides ASV-qualified quarterly external scans with remediation guidance for any failing vulnerabilities, internal vulnerability scanning with prioritized findings reports, annual penetration testing by certified ethical hackers following PCI DSS testing methodology, segmentation testing that validates network isolation controls are effective, web application security testing including OWASP Top 10 vulnerability assessment, and remediation verification re-scans after vulnerabilities are addressed.

For organizations that need ongoing vulnerability management beyond PCI requirements, our managed cybersecurity services provide continuous scanning, patch management, and remediation as an integrated security operation.

For merchants completing Self-Assessment Questionnaires, we determine the correct SAQ type based on your payment acceptance methods and processing environment, conduct a gap assessment against the applicable requirements, remediate any gaps, and help you complete the SAQ with accurate, defensible responses. Properly completed SAQs with supporting evidence protect you if a breach occurs and your compliance status is questioned.

For Level 1 merchants and service providers requiring a Qualified Security Assessor assessment, we prepare your organization for the on-site assessment by conducting a pre-assessment that mirrors the QSA's methodology, assembling evidence packages for every requirement, preparing staff for assessor interviews, and ensuring all technical controls are configured and documented to the QSA's satisfaction.

We also assist with Attestation of Compliance completion and submission to your acquiring bank or payment brand, ensuring your compliance documentation meets the specific requirements of your payment processing relationships.

PCI DSS Requirement 12.10 mandates an incident response plan that is tested annually and includes specific procedures for responding to a suspected or confirmed cardholder data compromise. A payment card breach triggers notification obligations to payment brands, acquiring banks, and potentially affected cardholders. Payment brands may require a PCI Forensic Investigator (PFI) to conduct the breach investigation, and the costs — including forensic investigation, card reissuance, fraud liability, and fines — can be devastating.

We develop incident response plans specific to payment card environments, including detection and escalation procedures for suspected card data compromise, containment strategies that preserve evidence while limiting damage, forensic readiness measures including log retention and system imaging capabilities, payment brand notification procedures and timelines, cardholder notification templates and communication plans, and post-incident remediation and compliance validation procedures.

Annual tabletop exercises test your team's ability to execute the plan under pressure. We simulate realistic payment card breach scenarios based on current threat intelligence — point-of-sale malware, e-commerce skimming attacks, insider threats — and evaluate your team's detection, response, and notification capabilities.

PCI DSS compliance is assessed annually but must be maintained continuously. Controls that are in place during the assessment but degrade during the year leave you vulnerable to both breaches and adverse findings on the next assessment. We implement continuous compliance management programs that include quarterly ASV scanning and internal vulnerability scanning, continuous log monitoring and security event analysis through our SIEM platform, regular access reviews and privilege management, patch management with PCI-aligned timelines, security awareness training with phishing simulations, annual penetration testing and segmentation validation, and policy and procedure reviews reflecting environmental changes.

For organizations using our managed IT services, PCI compliance activities are integrated into our standard operations — ensuring that patches are applied, configurations are maintained, access is controlled, and logs are monitored as part of your ongoing IT management rather than as a separate compliance exercise.

Quarterly compliance status reports and annual pre-assessment reviews keep you audit-ready throughout the year.