Stay compliant after the audit, not just for it.
Ongoing PCI DSS advisory for merchants and service providers who don’t want to start from scratch every time something changes. Scope reviews, SAQ support, policy writing and evidence, on retainer or per engagement.
The problem
Compliance drifts the moment nobody’s watching.
Getting through a PCI DSS sign-off once is a project with a clear end point, but staying compliant is not. A new payment link, a staff change, a new vendor or a platform move can quietly push you into a wider scope, and most businesses don’t notice until the next yearly review forces the question.
Ongoing advice closes that gap. Instead of relearning your setup from scratch every twelve months, you have someone who already knows your systems, on call when a question comes up, before it turns into a finding on your next review.
This sits next to our PCI DSS compliance service, which handles the first project. Consulting is what keeps that work current.
What’s included
What ongoing advisory covers.
Scope reviews on change
A quick check whenever you add a payment link, a new vendor or change your systems, so scope creep gets caught early.
SAQ completion support
Help filling in your Self-Assessment Questionnaire each cycle, from someone who already knows your setup.
Policy and procedure writing
Written policies for access control, incident response and fair use, specific to how your business actually runs.
Staff training
Short, practical sessions so your team knows what PCI DSS actually asks of them day to day.
Evidence management
An ongoing record of scans, logs and reviews, so proof is ready before your assessor asks for it, not pulled together in a rush.
Vendor and service provider reviews
Checking that the payment gateways, plugins and other suppliers you rely on hold up their end of the deal.
How it runs
Retainer or per engagement.
Starting point
We check where you currently stand, usually off the back of a compliance project we or a QSA already finished.
Choose a structure
A monthly or quarterly retainer for ongoing access, or a per-job deal if you’d rather call on us only when something comes up.
Ongoing reviews
Scope checks, policy updates and evidence reviews run on a schedule that matches your SAQ cycle and any major system change.
Speak on your behalf
We talk with your bank or your QSA for you when a technical question needs a direct, accurate answer.
Who this suits
Ready for an audit, and beyond.
Consulting works well for businesses heading into their first formal Report on Compliance, who want a second set of eyes before the QSA arrives. It also suits businesses that have been compliant for years but have outgrown once-a-year attention.
- Checks before an audit, run before your QSA turns up, so we find the surprises first.
- Yearly testing that backs this work is covered by our penetration testing service.
- Retainers and one-off jobs are quoted after a short talk about your current scope and how often you expect to need us. Get in touch to start that.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
How is this different from the PCI DSS compliance page?
Our PCI DSS compliance service is the project: scoping, a gap check, fixes and getting you signed off the first time. PCI consulting is what happens after, an ongoing arrangement that keeps you compliant as your systems, staff and payments change.
How do retainers work?
A retainer buys you a set amount of advisory time each month or quarter, for scope reviews, questions from your team and support around SAQ renewal. If you’d rather pay only when something comes up, a per-engagement arrangement works too. We quote whichever fits your business after a short conversation.
Can you talk to our bank or our QSA directly?
Yes, when you want us to. We can speak with your bank or your Qualified Security Assessor, answer technical questions and supply evidence, so your team isn’t stuck translating between compliance language and how your systems actually work.
Do you write our security policies?
Yes. PCI DSS requires written policies covering things like access control, incident response and acceptable use, and a policy nobody’s read doesn’t help you in an audit. We write policies specific to how your business actually operates, and run short staff training so people know what’s expected of them.
What industries do you work with?
Mostly online stores and software businesses that take card payments, from single WooCommerce shops through to platforms with several payment links. If you’re not sure whether your setup needs ongoing PCI help, tell us what you run and we’ll give you a straight answer.
How do we get started?
If you’ve already been through a compliance project with us or elsewhere, we can start straight into a retainer or a single review. If you haven’t, we usually recommend starting with PCI DSS compliance first, then moving to ongoing consulting once you’ve reached attestation.
Security
More Security services
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Penetration testing
Web app, API, network and WordPress testing with a report you can act on.
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PCI DSS compliance
Scoping, gap assessment and remediation to get you compliant and keep you there.
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Application licensing
Licensing, implementation and support for security platforms, quoted and managed through one team.
Engage
Building something ambitious?
Send us a few honest paragraphs about what you’re building, who it’s for and when you need it live. We’ll reply with a straight answer.