QSA is an organization or individual authorized by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to assess, evaluate, and validate an entity’s compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
A QSA will examine an organization’s policies, practices, and systems during a PCI DSS assessment to make sure they adhere to the standard’s criteria. To confirm that the company is adhering to the necessary security protocols, they will also interview staff members and examine records.
Following the examination, the QSA will offer a report outlining any non-compliance areas and remedy recommendations. The firm uses this report to maintain PCI DSS compliance and strengthen its security posture.
