Who Should Validate Payment Software?
The PCI Secure Software Standard is for vendors of software that supports payment transactions. Payment brands and compliance program owners decide when validation is required.
- Payment Application Vendors
- Payment Terminal Software Developers
- Web-Based Payment Software Providers
- Payment Switching and Processing Software Vendors
- Vendors Replacing PA-DSS Validated Applications
- Vendors Selling to Merchants and Service Providers
Secure Software Assessment Approach
Deliverables
Clear, evidence-based outputs aligned to your software version, modules and validation route.
Scope and Module Applicability Summary
Secure Software ROV and AOV
Readiness and Gap Assessment Report
Security Testing Findings
Prioritized Remediation Tracker
Change and Revalidation Roadmap
Supporting Services
Technical services that strengthen payment software security and validation readiness.
Web Application Penetration Testing
Test web-based payment software and APIs for exploitable vulnerabilities.
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Vulnerability Assessment
Identify weaknesses in the hosting and deployment environments for your software.
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Offensive Security Services
Adversary-led testing of your software and supporting infrastructure.
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PCI Secure SLC Assessment
Qualify your development lifecycle to streamline future software updates.
Learn MorePCI Software Security Bundles
Choose a pathway aligned to your products and release cadence, designed to shorten validation and simplify updates.
Core Secure Software Package
EssentialsFor vendors validating a payment software product
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Scope, version and module applicability
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Gap assessment against applicable requirements
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Remediation roadmap and evidence checklist
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ROV and AOV preparation support
Integrated Software Security Suite
BundledSecure Software + Secure SLC (coordinated validation approach)
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Product and lifecycle scope planned together
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Evidence reused across both assessments
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Delta change planning for future releases
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Assessor-led readiness and validation support
Advanced Payment Software Program
ProgramFor vendors with multiple products or versions
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Secure Software across products, with optional Secure SLC and P2PE Application
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Release governance tied to validation obligations
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Portfolio roadmap with a governance cadence
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Revalidation strategy and stakeholder reporting
Benefits of a PCI Secure Software Assessment
Protect Payment Data in Software
Verify that your software protects the account data and sensitive functions it handles.
Reduce Customer Compliance Effort
Give merchants and service providers a PCI SSC-listed product to evaluate.
Meet Validation Obligations
Complete the reporting PCI SSC requires for its validated payment software listing.
Find Weaknesses Before Release
Identify design and coding flaws through structured testing ahead of validation.
Support Market Access
Answer procurement and partner security questions with independent validation.
Manage Change with Confidence
Plan updates, delta changes and revalidation without disrupting releases.
Why Payment Software Vendors Choose QRC
Qualified assessors. Integrated payment-security expertise. Evidence-led reporting.
- PCI DSS QSA Company
- Qualified PIN Assessor (QPA) Company
- PCI 3DS Assessor Company
- P2PE Assessor and P2PE Application Assessor
- Secure Software and Secure SLC Assessor
- Evidence-first methodology
- Reduced assessment friction
- Defensible, well-documented findings
- Alignment to PCI SSC program requirements
- Secure Software product validation
- Secure SLC lifecycle assessment
- P2PE Application assessment
- Delta change and revalidation support
Member of the PCI SSC Global Executive Assessor Roundtable (GEAR) for 2024-2026 and 2026-2028, staying aligned with evolving interpretations and practice.
- ROV and AOV aligned documentation
- Traceable test evidence
- Product and leadership-ready reporting
Secure Software assessments serviced across Asia Pacific, CEMEA, Europe and the USA, as shown on QRC's PCI SSC listing.
PCI Case Studies
Explore how teams reduced PCI scope, closed control gaps, and improved audit readiness across different payment ecosystems.
PCI Software Security Resource Center
Guides and articles to support your payment software validation journey.
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Frequently Asked Questions
PCI SSC published Secure Software Standard v2.0 on 15 January 2026, with a 12-month transition period that starts once assessor training is available. QRC confirms which version applies when scoping your validation.
Secure Software validates a specific payment software product and version. Secure SLC assesses the vendor's development lifecycle processes across products.
Core requirements apply to all software in scope, and modules are added based on the software's functions and technology. Earlier versions cover account data protection, terminal software and web software, and v2.0 adds a module for software development kits.
PA-DSS is retired. PCI SSC stopped accepting new PA-DSS validations after 30 June 2021, existing validations expired in October 2022, and payment software is now validated under the Secure Software Standard.
Validations against the Secure Software Standard carry a three-year expiration. In between, vendors submit annual attestations and manage software changes through the PCI SSC change process.
One Product. The Right PCI Services. A Clear Path
to Validation.
Bring product validation, lifecycle assessment and security testing together in one
coordinated engagement.