A QSA helps prepare Self-Assessment Questionnaires and the Report on Compliance for PCI DSS

Two anchors in the PCI DSS world: SAQ and ROC, with a QSA guiding the way

If you’re exploring the PCI DSS landscape, you’ll hear a lot about how to prove an organization’s security posture. A Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) isn’t there to do all the work for you, but they do play a crucial role in shaping and validating two key documents: the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Report on Compliance (ROC). In the real world, these two papers are the backbone of demonstrating PCI DSS alignment to payment brands, banks, and partners. So, what exactly does a QSA do with these documents? And why do they matter so much?

Let me lay it out clearly: the correct focus isn’t a long list of random reports. It’s about SAQ and ROC—the tools that show you’ve got your security act together in the eyes of the PCI ecosystem. A QSA helps prepare these documents, ensuring they reflect your actual security controls, testing results, and the environment where card data lives and moves.

Two documents, one shared goal: trust

• Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQ): A practical, questionnaire-based approach to assess whether an organization meets applicable PCI DSS requirements. SAQs come in several types, tailored to different business models and data flows. They’re not just a form to fill out; they’re a structured way to reflect on your control set, identify gaps, and plan remediation. A QSA helps you answer truthfully, interpret the intent behind each question, and ensure you’ve captured the right evidence.

• Report on Compliance (ROC): This is the formal, unambiguous attestation prepared by the QSA after a full assessment. The ROC is more comprehensive than an SAQ—covering scope, environment, and testing results in depth. It’s the document that payment brands and acquiring banks rely on when a business doesn’t fit neatly into a self-assessment category or when a more rigorous validation is required.

If you’re keeping score, think SAQ as your self-check and ROC as the official stamp after verification. Both are essential, but they serve different audiences and purposes. And yes, a QSA can help with both, translating technical realities into clear, audit-ready language.

Self-Assessment Questionnaires: a practical, ground-level view

Here’s the everyday reality: many organizations use SAQs because they don’t operate in a fully standalone card environment or don’t process a continuous stream of card data. SAQs are designed to be practical and accessible, but they still demand honesty, precision, and a solid evidentiary trail.

What a QSA does with the SAQ

• Clarifies scope and applicability: The PCI world loves precision. A QSA helps you map cardholder data flows, determine where card data touches systems, and decide which SAQ type applies. It’s not a guessing game—mistakes here can lead to overstated or understated compliance.

• Interprets requirements accurately: PCI DSS has many requirements, and some are nuanced. The QSA explains what a control looks like in your environment, how to implement it, and what evidence qualifies as proof of compliance.

• Guides evidence collection: You don’t want to rummage through the attic when an auditor shows up. The QSA helps you assemble firewall configurations, access control lists, change management records, and vulnerability scan results in a way that’s easy to verify.

• Reviews the questionnaire for correctness: It’s not just about answering “yes” or “no.” The QSA looks for consistency between the answers and the supporting documentation, making sure everything aligns from front to back.

• Helps with remediation planning: If a question reveals a gap, a QSA can help you draft a practical remediation plan, set realistic timelines, and track progress.

A few practical tips when you’re working on SAQ

• Be honest about your environment: If card data flows through a serverless function or a third-party service, say so. The more transparent you are, the less back-and-forth later.

• Collect evidence early: Screenshots, scanned reports, versioned configuration files—these are your allies. Think of evidence as the breadcrumbs that prove you’re following the rules.

• Keep documentation consistent: The same control shouldn’t be described differently in two places. Consistency makes life easier for the QSA and the brand behind the card network.

The ROC: a formal, comprehensive validation

If the SAQ is the self-check, the ROC is the formal, third-party validation. It’s the paper that says, “Yes, this environment meets PCI DSS requirements in full, with these scopes and testing results.” It’s also the document brands rely on when a merchant or service provider scales beyond simple self-assessment.

What a QSA delivers in a ROC

• A formal description of scope and environment: The QSA details where cardholder data exists, how it’s processed, stored, and transmitted, and which systems are in scope.

