What Does Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) Mean?
A qualified security assessor (QSA) is an individual who is authorized to validate the adherence of an organization to the requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). A QSA conducts the assessments and audits the security and compliance controls of an organization in accordance with the latest guidelines provided by the said standard. For an effective adherence to the PCI DSS, it is often recommended to have the requirements validated by an independent QSA.
Techopedia Explains Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)
Security consultants and audit professionals are often the recommended candidates for a qualified security assessor program. They can be certified and recertified by attending the training provided by the payment card industry along with passing the certification exam. A QSA undergoing a recertification needs to pursue additional continuing professional education, which can be obtained from other work experiences and training.
