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PCI DSS compliance services help organizations that store, process or transmit cardholder data prepare for, achieve and maintain compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The formal assessment, however, can only be carried out by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) company approved by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), or by an approved internal assessor where your acquirer allows it. This blog explains who can assess and support your PCI DSS compliance, compares top PCI DSS compliance and QSA assessment service providers, and shows how to choose the right one.
Who Can Assess and Support Your PCI DSS Compliance?
A PCI SSC-qualified QSA company can assess your PCI DSS compliance, while QSA firms, Approved Scanning Vendors (ASVs) and specialist consultants can support it. Who you need depends on your PCI DSS compliance level and the requirements of your acquirer or payment brands.
The table below shows who does what:
Larger merchants and service providers usually need an annual ROC from a QSA, while smaller merchants can often complete an SAQ. Many QSA companies also offer readiness and advisory services, so one provider can support you from scoping through to validation.
Top PCI DSS Compliance and QSA Assessment Service Providers Compared
The table below compares each provider’s PCI SSC roles, PCI DSS compliance services and best fit.
Top Providers of PCI DSS Compliance Services Explained
Each provider has a different strength. Here is what sets them apart.
1. SISA
SISA is a Bengaluru-headquartered, forensics-driven cybersecurity company focused on the payments ecosystem. It is a PCI SSC-qualified QSA company and PCI Forensic Investigator, and in March 2026 it became a PCI Recognized Laboratory and the first lab in India authorized to perform full evaluations under the PCI Mobile Payments on COTS (MPoC) standard. Its PCI DSS compliance services cover scoping, gap assessment, remediation support and ROC validation, alongside ASV scanning and payment forensic investigations. SISA covers assessment, payment software and forensic investigation under one roof, so lessons from real breach investigations shape how it assesses controls.
2. Coalfire
Coalfire is a global PCI QSA company, delivering more than 1,000 PCI DSS assessments a year. It is also a PFI covering the U.S. and Europe and a qualified PIN security assessor, which suits large enterprises and cloud providers with complex payment environments.
3. Schellman
Schellman is a globally licensed QSA and an ASV, and has been involved with PCI programs since 2007. It also assesses against other PCI standards, including P2PE, PIN, 3DS and the Software Security Framework, which suits organizations that want several PCI assessments from one firm.
4. A-LIGN
A-LIGN provides PCI DSS readiness and QSA assessments and reports more than 2,000 PCI assessments completed. It delivers ASV scanning through a partnership with Sectigo HackerGuardian, and suits organizations that also need audits against other compliance frameworks.
5. SecurityMetrics
SecurityMetrics has been a QSA company since 2006 and validated its first P2PE solution in 2013. Alongside PCI DSS audits, it offers external vulnerability scanning and P2PE audits for merchants and service providers.
6. ControlCase
ControlCase is a PCI SSC-certified QSA headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with an office in Mumbai and locations across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Its global team suits multinational organizations that want consistent assessments across regions.
7. Integrity360
Integrity360 is an Ireland-based cybersecurity company whose QSAs support clients through the PCI DSS process. With 16 offices across 13 countries, mainly in Europe, it suits organizations whose payment operations are focused in Europe.
8. Network Intelligence
Network Intelligence, founded in India in 2001, became a PCI DSS QSA in 2015–2016 and received a PCI Forensic Investigator license for the USA and Canada in 2021. It combines PCI DSS assessments with managed security services across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
How to Choose the Right PCI DSS Compliance Services Provider
The right provider depends on your compliance level, payment environment and the regions you operate in. Evaluate providers on these six factors:
- Verified PCI SSC qualifications. Confirm the firm is listed as a QSA company on the PCI SSC website, and check for other roles you may need, such as ASV, PFI or 3DS assessor.
- Payments expertise. Choose assessors who understand your environment, whether that is card-present retail, e-commerce, payment processing or cloud infrastructure.
- Scope and support. Ask whether the provider offers scoping and gap assessments before the formal assessment, as accurate scoping reduces cost and effort.
- Assessor independence. PCI SSC requires QSA companies to remain independent. If one firm both remediates and assesses, ask how it keeps the two separate.
- Regional coverage. Make sure the provider can assess your locations, including on-site work, and understands local regulations, such as RBI requirements in India.
- Continuous compliance. PCI DSS v4.0.1 treats security as a continuous process, not a once-a-year exercise. Prefer providers that support ongoing monitoring between annual assessments.
Conclusion: Choose an Assessor Before You Need One
PCI DSS compliance services work best when the same partner understands your scope, your payment environment and what assessors will look for. Global QSA firms bring scale across frameworks and regions, while payments specialists bring deeper insight into card data risks. SISA combines QSA assessment with payment forensics, so organizations can prepare for validation and respond to incidents with one partner.
FAQs
1. Who can assess my PCI DSS compliance?
A PCI SSC-qualified Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) company can assess your PCI DSS compliance and issue a Report on Compliance. Where your acquirer or payment brand allows, an Internal Security Assessor (ISA) can perform internal assessments, and eligible organizations can self-assess using a Self-Assessment Questionnaire.
2. What do PCI DSS compliance services include?
PCI DSS compliance services typically include scoping, gap assessments, remediation support, policy and documentation support, ASV scanning, penetration testing, and the formal assessment that produces the ROC and AOC.
3. What is the difference between a QSA and an ASV?
A QSA assesses your overall compliance with PCI DSS requirements. An ASV performs the quarterly external vulnerability scans that PCI DSS requires. Some firms are qualified for both roles.
4. How do I verify that a company is a QSA?
Check the list of Qualified Security Assessor companies on the PCI Security Standards Council website. The PCI SSC updates the list regularly, so confirm the assessor’s status before signing an engagement.
5. Can the same company help me prepare for and assess PCI DSS compliance?
Yes. Many QSA companies offer both readiness support and formal assessments. PCI SSC requires QSA companies to remain independent, so ask how the provider separates its advisory and assessment work.