PCI DSS compliance is the process of meeting the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard - currently v4.0.1 - to protect cardholder data across every system that stores, processes, or transmits it. CyberXplore is a security consultancy (not a QSA or certification body) that gets organizations audit-ready through senior-led gap analysis, cardholder data environment (CDE) scoping, segmentation validation, and the manual Requirement 11 penetration testing the standard mandates. We map your obligations to the right SAQ or ROC, build the evidence your assessor expects, and coordinate quarterly ASV scanning through PCI-approved partners.
PCI DSS v4.0PCI SSCOWASPPTESNIST
Why CyberXplore
Senior-only testers (OSCP, CRTP, CREST)
ISO 27001 & ISO 9001 certified
Free retest + attestation letter
Tailored scope and quote in 24 hours
Why it matters
Non-compliance carries acquiring-bank fines, higher transaction fees, and - after a breach - the loss of your ability to accept card payments altogether.
PCI DSS v4.0 added future-dated requirements that became mandatory on 31 March 2025, including targeted risk analyses, expanded authentication, and stricter scoping that catch many merchants off guard.
Mis-scoping the cardholder data environment is the most common and expensive mistake - too narrow and you fail your assessment, too broad and you over-spend on controls for systems that never touch card data.
Requirement 11 mandates internal and external penetration testing plus segmentation testing; weak or 'checkbox' testing leaves real exploitable paths into the CDE that an assessor - or attacker - will find.
Aligned with industry standards: PCI DSS v4.0 · PCI SSC · OWASP · PTES · NIST
Our methodology
01
Scoping & Gap Analysis
We confirm your merchant level, determine whether you need an SAQ (and which type) or a full Report on Compliance, then map the cardholder data environment - every system, flow, and connected component that stores, processes, or transmits card data - and assess it against all 12 PCI DSS v4.0 requirements.
02
Segmentation Review
We validate the network segmentation that isolates your CDE from the rest of the corporate network, identifying flat-network risks and reducing assessment scope (and cost) by confirming out-of-scope systems are genuinely isolated.
03
Requirement 11 Penetration Testing
Our OSCP- and CREST-qualified testers perform the internal and external penetration tests required by Requirement 11.4, plus segmentation penetration testing (11.4.5) to prove isolation controls cannot be bypassed - all done manually, not just scanned.
04
ASV Scanning & Vulnerability Management
We coordinate the quarterly external vulnerability scans required under Requirement 11.3.2 through a PCI SSC Approved Scanning Vendor partner, help you interpret findings, and build a sustainable remediation and rescan cycle.
05
Evidence, Remediation & Audit Support
We compile the policies, configurations, targeted risk analyses, and test results your QSA or acquirer requires, guide remediation of every gap, and support you through the SAQ attestation or QSA-led ROC assessment.
What we test
Cardholder data environment (CDE) discovery, data-flow mapping, and scope definition
Merchant/service-provider level determination and SAQ-vs-ROC pathway selection
Gap analysis against all 12 PCI DSS v4.0 requirements (defined and customized approach)
Network segmentation review and segmentation penetration testing (Req 11.4.5)
Internal and external penetration testing per Requirement 11.4
Quarterly external ASV scan coordination (Req 11.3.2) via approved vendor
Internal vulnerability scanning and authenticated configuration review (Req 11.3.1)
Targeted risk analyses, secure-configuration, logging, and access-control review
Policy, procedure, and evidence-package preparation for assessment
Pre-assessment readiness check and QSA / acquirer liaison support
What you get
CDE scope document with annotated cardholder data-flow diagrams
Prioritized gap-analysis report mapped to each PCI DSS v4.0 requirement
Requirement 11 penetration test report with findings, evidence, and CVSS severities
Segmentation test results confirming CDE isolation
Remediation roadmap with developer- and engineer-ready guidance
Free remediation retest and a penetration-test attestation letter
Audit-ready evidence pack to support your SAQ or QSA-led ROC
Sample deliverable
What you'll see in your report
Every engagement ends with a clear, prioritized report: severity-rated findings with CVSS scores, affected assets, and remediation status - plus a free retest. The figures below are illustrative.
Findings by severity
14 total
Critical
0
High
4
Medium
6
Low
4
High · CVSS 7.6CX-1602
MFA not enforced for all CDE admin access
PCI 8.4.2Cardholder Data EnvironmentOpen
High · CVSS 7.4CX-1608
PAN not rendered unreadable at rest
PCI 3.5.1Payments databaseOpen
Illustrative pci dss gap assessment sample - anonymized to example.com.
Medium · CVSS 5.5CX-1614
Audit logs not reviewed daily
PCI 10.4.1CDE systemsOpen
Want the full anonymized sample report? We'll include it with your quote.
Cumulative figures across our team's combined engagement history
Shared under NDA · details anonymized
“Senior testers, fast turnaround, and a free retest that actually proved our fixes worked. They made our SOC 2 audit painless.”
SOC 2 passed first attempt
VE
VP of Engineering
Series B FinTech · Payments platform
FinTech
Certifications held by our testers
OSCP
CRTP
CREST
CEH
eWPTX
ISO 27001
ISO 9001
Frequently asked questions
No - we are a security consultancy, not a Qualified Security Assessor or certification body. We make you audit-ready: we perform the gap analysis, segmentation review, and Requirement 11 penetration testing, and prepare your evidence so your self-assessment (SAQ) or QSA-led Report on Compliance (ROC) goes smoothly. For ASV scanning we work with a PCI SSC Approved Scanning Vendor.
