Payment Card Industry
Securing Payment Card Systems
Do More than Just “Pass PCI Testing”
Handling payment card data is a critical responsibility, but securing it doesn’t have to be complicated. Raxis delivers top-tier PCI penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities, provide clear remediation steps, and validate fixes with a retest—ensuring your systems are secure, compliant, and resilient against evolving threats.
PCI penetration testing is a critical step in securing your Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), meeting PCI DSS compliance requirements, and protecting your business from costly breaches. Raxis provides expert-led PCI penetration testing services designed to uncover vulnerabilities, validate segmentation controls, and ensure your systems are secure against evolving cyber threats.
Segmentation Testing
Segmentation testing is a critical component of PCI DSS compliance, ensuring that your Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) is securely isolated from out-of-scope systems. By validating the effectiveness of network segmentation controls, this testing reduces the scope of PCI compliance, simplifies audits, and enhances your overall security posture. At Raxis, we thoroughly test segmentation by analyzing firewall rules, scanning network segments, and simulating real-world attack scenarios to confirm that unauthorized access to the CDE is effectively blocked. Proper segmentation not only minimizes the risk of lateral movement during a breach but also streamlines compliance efforts, allowing your organization to focus resources on safeguarding sensitive payment data.
Re-test for Validation
Retesting is a critical step in the PCI penetration testing process, ensuring that all identified vulnerabilities have been properly addressed and mitigated. After your team implements the recommended fixes, Raxis conducts a thorough retest to validate the effectiveness of those measures and confirm compliance with PCI DSS standards. This process not only demonstrates that your security controls are functioning as intended but also provides peace of mind that your Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) is secure and resilient against potential threats. With detailed reporting and expert guidance, Raxis ensures your remediation efforts meet the highest standards of security and compliance.
PCI Approved Reporting
Raxis penetration testing reporting is approved for PCI use as we adhere to the stringent requirements of PCI DSS, including Requirement 11.3, ensuring both internal and external penetration tests meet compliance standards. Our reports provide actionable insights and proof-of-concept exploits, going beyond basic vulnerability scans to simulate real-world attack scenarios that validate the security of Cardholder Data Environments (CDE). Additionally, Raxis offers Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS), which meets or exceeds PCI standards, providing continuous compliance validation and detailed reporting tailored to PCI DSS v4 requirements.
Customized Testing Scenarios
Every organization faces unique security challenges. Raxis offers specialized assessments for PCI DSS compliance and segmentation validation.
Compliance Requirements
Raxis helps meet or exceed requirements for various standards including NIST 800-171/CMMC, PCI, HIPAA, GLBA, ISO 27001, and SOX.
Pivot and Escalate
The Raxis storyboard meticulously details how our penetration testing experts simulate sophisticated insider threats, demonstrating the potential path of system compromise and privilege escalation.
Audit Approved Methodology
Unlike competitors who rely solely on automated scans, our approach remains compliant, as we provide proof-of-concept exploits and follow the NIST 800-115 specification.
The Importance of Segmentation Testing
Network segmentation is a powerful tool for reducing the scope of PCI compliance by isolating the CDE from other networks. However, segmentation controls must be tested regularly to ensure they are effective:
- Prevent Unauthorized Access: Validate that out-of-scope systems cannot communicate with the CDE or compromise its security.
- Reduce Compliance Scope: Proper segmentation minimizes the number of systems requiring compliance checks, saving time and costs.
- Ensure Robust Security: Identify misconfigurations or gaps in firewalls, VLANs, or access control lists that could expose sensitive data to attackers.
PCI DSS V4 PENETRATION TEST REQUIREMENTS
EFFECTIVE MARCH 31, 2022
11.4.1 Define company standards for internal and external penetration testing and review findings every 12 months.
11.4.2 Perform internal penetration testing at least annually and after any significant infrastructure or application upgrade or modification (such as an operating system upgrade, a sub-network added to the environment, or a web server added to the environment).
11.4.3 Perform external penetration testing at least annually and after any significant infrastructure or application upgrade or modification (such as an operating system upgrade, a sub-network added to the environment, or a web server added to the environment).
11.4.4 Correct any findings from penetration testing activities as recommended and repeat penetration testing.
11.4.5 If segmentation is used to isolate the CDE from other networks, perform penetration tests at least annually and after any changes to segmentation controls/methods to verify that the segmentation methods are operational and effective and that they isolate all out of scope systems from systems in the CDE.
11.4.6 For service providers, if segmentation is used to isolate the CDE from other networks, perform penetration tests at least every six months and after any changes to segmentation controls/methods to verify that the segmentation methods are operational and effective and that they isolate all out of scope systems from systems in the CDE.
Don’t Just Check the Box
PCI penetration testing isn’t just about meeting compliance requirements—it’s about proactively securing your systems and protecting sensitive cardholder data. While compliance may be mandatory, simply “checking the box” leaves your organization vulnerable to real-world threats.
Raxis goes beyond surface-level testing to simulate sophisticated attack scenarios, validate segmentation controls, and provide actionable insights that strengthen your overall security posture.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions