Item: PaySec
Author: Amanda Torres

Question 1

What is PCI DSS compliance?

Accepted Answer

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security requirements for any business that processes, stores, or transmits credit card data. All merchants must be PCI compliant — failure to comply can result in fines of $5,000-100,000 per month and potential loss of card acceptance privileges.

Question 2

Does PaySec charge a PCI compliance fee?

Accepted Answer

No. PCI compliance assistance is included with every PaySec merchant account at no additional monthly cost. This includes SAQ guidance, quarterly vulnerability scanning, breach protection coverage, and access to compliance specialists.

Question 3

What SAQ type do I need?

Accepted Answer

PaySec terminals use P2PE (point-to-point encryption), which qualifies most in-store merchants for SAQ P2PE — the simplest compliance level with only 33 questions. eCommerce merchants using our hosted checkout qualify for SAQ A with only 22 questions. Our compliance team confirms which SAQ applies to your setup.

Question 4

What happens if there is a data breach?

Accepted Answer

PaySec includes up to $100,000 in breach protection coverage with every merchant account. This covers forensic investigation costs, customer notification expenses, and card brand fines in the event of a breach. This coverage applies as long as you maintain PCI compliance through PaySec's program.

Question 5

How often do I need to recertify?

Accepted Answer

PCI compliance requires annual recertification (SAQ completion) and quarterly network vulnerability scans. PaySec sends automated reminders and provides a guided workflow — most merchants complete recertification in under 15 minutes.

Question 6

What is PCI DSS 4.0 and how does it affect me?

Accepted Answer

PCI DSS 4.0 is the latest version of the security standard, with full enforcement beginning March 2025. Key changes include stronger authentication requirements and more flexible compliance approaches. PaySec's compliance program is already aligned with 4.0 requirements — merchants using PaySec terminals and hosted checkout meet the new standards automatically.

Question 7

Do I need PCI compliance if I only use a terminal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every business that accepts card payments must be PCI compliant regardless of how they process. However, merchants using PaySec's P2PE terminals qualify for the simplest SAQ type (SAQ P2PE) with only 33 questions — dramatically reducing the compliance burden.

Question 8

What happens if I am not PCI compliant?

Accepted Answer

Non-compliant merchants face monthly non-compliance fees of $19-100 from their processor, potential fines of $5,000-100,000 per month from card brands, and liability for the full cost of any data breach. PaySec eliminates non-compliance fees by including the compliance program at no cost.

Question 9

Does PCI compliance apply to eCommerce businesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Online merchants must be PCI compliant and typically complete SAQ A (if using hosted checkout like PaySec's) or SAQ A-EP (if card data touches their servers). PaySec's hosted checkout keeps your site out of PCI scope and qualifies you for the simplest eCommerce SAQ.

Question 10

How does PaySec handle multi-location PCI compliance?

Accepted Answer

Multi-location businesses complete a single SAQ covering all locations under one merchant account. PaySec's centralized compliance portal tracks certification status, scan results, and recertification deadlines for every location from one dashboard.

Feature	PaySec	SecurityMetrics
SAQ assistance included
Quarterly vulnerability scanning
Breach protection coverage	$100K	Varies
Compliance specialist support		Extra cost
P2PE scope reduction
Annual recertification guidance
No PCI compliance fee
Automated reminders

PCI Compliance Without the Headache

Compliance Made Simple

SAQ Assistance

Vulnerability Scanning

Breach Protection

Compliance Support

P2PE & Tokenization

Annual Recertification

How PaySec PCI Compliance Compares

PCI Compliance FAQ

Related Resources

Compliance Included. Not Extra.