• A mapping of PCI DSS requirements to controls and evidence: The ROC shows how each requirement is met, with testing procedures and results. It’s a narrative plus the facts that back it up.

• Documentation of testing and evidence: The ROC isn’t just a pretty report; it contains tested controls, evidence of remediation, and details about compensating controls if needed.

• Dependencies and risk considerations: The QSA notes any dependencies on third parties, changes in environment, or risk factors that could affect the validity of the assessment.

• A formal statement of attestation: The ROC closes with a statement that the organization is compliant for the assessment period, subject to ongoing monitoring and remediation as necessary.

Why the ROC matters to stakeholders

• Banks and payment brands need a clean, auditable record that shows you’re meeting PCI DSS requirements. The ROC is that definitive document they review during onboarding, renewals, or audits.

• It demonstrates due diligence and accountability. When your security posture is documented with evidence, it builds trust with partners and customers.

• For service providers, the ROC often sits alongside a Statement of Applicability and other controls documentation, painting a full picture of security controls across multiple environments.

A QSA’s touchpoint: turning complex security into clear, auditable reality

Think of a QSA as a translator between complex security controls and the concrete documents that prove you’ve put those controls into action. The SAQ and ROC aren’t just paperwork; they’re the living record of how an organization handles sensitive cardholder data day to day. A good QSA doesn’t just fill in boxes—they help you articulate:

• Where card data lives and travels (the scope)

• What protections are in place (controls)

• How you verify those protections work (evidence and testing)

• How you fix gaps and track improvements over time (remediation)

This approach isn’t about magic tricks or jargon—it’s about clarity, accuracy, and responsibility. You can feel the difference when the documentation aligns with real-world operations, policies, and technical configurations.

A practical mindset for working with a QSA

• Start with the business reality, not the desired checklist: Describe your environment as it is, not as you wish it were. A QSA can help bridge gaps, but honesty is non-negotiable.

• Build a chain of evidence, not a single document: Each claim in the SAQ or ROC should be supported by multiple, tangible records. This redundancy isn’t overkill—it’s risk management.

• Communicate clearly and consistently: Use the same terminology across policies, systems, and the SAQ/ROC. It prevents misinterpretations and keeps the timeline on track.

• Expect collaboration and iteration: The best outcomes come from a few rounds of refinement. The QSA will ask questions, request evidence, and propose adjustments. That’s normal and productive.

Real-world nuance: beyond the two big papers

While SAQ and ROC are central, a QSA’s work often touches additional documents—policies, network diagrams, data flow diagrams, incident response plans, and vulnerability management procedures. These pieces aren’t the formal attestations, but they underpin the credibility of the SAQ and ROC. Think of them as the scaffolding that holds the whole PCI DSS program upright.

A quick recap, in plain terms

• The QSA helps prepare two main documents: the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Report on Compliance (ROC). Correct. That’s the heart of it.

• SAQ is the practical, self-reflective tool that helps you confirm you meet the PCI DSS requirements and shows you’ve got evidence to prove it.

• ROC is the formal, official validation that your environment meets PCI DSS, suitable for brands, banks, and other stakeholders.

• A QSA’s role is to ensure these documents are accurate, well-supported, and aligned with your actual practices. That means fewer surprises and a smoother path to compliance.

If you’re navigating a PCI DSS program, these two documents aren’t just checkboxes. They’re a testament to how seriously your organization treats cardholder data security. The QSA’s guidance helps keep the process practical, transparent, and ultimately trustworthy.

So, to answer the original question succinctly: a QSA can help prepare Self-Assessment Questionnaires and the Report on Compliance. And understanding how these two documents work together is a powerful lens for anyone looking to grasp PCI DSS readiness in a real-world setting. The goal isn’t just to fill forms—it’s to build a credible, auditable security story that stands up to scrutiny from brands, banks, and partners who rely on PCI DSS to keep payments safe.