PA QSA

Payment Application Qualified Security Assessor

A certification provided by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), specifically for professionals who assess payment applications to ensure compliance with the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS).

A PA-QSA’s role is crucial for software vendors, as they help validate that the payment applications they develop meet the rigorous standards to protect cardholder data and ensure secure transactions. These assessors conduct audits, review code, and provide validation reports that verify whether a payment application follows best practices for security, such as encryption, secure data storage, and secure network implementation.

This certification is necessary for businesses that develop payment applications, as compliance with PA-DSS helps safeguard the payment ecosystem against data breaches and cyber threats.

• Abbreviation: PA QSA