Meet Requirement 11.3. Pass Your PCI Audit.
Expert PCI-DSS Penetration Testing designed to validate your Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), verify segmentation, and satisfy your QSA.
If you process, store, or transmit credit card data, you cannot afford to fail your audit. PCI DSS Requirement 11.3 is the most common stumbling block for merchants and service providers. Our PCI-DSS Penetration Testing service is strictly aligned with the PCI Data Security Standard. We go beyond simple scanning to manually identify vulnerabilities in your CDE, ensuring you meet compliance deadlines.
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What Is PCI-DSS Penetration Testing?
PCI penetration testing helps organizations uncover hidden security gaps by safely simulating real-world attacks.
Under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) v4.0, penetration testing is mandated to validate that:
Network and application defenses are effective
Segmentation controls are working properly (if used)
Remediation is verified before closing out findings
Our team simulates real-world attacks against your in-scope environment to validate compliance with requirements 11.4.1 and 11.4.2.
Which PCI Requirements Mandate Pen Testing?
PCI mandates external and internal penetration testing at least annually and after any significant changes.
11.4.1
Penetration tests must be performed annually and after any significant changes.
11.4.2
If network segmentation is used to isolate CDE, segmentation controls must be tested.
6.4.3 / 6.4.4
Vulnerabilities must be identified, addressed, and validated after remediation.
Note: Failure to meet these can result in failed assessments, higher transaction fees, or disqualification from merchant status.
Types of PCI Pen Tests We Perform
Deep dive into our PCI Pen Test service and the different tests that we provide for penetration testing
| Test Type | Description |
|---|---|
| External Network Pen Testing | Simulates attacks from outside your network to identify and exploit exposed systems or services. |
| Internal Network Pen Testing | Assesses risks an attacker could exploit after gaining internal access, such as lateral movement. |
| Web Application Testing (OWASP Top 10) | Tests for OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and business logic flaws in apps handling payment data. |
| Segmentation Testing & Validation | Verifies that network segmentation properly isolates the cardholder data environment (CDE). |
| Cloud Environment Testing (AWS, Azure, GCP) | Evaluates cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) for misconfigurations, insecure services, and IAM flaws. |
| Mobile App Testing (if part of payment flow) | Assesses mobile applications—if part of the payment flow—for vulnerabilities affecting data security. |
What Our PCI-DSS Penetration Testing Includes
Our PCI-DSS penetration testing includes expert-led manual testing, evidence-ready reporting, remediation guidance, and free retesting.
Why Choose Us for PCI Compliance Pentesting?
We are PCI scope reduction experts who accelerate your compliance by delivering rapid, verified assessments that eliminate false positives.
Scope Reduction Experts
We don’t just test; we advise. If we see a way to configure your segmentation to reduce your PCI scope (and save you money), we tell you.
No False Positives
QSAs hate ambiguity. We manually verify every finding so your team doesn’t waste time fixing ghosts. Pass your audit with confidence.
Speed
We know compliance has deadlines. We can scope, quote, and start your test within days. Don’t wait weeks for a service provider.
PCI Penetration Testing Certifications
Our team holds industry-recognized certifications that reflect hands-on expertise across offensive security, cloud, incident response, and compliance.
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester (GCPN)
GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester (GCPN)
CompTIA Security+, Network+, A+, Pentest+
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CCP)
Microsoft AZ-900, SC-900
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Burp Suite Certified Practitioner (Apprentice)
eLearnSecurity Junior (eJPT)
Web App Penetration Tester (eWPT)
Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
Palo Alto PSE Certifications
PCI-DSS Pen Testing: FAQs
Learn more information about the most frequently asked questions
Who needs PCI-DSS Penetration Testing?
Any organization that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data (merchants and service providers at Level 1–4, SaaS platforms accepting payments, payment gateways, processors, acquirers, and issuers) is required by PCI-DSS Requirement 11.4 (internal) and 11.3.4 (external, if segmented) to perform real, attacker-simulated penetration testing at least annually and after any material infrastructure change. If you have a Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) or connected systems, this is non-negotiable: skip it and your QSA cannot sign your Report on Compliance.
How Often is PCI-DSS Penetration Testing required?
At least once per year and after significant changes to infrastructure, applications, or network segmentation.
What is defined as a "significant change" for PCI?
New systems, major upgrades, firewall changes, adding cloud services, or modifying segmentation all qualify.
PCI Vulnerability Scan (ASV) vs. PCI Penetration Test?
A Vulnerability Scan is automated and non-intrusive (Requirement 11.2). A Penetration Test is manual and exploitative (Requirement 11.3). You need both to be compliant. Scans happen quarterly; Pentests happen annually.
Do you help with the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)?
Yes. If you are a smaller merchant, we can help determine which SAQ applies to you and perform the penetration testing required for SAQ A-EP, C, or D.
What happens if we fail the test?
You cannot “fail” a pentest in the traditional sense. If we find holes, you simply fix them. We then perform a Retest. Once the Retest confirms the fixes, you have a compliant report. This is a standard part of the process.
Do we need to fix every issue found?
You must fix all vulnerabilities that are considered “High Risk” or “Exploitable.” PCI DSS does not require you to fix low-risk informational items, but the exploitable ones must be patched and re-tested before the audit.
Is segmentation testing required?
Yes — if you use segmentation to reduce scope, you must test and document its effectiveness under 11.4.2.
Will this work for our QSA?
Yes — our reports are formatted for PCI audits, including methodology, tools used, attack results, and validation steps.
Do you offer retesting?
Absolutely. One round of free testing is included within 30 days to validate remediation.
See What Our Clients Are Saying
Our clients consistently share that our collaborative partnership and transparent communication help them build stronger security programs.
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Secure Your PCI Data. Pass Your Audit.
Avoid automated junk reports. Partner with the experts who make PCI compliance simple. We understand PCI, speak your QSA’s language, and delivers actual results.