PCI SSF Compliance Services
Secure Payment Software Development and Validation
As payment software becomes increasingly sophisticated and cyber threats continue to evolve, securing the software development lifecycle has become paramount for vendors and service providers in the payment ecosystem. The PCI Secure Software Framework (PCI SSF) represents a comprehensive approach to building and validating secure payment applications, replacing the legacy PA-DSS standard with modern, risk-based security requirements. Introduced by the PCI Security Standards Council, PCI SSF provides two complementary standards addressing both the development processes and the payment software itself. With payment software vulnerabilities representing a significant attack vector—responsible for numerous data breaches affecting millions of cardholders—achieving PCI SSF compliance demonstrates your commitment to secure software practices and builds trust with merchants, acquirers, and payment brands. At Glocert International, we provide expert consulting and guidance to help software vendors, payment service providers, and payment application developers navigate the PCI SSF requirements. Whether you're developing point-of-sale systems, payment gateways, mobile payment apps, or e-commerce platforms, our experienced team guides you through the Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) Standard and Secure Software Assessment (SSA) processes. Partner with Glocert International to achieve PCI SSF compliance, gain recognition in the PCI validated software registries, win more business from security-conscious customers, and demonstrate your commitment to payment software security excellence.
What is PCI SSF?
The PCI Secure Software Framework (PCI SSF) is a comprehensive set of requirements designed to ensure payment software is developed securely and functions securely throughout its lifecycle. Released by the PCI Security Standards Council in 2019, PCI SSF replaces the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS), which was retired in October 2022.
PCI SSF consists of two complementary but distinct standards that work together to provide comprehensive security for payment software:
The Two Standards of PCI SSF
- PCI Secure Software Lifecycle (Secure SLC) Standard: Focuses on the secure development processes, methodologies, and practices used to create payment software
- PCI Secure Software Assessment (SSA): Focuses on validating the security of the payment software itself and its functionality
Why PCI SSF Replaced PA-DSS
PCI SSF represents a significant evolution from PA-DSS, addressing modern software development practices and emerging threats:
- Cloud and Mobile Support: PCI SSF addresses cloud-native applications, mobile payment apps, and modern deployment models
- Modular Approach: Allows validation of specific software components rather than entire monolithic applications
- DevSecOps Integration: Aligns with modern DevOps, Agile, and continuous delivery practices
- Risk-Based Requirements: Tailors security requirements based on software functionality and risk profile
- Lifecycle Focus: Emphasizes security throughout the entire software development lifecycle, not just end-product testing
Who Must Comply with PCI SSF?
- Payment Software Vendors: Companies developing payment applications, point-of-sale systems, payment gateways
- Software as a Service (SaaS) Providers: Cloud-based payment platforms and services
- Mobile Payment App Developers: Companies creating mobile payment solutions
- E-commerce Platform Providers: Shopping cart and checkout software vendors
- Payment Service Providers: Organizations offering payment processing software
- Internal Software Developers: Enterprises developing proprietary payment applications
Why PCI SSF Compliance Matters
PCI SSF compliance is critical for payment software vendors and developers seeking to succeed in the payment security market:
1. Customer and Partner Requirements
Many merchants, acquirers, and payment brands now require or prefer PCI SSF validated software:
- Merchants increasingly specify PCI SSF validated payment applications in procurement requirements
- Acquiring banks and payment processors prefer or mandate validated software for their merchants
- Payment brands recognize PCI SSF validation in their compliance programs
- Enterprise customers conduct vendor security assessments—PCI SSF validation demonstrates due diligence
- Absence of PCI SSF validation becomes a competitive disadvantage in RFPs and vendor evaluations
2. Reduce Risk of Software Vulnerabilities
Payment software vulnerabilities represent a significant threat vector. PCI SSF requirements address secure coding, vulnerability management, patch management, security testing, and protection against common attack vectors (SQL injection, XSS, authentication bypass, etc.). Software vulnerabilities in payment applications have led to numerous high-profile breaches affecting millions of cardholders and costing organizations hundreds of millions in remediation, fines, and reputational damage. PCI SSF compliance significantly reduces these risks.
3. Market Differentiation and Trust
PCI SSF validation provides powerful marketing and competitive differentiation through listing in PCI validated software registries, independent validation of security claims, trust signals to security-conscious buyers, differentiation from non-validated competitors, and premium pricing justified by validated security. In crowded payment software markets, PCI SSF validation separates leaders from followers.
4. Liability Protection
In the event of a breach involving your payment software, PCI SSF compliance demonstrates due diligence in security practices, potentially reducing liability, providing evidence of reasonable security measures, supporting defense against negligence claims, reducing potential penalties from payment brands, and demonstrating commitment to industry security standards.
