What is a PCI DSS Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV)?

A PCI DSS Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) is a company that has been certified by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to conduct external vulnerability scans of merchants and service providers that handle payment card data.

The PCI SSC is responsible for the development and implementation of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which is a set of security standards designed to protect cardholder data. One of the requirements of the PCI DSS is that merchants and service providers must undergo external vulnerability scans on a regular basis to identify and address security vulnerabilities.

To become a PCI ASV, a company must meet certain requirements and undergo a rigorous certification process. This includes demonstrating expertise in vulnerability scanning and passing a series of tests to ensure that their scanning methods are accurate and effective.

Once a company has been certified as a PCI ASV, it is authorized to conduct external vulnerability scans of merchants and service providers that handle payment card data. The results of these scans are used to identify any security vulnerabilities that may exist and to provide recommendations for addressing them.