PCI DSS QSA Services: Report on Compliance (RoC) Audits
Validate your security controls and receive your official Attestation of Compliance (AOC) required by banks and card brands.
Certified PCI QSA Company with 20+ Years of Payment Security Expertise
As a PCI Council Certified Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) Company, Appalachia Technologies delivers comprehensive PCI DSS Report on Compliance (RoC) assessments for organizations nationwide. Whether you're a Level 1 merchant processing millions of transactions, a service provider requiring validation, or a multi-location enterprise with complex cardholder data environments that has completed a readiness assessment, our experienced QSA practitioners provide thorough, efficient audits that result in your official Attestation of Compliance (AOC).
Why Choose Appalachia as Your PCI QSA Partner
Experienced QSA Practitioners
PCI DSS v4.0 Expertise
Nationwide Service, Flexible Delivery
Cybersecurity-Backed Methodology
Transparent Process, Collaborative Approach
Who Needs a PCI DSS QSA Assessment?
Our PCI QSA services are designed for:
- Level 1 Merchants – Processing over 6 million Visa/Mastercard transactions annually
- Level 1 Service Providers – Requiring QSA validation per acquiring bank or card brand requirements
- Multi-location enterprises – Retail chains, hospitality groups, healthcare systems with complex CDEs
- E-commerce platforms – High-volume online retailers and payment facilitators
- Payment processors & gateways – Service providers in the payment ecosystem
Our PCI DSS QSA Assessment Process
1. Planning & Scoping
We partner with you to accurately define your Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), identify all in-scope systems, networks, personnel, and third-party service providers, and develop a detailed assessment project plan. Proper scoping is critical and helps avoid scope creep.
2. Assessment & Fieldwork
Our certified QSAs conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your security controls across all 12 PCI DSS requirements through:
- Documentation review – Policies, procedures, evidence of security practices
- Technical testing – Network segmentation, encryption, access controls, vulnerability management
- Personnel interviews – Validation of operational procedures and security awareness
- Sampling methodology – For large, distributed environments
We assess both technical controls (firewalls, encryption, logging) and operational controls (policies, training, change management) to validate compliance against PCI DSS v4.0 to 4.0.1 requirements.
3. Reporting & Attestation
Upon completion of fieldwork, you'll receive a draft Report on Compliance (RoC) for your review. We collaborate with you to address any questions or clarifications before issuing the final deliverables:
If gaps are identified during the assessment, we provide clear documentation and can connect you with our separate remediation team to address findings before re-assessment.
Industries We Serve for PCI DSS Compliance
Our QSA practitioners have deep experience conducting PCI DSS assessments across diverse industries:
- Retail – Multi-location stores, franchise operations, point-of-sale environments
- E-commerce – Online retailers, subscription services, marketplace platforms
- Hospitality – Hotels, resorts, restaurants, event venues
- Healthcare – Hospitals, clinics, medical billing companies accepting payments
- Financial Services – Credit unions, community banks, payment processors
- Service Providers – Payment gateways, merchant acquirers, tokenization services, cloud providers
- Government & Education – Agencies and institutions processing cardholder data
Contact us today to take the first step towards PCI compliance.
Don't risk non-compliance penalties or delayed card brand submissions.
Partner with a certified QSA company that combines 20+ years of payment security expertise with a collaborative approach.
Call (888) 277-8320 to speak with a QSA specialist
Or complete the form below to schedule a consultation
Serving Level 1 merchants, service providers, and enterprises nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for QSA Audits
Q: Who needs to complete a Report on Compliance (ROC)?
A: A QSA-validated RoC is typically required for:
- Level 1 Merchants – Processing over 6 million Visa or Mastercard transactions annually
- Level 1 Service Providers – As determined by acquiring banks or card brands
- Any organization whose acquiring bank or payment brand mandates QSA validation
Q: What is the difference between a QSA assessment and a self-assessment (SAQ)?
A: A Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is completed by your organization for lower merchant levels (typically Levels 2-4) and does not require independent validation.
A QSA assessment involves an independent, certified third-party auditor (like Appalachia) conducting comprehensive testing and validation, resulting in an official RoC and AOC.
Level 1 merchants and service providers cannot self-assess—they must engage a QSA company.
Q: How long does a PCI DSS QSA assessment take?
A: Length of engagement varies depending on:
- Size and complexity of your cardholder data environment
- Number of locations and systems in scope
- Readiness of your documentation and evidence
- Responsiveness of your team during fieldwork
Organizations that have completed a PCI Readiness Assessment prior to engaging a QSA typically experience faster, smoother audits because gaps have been identified and remediated in advance.
Q: What is the difference between the "Defined" and "Customized" approach in PCI v4.0?
A: The Defined Approach is the traditional method of testing against the specific controls as written in the standard. The Customized Approach allows you to meet a requirement's objective with a custom control, which must be supported by a Targeted Risk Analysis (TRA) and validated by a QSA.
Q: What do you need from our team during the audit?
A: Collaboration is key to a successful audit. We will need:
- Documentation: Network diagrams, CDE documentation, policies, procedures, change management logs, security testing evidence
- System access: For technical validation of firewalls, encryption, access controls, logging, vulnerability scans
- Personnel availability: IT staff, security team, developers, and management for interviews
- Timely responses: To information requests and clarification questions
The better prepared you are, the faster and smoother the assessment process.
Q: What happens if you find gaps?
A: Our draft RoC will clearly document any findings with specific remediation guidance.
We cannot issue your AOC until all requirements are met. You can address gaps through your internal team, a third-party provider, or - if needed - our separate remediation team (independent from QSA operations). Remediation services are provided through a separate engagement. We also offer PCI Readiness Assessments to identify and resolve gaps before your formal QSA audit.
Once issues are resolved, we re-test and issue your final compliance documentation.
Q: Can you help us prepare for a QSA assessment?
A: Yes! We offer PCI Readiness Assessments (conducted by our compliance consultants, separate from our QSA team) to help you:
- Identify gaps before your formal QSA audit
- Remediate issues in advance
- Ensure you're fully prepared for a successful assessment
Organizations that complete a readiness assessment first often save time and reduce stress during the official QSA audit. Learn more about our PCI Readiness services →
Q: Are you listed with the PCI Security Standards Council?
A: Appalachia Technologies is a PCI Council Certified QSA Comopany. You can verify our certification on the official PCI SSC QSA list.
Q: Do you conduct assessments nationwide, or only in Pennsylvania?
A: We conduct PCI DSS QSA assessments nationwide. While we're based in Central Pennsylvania, our certified QSA practitioners travel to client sites across the United States and also offer remote assessment options for distributed teams or organizations preferring virtual delivery.
Q: What makes Appalachia different from other QSA companies?
A: Three key differentiators:
1. Cybersecurity-First Background
Unlike audit-only firms, we're a managed security services provider (MSSP) with deep technical expertise. Our QSAs understand security implementation at a granular level, providing more practical insights and recommendations.
2. 20+ Years of Payment Security Expertise
Our practitioners aren't new to compliance—they've been assessing payment environments for over two decades across diverse industries and complex environments.
3. Collaborative, Not Adversarial
We view assessments as partnerships. Our goal is to help you achieve compliance efficiently while strengthening your security posture - not to create unnecessary obstacles or gotcha moments.