5. Global Market Access
PCI SSF is recognized globally by payment card brands and regulators. Compliance enables access to international markets, acceptance by global acquirers and payment brands, simplified compliance for customers operating in multiple countries, and recognition across different regulatory frameworks.
Our PCI SSF Compliance Services
Glocert International provides comprehensive consulting and guidance for both components of the PCI Secure Software Framework, helping you achieve compliance and software validation.
The Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) Standard
The PCI Secure SLC Standard defines a baseline of security requirements with corresponding assessment procedures and guidance for building secure payment applications. The Secure SLC Standard will aid your organization in building the necessary processes to help meet the Secure Software Assessment (SSA).
This component of the PCI SSF assessment includes Penetration Testing to ensure any vulnerabilities in your payment apps and infrastructure can be identified, giving you confidence that all critical data is protected.
Completion results in:
- Secure SLC Assessment Report on Compliance
- Secure SLC Attestation of Compliance
The Secure Software Assessment (SSA)
The PCI Secure Software Assessment is related to the PCI Secure SLC standard but focuses on the payment software itself as opposed to only the security controls associated with the development of the software.
The Secure Software Assessment is a modular system and includes variable certification elements for different types of products as it relates to the security of the payment software itself.
Completion results in:
- Secure Software Report on Validation (ROV)
- Secure Software Attestation of Validation (AOV)
Additional PCI SSF Consulting Services
Readiness Assessment
Gap analysis comparing current development practices and software against PCI SSF requirements.
Secure SDLC Implementation
Guidance implementing secure software development lifecycle processes and practices.
Security Testing
Application security testing, code review, and penetration testing services.
Remediation Support
Technical guidance addressing identified vulnerabilities and compliance gaps.
Documentation Development
Creation of security documentation, policies, and procedures meeting PCI SSF requirements.
Developer Training
Security awareness and secure coding training for development teams.
PCI SSF Framework Components
Understanding the two complementary standards of PCI SSF and how they work together:
Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) Standard
Focus: Security of the development process and environment
Key Requirements Include:
- Secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodology
- Security requirements definition and design reviews
- Secure coding practices and standards
- Code review and static application security testing (SAST)
- Security testing including dynamic testing (DAST) and penetration testing
- Vulnerability management and patch processes
- Change management and version control
- Third-party software component management
- Developer security training
- Secure development environment
Target Audience:
Software vendors and development organizations wanting to demonstrate secure development practices. Particularly valuable for organizations developing multiple payment software products.
Secure Software Assessment (SSA)
Focus: Security functionality and behavior of the payment software itself
Key Requirements Include:
- Secure authentication and access control
- Encryption of cardholder data (CHD) and sensitive authentication data (SAD)
- Secure cryptographic implementation
- Protection of stored account data
- Secure communication protocols
- Input validation and output encoding
- Session management
- Logging and monitoring capabilities
- Protection against common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)
- Secure software updates and patch delivery
Target Audience:
Payment software products that require validation for listing in PCI registries. SSA is modular, allowing validation of specific software components or modules.
SSA Modules:
- Module A: Software accepting payment account data (e.g., point-of-sale, payment forms)
- Module B: Software transmitting payment account data
- Module C: Software processing payment transactions
- Module D: Software storing payment account data
How SLC and SSA Work Together
Organizations can pursue either or both standards depending on their business needs:
- SLC Only: Demonstrates secure development practices without validating specific software products. Good for development organizations or service providers.
- SSA Only: Validates specific software product security. Required for listing in PCI validated software registry.
- SLC + SSA: Comprehensive validation of both development processes and software products. Provides highest assurance and market differentiation.
Note: Having Secure SLC validation can streamline the SSA process, as secure development practices reduce software vulnerabilities. Many organizations pursue SLC first, then SSA for their products.
Benefits of PCI SSF Compliance
Achieving PCI SSF compliance provides substantial business and technical benefits for payment software organizations:
Secure Customer Card Data
Ensures appropriate security and protection mechanisms are in place to secure your customer's card data through validated secure development and software practices.
Reduce Risk and Penalties
Helps reduce the risk associated with penalties and data breach complications by addressing software vulnerabilities and implementing secure development practices.
Better Threat Protection
Ensures better protection against security threats and adaptation to any changes in regulatory standards through continuous security practices.
Win New Business
Helps win new business from customers that require PCI SSF compliance, particularly enterprise merchants and major acquirers.
Registry Inclusion
Provides your organization with inclusion in either the Validated Payment Software registry and/or the Secure SLC-Qualified Vendor registry.
Market Credibility
Independent validation provides credibility and trust with merchants, acquirers, and payment brands globally.
Competitive Differentiation
Stand out from non-validated competitors and command premium pricing for validated secure software.
