What You Need to Know About a PCI DSS Readiness Assessment

Many organizations preparing for PCI DSS compliance wonder whether they should get a readiness assessment or just skip directly to full validation. Matt Crane, Director of Schellman’s PCI Practice, explains what a PCI DSS readiness assessment is and the value it brings. 

What Is a PCI DSS Readiness Assessment? 

A PCI DSS readiness assessment is an evaluation of your organization’s current systems, configurations, and controls relative to the applicable PCI DSS requirements. It is designed to: 

• Assess your current environment against the standard 
• Identify gaps or areas your team needs to address
• Confirm what controls are already in place 

Who Benefits from a Readiness Assessment? 

Readiness assessments are especially useful for: 

• New clients who have never undergone PCI DSS validation 
• Organizations transitioning from an older version of the standard (e.g., PCI DSS 3.2.1 to 4.0) 

By completing a readiness assessment, your organization gains insight into how prepared you are for full validation, which reduces surprises and improves efficiency during the official assessment. 

How a Readiness Assessment Works 

1. Scope Review 
   • Assess which PCI DSS requirements are applicable to your organization 
   • Identify potential shortcuts or reduced validation methods (e.g., using a Self-Assessment Questionnaire for certain merchants) 
2. Environment and Controls Evaluation 
   • Examine system configurations, security controls, and processes that are already in place 
   • Compare current practices to the applicable PCI DSS requirements 
3. Gap Identification and Reporting 
   • Highlight areas where your environment does not yet meet the standard 
   • Provide an informational overview of how requirements are typically addressed, without offering advisory or consulting recommendations 

This process allows organizations to understand their strengths and weaknesses and prepare internally to address gaps before the formal validation process begins. 

Moving Forward with Your PCI DSS Journey 

A readiness assessment evaluates and verifies your current controls, but addressing any gaps remains the responsibility of your team. A well-timed readiness assessment helps ensure a smoother, more informed path toward full PCI DSS compliance.  

By clarifying where your organization stands, readiness assessments allow teams to plan more effectively and enter the full PCI DSS validation process with confidence. Organizations interested in a PCI DSS readiness assessment can reach out to discuss objectives and determine their best approach.