Reduced Merchant Scope
Your customers using validated payment software may reduce their PCI DSS assessment scope and complexity.
Who Needs PCI SSF Compliance?
PCI SSF compliance is essential for various organizations in the payment software ecosystem:
Payment Software Vendors
Companies developing and selling payment software products including:
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems: Retail payment terminals, restaurant POS, hospitality systems
- Payment Gateways: Software processing online payment transactions
- E-commerce Platforms: Shopping cart and checkout solutions
- Mobile Payment Apps: Smartphone and tablet payment applications
- Virtual Terminals: Browser-based payment entry systems
- Payment SDKs and APIs: Software development kits for payment integration
Software as a Service (SaaS) Providers
Cloud-based payment platforms and services including payment processing platforms, cloud POS systems, subscription billing platforms, and payment orchestration platforms.
Payment Service Providers (PSPs)
Organizations offering payment processing services with proprietary software, particularly those developing software for merchant use or providing payment software to third parties.
Enterprise Organizations
Large organizations developing proprietary payment applications for internal use may pursue PCI SSF to demonstrate security to auditors, reduce merchant PCI DSS scope, and ensure secure development practices.
System Integrators and VARs
Value-added resellers and integrators customizing or developing payment software modules should consider PCI SSF for their custom components.
PCI SSF Compliance Pricing
Our PCI SSF consulting and assessment support pricing is transparent and based on your software complexity, development environment, and compliance goals. We offer competitive rates with no hidden fees.
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Get a personalized estimate based on your software type, assessment needs, and organizational requirements.
Contact Us for PricingWhat's Included in PCI SSF Services:
- Initial readiness assessment and gap analysis
- Secure SDLC implementation guidance
- Security requirements review and documentation
- Code review and application security testing support
- Penetration testing services
- Remediation guidance for identified issues
- Documentation and evidence preparation
- Assessment coordination and support
- Post-assessment consultation
- Ongoing compliance maintenance guidance
Note: PCI SSF pricing varies based on whether you're pursuing SLC, SSA, or both; software complexity and number of modules; development team size and maturity; current security posture and gaps; and number of applications or products. Readiness assessments are typically the first step and priced separately. Contact us for a detailed, no-obligation quote tailored to your specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find answers to common questions about PCI SSF compliance:
PCI SSF (Secure Software Framework) is the replacement for PA-DSS (Payment Application Data Security Standard), which was retired in October 2022. PCI SSF differs in several important ways: it consists of two standards (Secure SLC and SSA) instead of one; uses a modular approach allowing validation of specific components; addresses modern development practices (cloud, mobile, DevOps); focuses on the development lifecycle, not just the end product; and aligns with secure SDLC methodologies. PCI SSF is more flexible and comprehensive than PA-DSS, reflecting the evolution of payment software and development practices over the past decade.
It depends on your business goals. If you want to list your payment software in the PCI Validated Payment Software registry where merchants can find it, you need SSA validation for that specific software. If you want to demonstrate that your organization follows secure development practices (particularly valuable if you develop multiple products or provide custom development), pursue Secure SLC validation. Many organizations pursue SLC first to implement secure development processes, then pursue SSA validation for their specific products. Having SLC validation can make SSA validation easier since you've already implemented secure development practices. For maximum credibility and market differentiation, pursue both.
Timeline varies significantly based on current security maturity and software complexity. Readiness Phase: 2-4 months identifying gaps and implementing remediation. Secure SLC Assessment: 2-4 months for assessment, testing, and validation. SSA Assessment: 3-6 months depending on software complexity and number of modules. Total First-Time Compliance: 6-12 months from start to validated status. Organizations with mature secure development practices and well-architected software can move faster. Those starting from scratch with significant gaps may need 12-18 months. Factors affecting timeline include current SDLC maturity, number and severity of software vulnerabilities, development team security knowledge, complexity of payment software, and whether pursuing SLC, SSA, or both.
The modular approach in SSA allows validation of specific software components or functions rather than requiring validation of an entire monolithic application. SSA defines four modules: Module A: Software accepting payment account data; Module B: Software transmitting payment account data; Module C: Software processing payment transactions; Module D: Software storing payment account data. Your software is assessed only for the modules relevant to its functionality. For example, a payment gateway that transmits and processes but doesn't store cardholder data would be assessed for Modules B and C only. This modular approach makes validation more practical for modern microservices architectures, cloud-native applications, and API-based payment solutions. It also allows incremental validation as you add functionality to your software.
Yes, potentially. Merchants using PCI SSF validated payment software may be able to reduce their PCI DSS assessment scope. Validated payment applications properly implemented can limit cardholder data environment (CDE) scope, reduce the number of PCI DSS requirements merchants must validate, allow merchants to complete simpler Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs), and reduce merchant assessment costs and complexity. However, merchants must still properly implement and configure the validated software and validate that their environment meets PCI DSS requirements. PCI SSF validation of your software doesn't automatically make your customers compliant, but it provides assurance that the software itself is built securely, making their compliance easier.
Validated Software (SSA): Software that has undergone formal assessment against the Secure Software Assessment requirements and appears in the PCI Validated Payment Software registry. This is the gold standard providing highest assurance to merchants and acquirers. Listed Software (Secure SLC): Organizations (not specific software products) that have demonstrated secure software development lifecycle practices and appear in the Secure SLC-Qualified Vendor registry. This validates the development process but not specific software products. For maximum market recognition, software vendors often pursue both: SSA validation for their products and SLC validation for their organization.
Yes, PCI SSF explicitly addresses mobile payment applications. Mobile apps that accept, process, store, or transmit payment card data should pursue SSA validation. PCI SSF includes specific requirements for mobile payment security including secure data storage on mobile devices, protection of cardholder data in memory, secure communication with backend systems, mobile-specific authentication and access controls, protection against mobile malware and jailbroken/rooted devices, and secure mobile app distribution and updates. Many merchants and payment processors now require SSA validation for mobile payment SDKs and apps. If you're developing mobile payment solutions, PCI SSF validation provides critical market differentiation.
PCI SSF validation is typically valid for one year and requires annual re-validation. For Secure SLC, annual assessment confirms you continue to maintain secure development practices. For SSA, annual validation confirms the software continues to meet security requirements, particularly important if you've released updates or new versions. When you make significant changes to your software (major versions, new functionality, architectural changes), you may need interim assessment. PCI SSF emphasizes continuous security, not point-in-time validation. You must maintain security practices, conduct ongoing security testing, implement timely security patches, and monitor for new vulnerabilities throughout the validation period. Annual re-validation ensures your organization and software keep pace with evolving threats and requirements.
PCI SSF requires comprehensive security testing throughout development and during validation. For Secure SLC, required testing includes code review (manual and/or automated), static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), penetration testing of payment applications and infrastructure, vulnerability scanning, and security testing integrated into CI/CD pipelines. For SSA, testing focuses on validating specific security requirements of the payment software including authentication, authorization, cryptography, data protection, input validation, session management, and protection against OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities. Penetration testing is particularly important, simulating real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities attackers could exploit. Glocert International can provide security testing services as part of your PCI SSF compliance journey.
Yes, absolutely. Glocert International provides comprehensive consulting and guidance for both Secure SLC and SSA compliance. Our services include readiness assessment identifying gaps against PCI SSF requirements, secure SDLC implementation guidance and process development, security requirements documentation, code review and application security testing, penetration testing services, remediation guidance for identified vulnerabilities, documentation and evidence preparation, assessment coordination and preparation support, and post-validation compliance maintenance guidance. While we don't conduct formal PCI SSF assessments ourselves, we prepare your organization and software for successful assessment by qualified assessors, significantly increasing your likelihood of first-time validation success and reducing the time and cost of achieving compliance.
Why Choose Glocert for PCI SSF Compliance?
Payment Software Security Expertise
Our team includes security professionals with deep expertise in payment application security, secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices, application security testing and penetration testing, payment industry standards and requirements, and software development methodologies (Agile, DevOps, CI/CD). We understand the unique challenges of payment software development and can provide practical, implementable guidance for achieving PCI SSF compliance while maintaining development velocity and product quality.
Comprehensive Service Portfolio
Glocert International offers complete PCI SSF consulting services covering both Secure SLC and SSA requirements including readiness assessments and gap analysis, secure SDLC process implementation, security requirements definition and design review, code review and static analysis (SAST), application security testing (DAST), penetration testing services, remediation support and secure coding guidance, developer security training programs, documentation and evidence preparation, and assessment coordination and support. Our integrated approach addresses all aspects of payment software security from development through validation.
Practical Implementation Guidance
We don't just identify what needs to be fixed—we provide actionable guidance on how to implement secure practices in your development environment. Our consultants have real-world software development experience and understand the balance between security requirements and business needs, development timelines and resource constraints, modern development practices (Agile, CI/CD, DevSecOps), and practical security controls that don't impede development velocity. We help you build security into your development process, not bolted on afterward.
Related Compliance Services
Payment software vendors often need multiple compliance certifications and assessments. Glocert International also provides PCI DSS compliance consulting, SOC 2 audits, ISO 27001 certification, application security testing and penetration testing, and cloud security assessments. We can coordinate multiple compliance efforts to maximize efficiency, leverage shared evidence and processes, and provide comprehensive security and compliance validation for your organization and software products.
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Payment Software
Contact us today to learn more about our PCI SSF compliance services and how we can help you achieve secure software validation.
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